cute babies

Side positioning can be tricky because you need to ensure that your baby won't roll over onto his tummy during the night. Before the SIDS campaign parents would extend the baby's lower arm in front and roll up a towel to place behind baby or prop him against the side of the crib and place another rolled up towel or blanket in front of him to keep him from rolling back over. The danger is that the towel or blanket will come unrolled during the night and cover the face.

A safer way is to use something like a crib sling. You can place your baby in the sling on his back, either with the mattress propped up or flat, and then roll him onto his side and place a rolled up swaddle blanket behind him to keep him from rolling onto his back. The sling will ensure that he does not roll onto his tummy and there is no blanket in front of him to worry about.

One more side-positioner is the Zaky Hand. The Zaky simulates the weight of a human hand that can help provide the boundaries and propping you need to keep baby safely on his side. Another great thing about the Zaky is it can be gently warmed in the microwave and scented by the parent, making it a smooth and more seamless transition when transferring baby from you to the crib. The Zaky is particularly good for babies who will only sleep on your chest.