Tips for Preventing Your Baby from Hitting Their Head on the Crib
Now that you are a new parent, the safety of your little baby is on your list as the top priority. Even though babies are resilient, hearing your child hit their head on their crib can be an alarming experience. Having a new baby comes with them getting bumps and bruises from time to time but you want to take those precautions to limit them as much as possible. Your baby’s bed is supposed to be a safe space, and in this article, we will help you to prevent your little one from hitting their head on their crib moving forward.
Understanding Why Babies Hit Their Heads on the Crib
You're probably asking yourself, why does my baby keep bumping their head on the crib? It is common but before we walk through how to prevent this, let’s take a look at why this is occurring in the first place:
- Exploration: Babies explore their environment, sometimes bumping into objects.
- Sleep Movements: Babies can be quite active during sleep, often moving around the crib.
- Self-Soothing: Some babies head-bang as a way of self-soothing, known as rhythmic movement disorder.
- Developmental Milestones: As your baby learns to sit, stand, and crawl, they might accidentally bump their head.
Now that you understand why they are bumping their heads and see that it is relatively common among babies, let’s take a look at how to ensure that they do not harm themselves. Below we take a look at the preventative measures to keep your baby safe in their crib.
Use Breathable, Padded Crib Bumpers
Traditional crib bumpers are often discouraged due to the risk of suffocation, but there are safer alternatives available today. Invest in breathable, padded crib liners. These products wrap around the inside of the crib acting as a barrier to the bars and rail. You can strap them down with an adjustable baby safety strap. Additionally, they are designed to cushion the crib’s sides without restricting air flow or posing a significant risk.
Lower the Crib Mattress
As your baby grows and becomes more mobile you want to monitor their height relative to the crib rails. Lowering the crib mattress can prevent them from reaching the crib's top rail and potentially hitting their head. Most cribs are adjustable, allowing you to lower the mattress height at the right stages of development.
Add Soft Toys Strategically
While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping soft toys out of the crib for the first year due to SIDS risk, strategically placing a few soft, plush toys during supervised naps for older babies can act as a buffer against head bumps. If needed, you can strap them in with baby-safe adjustable straps. However, always consult your healthcare provider for any advice regarding your baby’s safety.
Baby-safe adjustable straps
Create a Safe Sleep Space
Ensure the crib is placed in a safe area where the baby won't bump into other furniture if they lean out over the edge. Positioning the crib in an open area with soft surroundings can also minimize the severity of bumps. You want to make sure that you have carpet under your baby’s crib as a safety precaution.
Monitor for Developmental Transitions
Babies' developmental milestones can often lead to increases in movements while they sleep. Knowing these milestones and anticipating your baby's growth stages will help you prepare for transitions and avoid head-bumping incidents.
Supervise and Engage in Daytime Play
Provide ample opportunities for your baby to move and explore during the day. Babies have a lot of energy when they are awake and getting this energy out will be helpful at bedtime. Make sure you install those baby corner bumpers to ensure that they are safe around those corners. But overall, babies with time to work on their gross motor skills are likely to be less restless at night, reducing the chances of nighttime head bumps.
Respond to Self-Soothing Behaviors
If your baby appears to be head-banging as a form of self-soothing, you can try soothing techniques and sleeping aids to help them calm down in safer ways. This may be rocking them in a chair, holding them and rubbing their back, or simply sitting in the room until they fall asleep.
When To Seek Medical Attention
While most instances of your little one hitting their head on the crib are harmless, there are certain situations where you should seek medical attention. If your baby exhibits any signs of distress, prolonged crying, or a change in their behavior after hitting their head, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional. Look out for physical symptoms such as persistent vomiting, unusual sleepiness, or difficulty waking them up. Also, check for visible signs of injury, such as cuts, swelling, or bruising that doesn't subside.
Additionally, if your little one seems to be having trouble balancing or showing any signs of weakness, reach out immediately to your healthcare provider.
There are those rare cases where a head injury on your baby could cause complications such as concussions or bleeding in the brain. You know your baby best, therefore, trust your instincts as a parent; it's always better to have a doctor examine your child if you have any doubts about their well-being. If you do have questions, don’t wait, time is of the essence and the sooner your doctor lets you know that there is nothing to worry about, the more peace of mind you will have.
No More Head Bumping For Your Baby In Their Crib
Of course, it is a priority to keep your baby safe however, they are unpredictable especially when they are in their crib. By taking proactive precautions, you can help to mitigate this from happening. By installing baby bumpers, soft toys at a reasonable amount, and monitoring your baby, your baby should be less likely to hit their head on their crib. Make sure though, that if they do bump their head you monitor them and take action if they seem uneasy. Also, seek advice from your healthcare provider as well for any unusual head banging on the crib.
Keep in mind that as a parent, even though you try to do everything to keep your baby safe, there will be times when bumps and bruises happen. The most important thing is that you have taken that proactive approach to keep your little one as safe as possible.
