When can parents cover their baby with a blanket?

Many adults still think that it's completely okay to put a blanket on your baby to sleep, but there are still certain risks and rules you need to follow.

When shopping for baby goods, mothers who use breastmilk tend to gather a lot of the loveliest items to bring home, including maybe a lovely blanket. However, buying a blanket does not mean your baby is ready for use, so please consider it very carefully. So when should children cover when sleeping? Let aFamilyToday Health follow up on the following shares to find the answer.

When should I put a blanket on my baby to sleep

You should not put too many blankets, pillows ... where your baby sleeps to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Covering your baby with a blanket can increase the risk of sudden death by up to 5 times, regardless of where the baby sleeps. So, experts recommend that you wait until your baby is more than 1 year old, give your baby a blanket. The reason is that at this age, the baby has the ability to move, adjust, pull the blanket off when unfortunately the blanket covers the face.

Young children often fidgety at night, so they are easily entangled in blankets. Your baby will try to move to escape, so will wake up and cry. Besides, when trying to stand up, blankets and pillows can cause babies to fall. Therefore, it is best to wait until your baby is 18 months old before using the blanket.

How do I know when a child can cover a blanket?

It is one thing to learn about the time children can use blankets to sleep, but in reality, how to know they can use them is another matter. Each child will have different characteristics, it is impossible to take another child's timeline and apply it to their child. So, before giving your baby a blanket, you can try the following test:

1. Wrap the blanket when your baby is awake

When your baby is awake, try covering the baby's body with a thin blanket. Then see if the baby can get out of the blanket on her own. If your baby can roll, crawl or push the blanket off, you can already cover the baby while sleeping. However, if your child can't do it, please wait a few weeks and try again. This test should only be done when your baby is old enough to lift his head and crawl out.

2. Talk to your pediatrician

Talk to your doctor to check on your baby often. They are someone who understands your baby's development and abilities so you can tell you if your baby is ready to sleep with a blanket. When talking to your doctor, talk about the tests you tried with your child as well as listen carefully to what the doctor says for more information.

Precautions for when the baby covers

If you decide to let your baby use a blanket to sleep, you should take a few steps to ensure the safety of the little angel:

1. Use a thin blanket

You should only put on a thin blanket because if the fabric is too thick, it will make your baby more susceptible to becoming trapped and choking. Choose blankets made of cotton and should only be covered with the blanket across the baby's chest, not up to the shoulder.

2. Limit the blanket

Although the doctor has allowed your baby to use a blanket to sleep, you should still limit the blanket of the baby. This action can cause the baby's body temperature to rise quickly and narrow the sleeping space of the baby. Both of these are not good for children's sleep.

3. Use a sleeping bag

A baby sleeping bag is also a great alternative to a blanket. This device looks like a large dress that covers the baby's whole body and ensures the baby is covered with a blanket but still has room to move while sleeping. Sleeping bag is the perfect choice as well as safer than blankets. Besides, this is also a great way to keep your baby warm.

4. Wear suitable clothes

When the weather is cold, you tend to cover your baby with a blanket during sleep. However, to avoid that, let your child wear warm clothes, socks or sweaters that fit well. You can also let your child put on a layer of cotton clothes, then put her in another pajamas.

5. Check the room temperature

You can limit the use of blankets by keeping your baby's room temperature stable. In your baby's room, install an air conditioner if needed and keep it away from your crib. The weather outside can enter the baby's room through windows or doors. Therefore, please close them carefully. In addition, keep the temperature in other parts of the house like in the room so that when going out, baby does not get heat shock.