Congratulations, new or expectant parents! Welcoming a baby into your family is a very exciting and joyful time but also a time of great change. It is common for new parents to experience a whirlwind of emotions in response to these changes. At Bubbaroo we are here to guide and assist you in preparing for your newborn.

This guide aims to assist you in preparing for your new baby with helpful tips from how to set up your nursery ensuring it is a safe place for your baby to sleep all the way through to dealing with the challenges of disrupted sleep and how to deal with the massive changes that having a newborn bring to your life.

Red Nose Safe Sleep Recommendations

For all babies ages 0-12 months, Red Nose recommends six key steps to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

1. Always place baby on their back to sleep: Placing baby on their back to sleep helps keep their airway clear and ensures their protective reflexes work. Back sleeping reduces the risk of suffocation, overheating, and choking.
2. Keep baby’s face and head uncovered: Babies control their temperature through their face and head, so keeping baby’s face and head uncovered during sleep helps reduce the risk of overheating. It also helps keep their airways clear and reduces the risk of suffocation.
3. Keep baby smoke free, before and after birth: Smoking during pregnancy and around baby once they are born increases the risk of SIDS.

If you and your partner smoke, don’t smoke around baby and never smoke where baby sleeps.

4. Safe sleep environment, both night and day: The safest place for baby to sleep is in their own safe space, with a safe mattress, and safe bedding in the parent’s room for the first 6-12 months of life.

Safe cot:

• Ensure your cot meets the Australian standards. There are no standards for bassinets and side sleepers, so be mindful.

Safe mattress:

• Firm, clean, flat, and the right size for your cot.

Safe bedding:

• Lightweight bedding, firmly tucked in, and only pulled up to the chest.
• No doonas, pillows, cot bumpers, lamb’s wool, or soft toys in the sleeping environment.

Ensure baby is wrapped from below the neck to avoid covering the face.

For further information refer to our blog on preparing a cot for baby: /blogs/blog/preparing-a-cot-for-baby-how-to-get-it-right/

5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleep space in the same room as their parent for at least the first 6 months The safest place for baby to sleep is in their own safe sleep space in the same room as their parent for at least the first 6 months.

6. Breastfeed baby Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Wondering what to pack in your hospital bag for labour? Check out our blog for the essentials you should gather in preparation for the arrival of your bub. Peace of mind goes a long way when you’re having a baby. Getting organised can help calm any apprehension you might have about such an exciting, life-changing event. We recommend getting your hospital bag together at least a few weeks ahead of your due date.

Read more about what to pack in your hospital bag

Baby Shower

Contemplating the idea of a baby shower? A baby shower is a lovely celebration to mark the impending birth of a baby. It’s a way for family and friends to come together and ‘shower’ the mum or parents-to-be with well-wishes, love and practical gifts. It’s a good excuse for a party and a great way to make sure that the new parents get the supplies and support they need, especially if the baby is their first child.

Learn more about baby shower traditions, gifts, and tips

The Fourth Trimester

The fourth trimester is the 12-week period after the birth of your baby. The fourth trimester is a time of emotional and physical change, as you adjust to being a parent. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed in the weeks after your baby is born. The term ‘fourth trimester’ suggests that you should try to recreate, for another 3 months, the kind of environment your baby had in the uterus. Swaddling your baby creates a sense of safety and security, while skin-to-skin contact is important to bond with your baby. Don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends, or healthcare professionals during this time.

Discover more tips for the fourth trimester

Swaddling Baby for Safe Sleep

Swaddling babies is a beautiful and gentle way to calm and soothe babies and is often used to prepare babies for sleep. It has been shown to help reduce crying time, episodes of waking, and avoid the sudden flailing of arms and head that can snap baby awake. Swaddling has also been shown to provide stability, which may help to keep babies in the recommended back position.

Bubbaroo invented Australia’s first swaddle product to provide comfort without forcing baby into any position – not a straight jacket in sight!

Learn how to swaddle your baby

If your baby resists swaddling, then a baby sleeping bag such as a Bubbaroo Joey Swag can be used as a safe alternative.