Safety
Helpful Tips from your Postpartum Experts
In the Infant Safety section you’ll read the stories and real talk around keeping your baby safe in everyday life. You’ll find guidance about unsafe sleep setups, car seat use, water safety, heat exposure, and preparing your home to protect a curious little human.
Tips for your first walk with your newborn in a stroller
As a new parent, some milestones take you by surprise. Your first stroller ride with a newborn is one of them. Suddenly, that stroller that’s sat empty since your baby shower is ready to have a tiny person in it! So, how can you prepare for your first stroller walk...
When to Stop Using the SNOO
What is the SNOO, anyway? The name sounds straight out of the Grinch, right? The SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet is a high-tech bassinet that was created to soothe newborns through naps and throughout the night using motion and sound. Babies are swaddled and gently “wiggled” throughout the night at different...
AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines [And How Overnight Care Supports Them]
At Well Supported Family, ensuring a safe sleep environment for the babies that we support overnight is our top priority. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has established clear guidelines(opens in new tab) to help parents and caregivers create a safe sleep setup for little ones. In this blog post,...
Understanding Container Baby Syndrome: Why Floor Time Matters for Your Baby’s Development
Modern baby gear can feel like a lifesaver in the early months of parenting. Swings, bouncers, car seats, loungers; they all offer a moment of hands-free time and a safe place to set your baby down. When infants spend too much time in these “containers,” it can have unintended consequences...
Cradlewise Crib Vs Snoo Bassinet
Sleep spaces in your corners…Let’s get ready to rumble! Let’s talk about the Cradlewise Crib Vs the Snoo Bassinet. We will go over the pros, cons and what might be best for your family. First, why should you trust us? I am the queen of not trusting online sources. You...
Unsafe Sleep Spaces
Hi! I'm a Newborn Care Specialist, Postpartum Doula, Sleep Consultant and safe sleep extraordinaire. You might think that all of the products on the market are safe for your baby. Unfortunately, you'd be wrong. While some products are never safe, others are fine for playtime or supervised naps but aren't...
Preparing Your Home and Nursery for a Newborn
Are you pregnant and looking around your home wondering how to prepare for your newborn? You are not alone! Preparing Your Home and Nursery for a Newborn can feel all consuming! The life changing event of bringing your baby home can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure what to...
EMF Exposure and Babies: What Parents Should Know
If you have ever heard the term EMF exposure and wondered if it is safe for babies, you are not alone. As technology has evolved, many parents have become curious (and understandably cautious) about how wireless signals, electronics, and household devices might impact infant development. This guide explains what EMFs...
Sound Machines: All your questions answered
Sound Machines! You have questions, and we have answers! As professionals, we love sound machines. As Newborn Care Specialists, we highly recommend sound machines and will bring them with us when we go to a new client’s house in case they don’t have one. In my opinion they are an...
Infant Swim Classes in Phoenix, AZ
Looking to get your little one into a pool and learning how to float, swim and learn water safety? We have you covered! The idea of your baby accidentally falling into any body of water can be terrifying. Getting your baby into swim lessons is a great way to make...
Infant CPR and First Aid Classes in Chicago, IL
Are you looking for Infant CPR and first aid classes in Chicago, IL? One of the most important classes new parents, caregivers, grandparents and anyone who will be watching a newborn should take is an infant CPR and First Aid class. These classes differ from adult CPR classes and teach...
Car Seat Installation in Chicago, IL
Whether you're a first time parent or a seasoned one, buckling your infant into their car seat for the first time can be truly intimidating--especially when you're facing Chicago traffic with a newborn! Suddenly, your baby is on the outside and it's your job to keep them safe! Proper car...
How to Keep Baby Safe from Summer Heat in South Florida
Summer in South Florida can be brutal, with scorching temperatures and high humidity levels that can quickly become dangerous for infants and young children. As a parent, it's crucial to take precautions to keep your little one safe and comfortable during the sweltering summer months. Let's discuss essential tips to...
Best Online Newborn Care Classes
Becoming a new parent is one of life's most exciting and overwhelming experiences. Whether you're welcoming a baby through pregnancy, surrogacy, or adoption, those first few months can feel like a whirlwind of immense joy - and stressful uncertainty. That's where Baby Care Classes comes in - providing expert guidance...
When to Transition Out of a Swaddle
Swaddling is a universal tool that benefits babies and parents alike. Swaddling a newborn is a safe practice that replicates the snug feeling of the womb, which helps babies transition smoothly to life on the outside. Ultimately, though, swaddling can't last forever. As newborns hit certain developmental milestones, swaddling with...
How to Keep Your Baby Warm in a Stroller in NYC
Are you having a baby in New York City this winter? [How about Chicago, Portland or Boston?] New York City winters can be beautiful...but sometimes also brutal; especially when it comes to keeping your baby warm in a stroller during outdoor walks. Keeping your baby warm in any cold climate...
Pros and Cons of Permanent Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings Time throws a curve ball for everyone, but especially for parents. Many Americans are in favor of abolishing daylight savings time for good - and it may be happening. In March of 2022, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would make daylight savings time permanent beginning in...
What are the top risk factors for SIDS?
Every parent needs to know the top risk factors for SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome rates have declined in recent decades, from 130.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 38.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. This is believed to be in large part due to the...
How Well Supported Family Implements AAP Guidelines
Safe sleep and healthy sleep habits go hand in hand. The Well Supported Family team is dedicated to implementing both with your newborn. Our team of Newborn Care Specialists and Postpartum Doulas help your baby learn to sleep independently in a safe environment as advised by the American Academy of...
Safe bedsharing
Bedsharing, the practice of sleeping with your baby in bed with you, is a hot topic today. Experts generally encourage room-sharing, but stress that a crib or bassinet is the safest place for babies to sleep. Others argue that bedsharing is a natural, safe practice - as old as humanity...
Why is there a formula shortage?
The 2020s have brought so many challenges that parents never expected to face. Most recently is the 2022 US formula shortage. This spring, parents have faced an unprecedented formula shortage - and unprecedented stress levels. At the beginning of May 2022, 40% of formula was out of stock on US...
Baby CPR Classes
Infant CPR. It’s the last thing a new parent wants to think about, but taking a baby CPR class could mean the difference between life and death. As a new or soon-to-be parent, it’s unlikely that the ins and outs of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are fresh in your mind, but thankfully...
Preterm Labor Symptoms
When labor occurs between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, it’s called preterm labor. Being in labor means that the cervix is opening and can result in preterm birth. Babies born premature are at risk of health complications and may require extensive support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)....
Safe Sleep Practices for Babies: The ABC’s of Safe Sleep
Safe sleep practices for babies are essential in lowering infant mortality. With all the many things to learn about raising a new baby, safe sleep practices are among the most important. But sleep deprivation and the stressors of parenting can lead many new parents to feel uncertain and confused about...
How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe
Learn About Safe Sleep Practices for Babies As a new parent, one of the most important topics to learn about is how to keep your sleeping baby safe. Newborns spend on average 14-17 hours a day sleeping, but those sleep periods are brief and can easily lead to sleep deprivation...
SIDS Fact Sheet
SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It's in the back of every new parent's mind. Nobody wants to think about their baby dying, but sometimes knowing the facts can take away the power and fear of the unknown. Most SIDS deaths happen between 1 month and 4 months of age SIDS...
Buckle Up For Safety
Buckle Up for Safety Written by Laurel Segal, The Seagull Nest, CPST Child Passenger Safety Month With September being National Child Passenger Safety Month, I am given the opportunity to address the importance of vehicle related safety. Naturally everyone wants to keep their children safe in vehicles and I hope...
Top 5 Safety-Rated Infant Car Seats of 2021
An infant car seat is one of the most important purchases you’ll make for your little one. Infant car seats are typically used from birth until about one year of age. Used with a base that stays installed in your car, they conveniently click in and out so you can...
My Baby Is Climbing Out Of The Crib
HELP! "My baby is climbing out of the crib!" I’ve had three parents reach out to me with this issue this month! And when that happens...that means it’s time for a blog! If your child is younger than 3 then they *may* not emotionally or developmentally ready to be out...
Safety Proofing Favorite Tips and Products
There is SO MUCH to do involving safety proofing for babies, this is not an all inclusive list, only some of our favorite products, tips and tricks. SAFETY PROOFING TIPS: Get on the ground on your hands and knees. What do you see? What can you access? Don't go overboard...
Kim Kardashian’s Unsafe Sleep Space
Kim Kardashian had her fourth baby last year, via surrogate. So let's talk about Kim Kardashian's unsafe sleep space. We are not here to shame her or to blame her. However, I think this is a perfect example of how a loving, devoted, not first-time mother, with loads of money,...
Introducing the family dog to a new baby.
Bringing home a new baby is exciting for the humans in the house but can be very confusing and overwhelming for your dog. For many parents, their dog is their first baby, and your dog knows it too! Dogs thrive on routine and consistency , so when adding a noisy...
Boston Childproofing Recommendations
We get asked about childproofing recommendations all the time. Infrequently it's "Why should I do that?" or "What's the value of it?" and much more frequently (logically) it's "Do you know anyone good who can help?" Childproofing can be a source of great stress at two specific times in a...
How do you clean your breast pump parts? [New CDC Guidelines]
Earlier this summer, a prematurely-born infant had his brain affected by poorly-cleaned breast pump parts, leading to meningitis and global development delays. In that specific situation, the mom would reportedly leave her pump parts soaking in soapy water, then rinse them off hours later. The water could have been a breeding ground...
How to install a car seat (and where to do it around Boston)
This post will take two tracks. First, we're going to discuss how to install a car seat properly, and then we're going to list some places in Boston and Metro West that will do it. Ready? Let's go. How to install a car seat properly I feel like the DMV's...
Helpful tips from your team at Well Supported Family.
Expert postpartum and newborn advice you can trust.
Since 2016, Well Supported Family has provided newborn care to thousands of families. Our team of certified Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists offer daytime, overnight, and 24/7 in-home support across 12 U.S. states. Whether you're recovering from birth, establishing feeding routines, or just trying to get more sleep, we're here to help—one family at a time.
Want to explore in-home care for your new family? Reach out today.