Keeping your child safe is not just important when they are awake. The same protection has to be given to them even when they are asleep. Creating a safe and secure sleeping environment involves several considerations. Here, we share some useful insights about creating a safe sleeping environment for your child.
- Choose the Right Bed and Mattress: Choosing the mattress is extremely important, as is opting for the safest beds. The bed should not be too high, and it should have safety rails to prevent your child from falling off in the middle of their sleep. The mattress you choose should be of the appropriate size, fitting the chosen bed snugly. Any gaps between the mattress and the bed frame could risk your child getting their arm or leg stuck while sleeping.
- Secure the Crib: If your infant child sleeps in a crib, you must perform regular inspections to ensure that it is in good condition. Tighten any loose screws or bolts of the crib. Otherwise, your child could be at risk of facing pediatric injury. Also, make sure to remove any choking hazards, including small toys, from inside the crib while your child is sleeping.
- Position the Bed Safely: You have to carefully position your child's bed to reduce injury risk. Make sure that the bed is set away from curtains or blinds so that these materials do not tangle with the bed and cause child injury. Also, keep all furniture away from the bed to discourage the child from trying to climb down on their own and risking a fall.
- Install Nightlights: You should consider installing nightlights in your child's room to ensure visibility in the middle of the night if they have to get up for bathroom visits. A soft and dim light should be installed, as bright lights can interfere with their normal sleep patterns. This is highly beneficial for older toddlers, who are slightly more independent than infants.
Steps to Follow if Your Child Has Fallen from Bed or a Certain Height :
Even after following these precautions, your child may fall from the bed or from a height. In such a case, here are some things you should do:
- Check for signs of injury or distress
- Comfort your child
- Observe any behavioral or other drastic changes
- Keep the child still to prevent any further injury
- If you notice a serious injury, make sure to head to your nearest paediatric department immediately for medical attention.
Explore our Paediatrics and Neonatology Department. We offer the right treatment for paediatric injuries. We have an 11-bed dedicated paediatric ward. Apart from that, our department also houses a 12-bed neonatal ICU. We provide services such as neonatology, general paediatrics, paediatric NICU, and others.
