In Need of a Good Night's Sleep?
Safer sleeping tips from Rob and Ouvrielle Holmes
As parents ourselves, we understand the importance of establishing a good sleep routine for your little one, and how exhausting those sleepless nights can be. We 've just had our fourth baby, Edward, so we can certainly vouch for the need for a good night 's sleep!
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In the first few weeks of life, your newborn baby will sleep for up to 18 hours a day, although it may not feel like it as he will rarely sleep for more than 3 hours at a time! But it does get easier, and when he 's asleep you 'll want to know that he 's as safe and comfortable as possible.
We were so tired when our first son, Samuel was born, because it felt like he was never asleep! By the time he was 7 months old, he was kicking off his covers every night and we were going bonkers with sleep deprivation.
That was until our Austrian sister-in-law recommended a baby sleeping bag, which, as it turns out, was the norm for babies in many parts of Europe. After his first night in his sleeping bag, Sam slept for 12 hours and we were hooked! We decided to set about creating our own baby sleeping bag for babies in the UK.
The name 'grobag' came to us one bed-time when looking for Sam's baby sleeping bag, because when he woke up the following morning he was bright, breezy and seemed to be very slightly bigger! We couldn 't wait to spread the word to other parents. The name grobag ® stuck and the rest is history!
We started the company in September 2000, and since then sleeping bags are the norm for babies in the UK, and more-or-less every nursery store sells them. As Sam continually reminds us, he was the first person to ever sleep in a grobag ® baby sleeping bag!
We are obsessed with safety and we work very closely with the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID). We help spread the 'safe sleep' message and help fund research into ways to prevent cot death and reduce accidental injuries or fatalities.
So what exactly is a baby sleeping bag?
Baby sleeping bags are quickly becoming a must-have nursery item, and an essential part of the bedtime routine. A baby sleeping bag is a 'wearable ' blanket specially designed so that it can 't slip over your baby 's head or be kicked off during the night. They come in 3 warmth ratings (togs) so you can select the one that is right for each season or for different room temperatures, and can be used from when your baby weighs 7lbs.
If you use a baby sleeping bag you will find that this will form part of your baby 's bedtime routine even when in a strange place, and travel versions are now available for easy transfer from cot to car seat.
We get lots of comments from other parents who have tried grobag ® baby sleeping bags:
"Grobags. Ingenious! He can wiggle and move about in his sleep as much as he wants too. He wore his first one at 4 months and has been wearing them ever since. He's now 2 and is about to switch to sheets and duvet. I'm really going to miss his grobags. Not only have they given us peace of mind but a good night 's sleep too. Thank you." Anne
"After grobagging our 2 year old since she was 5 months old & being able to count disturbed nights on one hand we decided to try the beautiful quilt we bought for her bed before she was born. Let me tell you we have had a week of pure hell, waking up to be covered up, waking up cold, waking up to use the loo you name it & we have had it. So we ordered 2, 2.5 tog grobags & all quiet at our house once more. Thank you so much" Leslie
"Just wanted to let you know how delighted I am with the Grobag products that I ordered from you, they are brilliant." Sharon
Safe sleep tips
Many parents worry about the risk of cot death in the first few month 's of their baby 's life. The Foundation for the Study for Infant Deaths (FSID) has put together a checklist of safe sleep guidelines
• Cut smoking in pregnancy - fathers too!
• Do not let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby
• Place your baby on their back to get to sleep
• Do not let your baby get too hot
• Keep your baby 's head uncovered - place your baby in the feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent wriggling under the covers*
• If your baby is unwell, seek medical advice promptly
• The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot in your room for the first 6 months
• Do not share a bed with your baby if you or your partner
- are smokers (no matter where or when you smoke)
- have been drinking alcohol
- take medication or drugs that might make you drowsy
- feel very tired
- Or if your baby was born premature, was small at birth or has a high temperature
• Never sleep with a baby on a sofa or armchair
*Feet to foot advice does not apply when using a grobag ® baby sleeping bag and no extra bedding.
To find out more, call the FSID helpline on 020 7233 2090
Top tips for your bedtime routine
Babies are generally happier if they know what to expect next so it 's a good idea to create a calm atmosphere in the hour before bed, and develop a routine that makes it a happy and relaxed time for you both. Don 't worry if your baby is a few months old and you haven 't tried a routine before, with a few days perseverance you should start to see a difference.
• Start by giving your baby a bath. This is play-time, relaxing time, and beginning of the 'wind-down ' before bed.
• Enjoy a bit of gentle play-time or give your baby a massage after his bath.
• Dress your baby for bed and get him into his baby sleeping bag in the calm and quiet of the bedroom.
• Sit with your baby in his bedroom and enjoy a book with his last milk feed. Remember to keep the atmosphere calm and the lights reasonably low.
• Settle your baby into his cot or Moses basket whilst chatting to him, singing quietly or put on a musical mobile.
• Turn the lights out, say good night and leave him awake in his cot, allowing him to fall asleep on his own.
TOP TIP: Always use the same words at each stage of the routine so that your baby associates these with what is happening - such as 'bath-time ', 'grobag-time ', 'book-time ' and 'sleep-time '.
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