How do I make up the cot for a newborn? And keep them warm?
Well, bean is due any day and the nursery is all ready, but I am not sure exactly how I am supposed to make up the cot for his arrival. I know his feet should be down one end of the cot, and I will swaddle him. But do I actually put sheets/ blankets over him? Or just lots of swaddling layers? Our house gets pretty cold at night and I worry about keeping him warm. I have millions of blankets, but they are a SIDS problem, right?
Hi Jessica, how exciting that your bub is nearly here! It is really cold at night atm so I put my bub in a sleeping bag (with a newborn you would swaddle him) and put a few thick cotton blankets over him. You just short-sheet the blankets so they are tucked right down low and can't cover your bubs face. Yes, you need to be aware that you don't overheat your bub so don't use anything like a doona. Blankets made of natural fibres breathe well so a woollen blanket would also be good.
Jessica- I currently have my DD's cot made with a flanelette fitted sheet on thebottom, a flat sheet folded in have tucked in the three sides, DD in a grobag (yours would be in singlet, longsleeved body suit and all in one suitie( ?) and wrapped in a wrap) a 100% wool blanket on top and two lighter cotton blankets on top of that. On cold nights (when temp outside drops below 10) then I put a small oil column heater on low seating to get the chill out of the air but not so much heat the room. Just tuck all your bedding tightly around the three sides with your bubs' feet at the bottom of the cot. Very exciting waiting for bub, isn't it? GL for the birth and bubba's safe arrival. PS I waited and waited and waited until 42 weeks for DD to arrive!
Personally, I find blankets a little too tricky. I'd just be dressing in a warm suit and swaddling in flannelette or something warmer. Like Trish said, natural fibres breathe well and are best. If the wrap keeps falling off and bubs gets cold, I'd go for a sleeping bag and a really light wrap (like muslin) and swaddle over the sleeping bag.
When Iz was born we had her in a cradle so it was a bit easier to tuck in etc, but she would be in her warm jumpsuits, then a warm wrap firmly snuggled in and then blankets over the top. They don't move much for the first few weeks so you will find that blankets etc that you tuck in over the top should stay put!
Good luck!!
We have Si in a wrap (either flannelette or muslin, depending on what's clean), and then a couple of blankets, tucked in well at the bottom like Trish said, so they won't ride up to cover bub's face.
You will find blankets handy for many things, chucking on the floor so bub can lie on them, having a blanket that lives in the car, one that lives in the pram...
While I'm at it, in the cot/cradle, we have a flat nappy laid down or tucked in over the mattress, so if bub spews/nappy leaks, we can just replace the nappy rather than having to change sheets! I'm a smart cookie I know. :P
My experience with blankets came to an abrupt end on Saturday morning, when I went in to wake up bubs and found her underneath the blankets - face and all... She was fine,(so was I after a slight heart attack) but I think what happened may have been that she had been lifting up her knees a lot that night and made the blankets loose and also with the moving of her knees, she was also moving down the cot. I now only put her in the cot in a warm wrap. She is 10 weeks old, and maybe more agile than she was last month but I didn't think that would happen.
Daniel is currently in a sleeping bag (with sleeves)- he's no where near a new born, but I wish I'd had a sleeping bag for him when he was a little newbie. They are just fantastic!!! They can't wriggle out, the can't fall down in to it etc etc... and they have certain ratings, like sleeping bags.
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How do I make up the cot for a newborn? And keep them warm?
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