Talk to me about newborns sleeping on side

[1978andallthat]

Ds, 6 days, happy to sleep in Moses basket on side but not back. I know the SIDS guidelines. But sleep, oh sleep...

What to do?

[blackcurrants]

congrats on your newborn! am bfing my boxing day baby as I type

DS1 slept on his side until he could roll onto his tummy. he invariably fell asleep while bfing and I couldn't move him without waking him, so I left him I focused on a firm sleep surface, bags not blankets etc. And obsessively checking on him for the first few days and months.

With DS 2 I'm trying not to feed to sleep so much so I am feeding him in a side-lying position then picking him up for. quick burp and then .swaddling him snugly, at which point he will sleep happily enough. Google happiest baby on the block for why.swaddling helps newborns sleep - I was taught it by a nurse in the hospital last week and it's a bloody miracle! good luck.

[1978andallthat]

Thanks blackcurrants and congrats to you too.

[PoppyWearer]

OP, my DC2 was like this, only ever slept on his side in Moses basket. I watched him like a hawk.

With my DC2 I was in possession of the following knowledge:

A) if you are a non-smoking household anyway then the risks of SIDS are much lower, the health visitor wasn't even slightly concerned when I mentioned side-sleeping to her (off the record)
B) a friend used a highly-qualified/recommended night nanny. Her DC1 would only sleep comfortably on his front and the nanny permitted it, under safe conditions. He was one of the best sleepers in our NCT group (10 babies).
C) I trusted my instincts about my Dc2, watched him and discovered he was more comfortable on his side due to trapped wind. Sure enough he developed a bit of colic (not as bad as DC1) and some safe side/front sleeping (once older) helped a lot.

So, be careful with the side-sleeping....but....yes some babies just prefer it!

And congrats!

[PogoBob]

Breastfeeding my NYE baby here who also sleeps on his side. He"s a big boy who already has good head control - normally lay him so his back is against the side of the Moses basket and then roll up a blanket which I put in front of him from chest height down IYSWIM.

Being wedged in also seems to help make him feel secure.

His sister was the same and at 28 months still prefers sleeping on her side.

Congratulations!

[littletingoddess]

My DD started rolling onto her side the day she was born. A midwife at the hospital reminded me to put her on her back and didn't believe me when I said that I had! I had an assisted forceps delivery and her head was bruised, so I guess it was comfy on her side. She was ok. I agree with the previous poster about all the other contributing factors.

[BabiesNeedInstructions]

Just to add that SIDS risk peaks between 2 and 4 months (I think because they're sleeping more deeply) so if you do choose side sleeping you'll need to be vigilant for a while.

[Victoria2002]

Have you got a baby positioner? They're handy and will make it less likely baby rolls onto their stomach.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Baby positioned aren't recommended now . It's dangerous to have anything in cot or basket other than the baby. Dd1 slept on her side. I used to put her in the basket on her side but tilted agains the side so that if she skipped she would slip onto her back and not the other way.

Dd2 ot ever tummy slept so had to invest in an angel care movement pad set for peace of mind.

Congrats in your baby!! :)

[lljkk]

I envy my parents, they never worried about this stuff.
My babies were all side sleepers. I don't regret it.

[nilbyname]

I used a towel rolled up in a U shape, put that under a big sheet and made up the moses basket, then wedged the baby in, on their side.

We are a non-smoking home, never under the influence of alcohol, so felt very confident about positioning my DD like this.

[Onezerozero]

I propped DD onto her side with a rolled up towel too.
She had got used to being put on her tummy in NICU and SCBU and when we got her home she just couldn't sleep on her back.

[Mummyof3tobe]

Side sleepers here too. It is suggested that you alternate the side if possible. Helps head shape (and even out any bald hair patches!)

[PickledLily]

My DD was also a side sleeper (or front sleeper when draped across me whenever I fell asleep feeding). She had silent reflux (we later discovered) and wouldn't sleep on her back.

[sparklekitty]

I had a similar experience to littletingoddess. My DD was a ventouse delivery and had a huge bruise on her head. She would not go on her back for the first 4/5 weeks of her life (finally sorted by cranial osteopath) so she has always slept on her side. We co-sleep so she sleeps facing me and I keep an eye on her. She has always had good head control and the 2 times she has rolled onto her front, accidentally, she instantly cried and woke me.