Newborn asleep in bouncy chair...how bad is it?

[CheerfulYank]

Just that really. DC3 was born on Monday. My other two slept in bouncy seats sometimes but now I see that infants shouldn't?

He won't sleep anywhere else except on me or DH. He sleeps well in the bouncy but now I'm afraid to sleep while he is in there, so it's 3:30 a.m. and I'm mumsnetting and doing laundry. DH will get up in a few hours but we can't sleep in shifts next week when he goes back to work.

I have a mesh sided basket for DS but he won't sleep in it. I swaddle him and put him on his back but he's up in five minutes crying. Who can blame him, I suppose...he's used to being all warm and floaty, not lying on his back on a hard surface!

The main concerns I've seen with bouncy chairs are that a baby can become entangled in the straps (DS's seat has none) or that the seat can tip over. The only case I saw of that, though, was a seat placed on a bed. DS's is on the hardwood floor and I can't imagine anything tipping it. Also he spit up a bit ago and I almost feel better about him upright in the bouncy vs flat on his back.

So...how bad is it if I were to sleep for a bit? He is waking every two hours to eat.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Id sleep. Needs must.

Is there anything you can do to make the basket more enticing? Raise the head end by propping a book under each leg om that end, put a soft fleecy blanket or sheepskin under the fitted sheet?

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

We used a Bouncer for dd but when ds came alpng we got a Tiny Love 3 in 1 Napper which is safe for sleeps and does what a bouncer does and more.

Worth every penny. He still naps in it sometimes now at 7mo and uses it as a rockig seat.

[HappydaysArehere]

I remember my grandsons, when newborn, only able to sleep in their comfy newborn car seats. It seemed that not lying completely flat was more like their position in the womb. Their lovely cradles were not what they wanted.

[MrsAukerman]

A cacoonababy might suit him. Not cheap though.

[MrsAukerman]

m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/red-castle-cocoonababy-nest-white/p429422#page_loaded

[ShadowFire]

This article about the dangers of leaving babies to sleep in bouncy chairs and car seats has been on my Facebook today.

You've already mentioned the risk of the seat tipping over, and entanglements risk, which can lead to strangulation, but there's also a risk of asphyxiation if the baby slumps into a position where it can't breathe properly.

[Etak15]

Wow that looks lovely in would like to sleep in it myself.
If you are desperate for sleep would you consider co-sleeping? This is the only way I have survived with my four!! They sleep much better next to mummy and if bf makes it easy just 'plug them in' as my dh puts it and you can nod back off!! Mine have all moved into there own beds by about 18 months ish and sleep happily on there own so hasn't caused any long term 'sleep problems' - not that its a problem if they sleep with you for longer than that just that I like my bed back again have always been pregnant again by that point lol!! Think if I was starting again I would maybe try that cacoon though looks nice as I never intended to co sleep it just worked out for the best!

[CheerfulYank]

Etak yes I would and I intend to :) But he's so tiny at this point that I really worry. I know I won't roll on him but I'm so tired I worry about falling into a deep sleep and putting my arm over his face or something. :(

We are moving DD to a "big girl bed" soon and then will attach the cot to the side of our bed for cosleeping. :)

[Etak15]

Yes then you will sleep even less for fear of squashing him!! It's a difficult one isn't it and with other little ones you know you never get chance to catch up on your sleep at any other point during the day! Have you tried putting him on his side in Moses basket I think that seems to keep them asleep a bit longer in the early tiny days - (controversial though maybe!!) I think the early few wks even if you put him according to all guidence you still worry about them and check there breathing while they sleep I think maybe just resolve yourself to the fact that maybe one day in ten years time you might get a full nights sleep lol! And enjoy the precious cuddles!!