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, through to dealing with the challenges of disrupted sleep and how to handle the massive changes that having a newborn brings 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.
- Always place baby on their back to sleep: Back sleeping helps keep airways clear and ensures protective reflexes work. It reduces the risk of suffocation, overheating, and choking.
- Keep baby’s face and head uncovered: Babies regulate temperature through face and head. Keep these uncovered to avoid overheating and keep airways clear.
- Keep baby smoke-free, before and after birth: Smoking during pregnancy and around baby increases SIDS risk. If you or your partner smoke, don’t smoke around baby and never where baby sleeps.
- Provide a safe sleep environment (day & night): The safest place is baby’s own safe space, with a safe mattress and safe bedding, in the parents’ room for the first 6–12 months.
Safe cot:
- Ensure your cot meets 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, pulled up only to the chest.
- No doonas, pillows, cot bumpers, lamb’s wool, or soft toys.
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: Preparing a cot for baby — how to get it right
- Room-share for at least the first 6 months: Baby sleeps in their own safe space, in the same room as a parent.
- Breastfeed baby: Breastfeeding has been associated with reduced SIDS risk.
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
Wondering what to pack for labour? Getting organised can help calm any apprehension about such an exciting, life-changing event. We recommend getting your hospital bag together a few weeks ahead of your due date.
Read more about what to pack in your hospital bag
Baby Shower
A baby shower is a lovely celebration to mark the impending birth. It’s a way for family and friends to come together and ‘shower’ the parents-to-be with well-wishes, love and practical gifts.
Learn more about baby shower traditions, gifts, and tips
The Fourth Trimester
The fourth trimester is the 12-week period after birth. It’s a time of emotional and physical change as you adjust to being a parent. Try to recreate a calm, womb-like environment: swaddling can provide security, and skin-to-skin contact supports bonding. Reach out to family, friends, or healthcare professionals if you feel overwhelmed.
Discover more tips for the fourth trimester
Swaddling Baby for Safe Sleep
Swaddling is a gentle way to calm and soothe babies. It has been shown to reduce crying time, limit startle reflex waking, and may help keep babies in the recommended back-sleeping 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, a baby sleeping bag such as a Bubbaroo Joey Swag is a safe alternative.
