Baby safe sleep

[Sleepdeprivedanddesperate]

Not an AIBU, but why does my baby only like to sleep in things that aren’t safe when unsupervised? My arms/chest, sleepyhead, car seat, bouncer, pram carry cot

The carry cot (ocarro) is no different to the next to me crib we have, both firm mattresses etc so HOW DOES SHE KNOW?

Apparently the carry cot isn’t safe for unsupervised sleep due to airflow but I’m confused why because the top is uncovered? So desperate for some sleep but can’t bare the thought of trying to transfer her into her bed and her waking up

Any tips?

Some babies are like this..my poor friend at the moment is tag teaming with her dp re their 11 week who only sleep on someone...they swap middle of the night ... She and her dp are exhausted. Sleepyhead isn't safe I thought. I promise you op it will get better. Now I might be daft I miss our nighttime snuggles. 5 weeks is so young. Congratulations x

@londonrach no sleepyhead only okay for supervised naps apparently, which is fine.

To be honest I appreciate she’s only 5 weeks and trying to enjoy the snuggles as much as possible, I know it’s not forever

Have you tried a Grosnug where the baby is swaddled (arms in)? That worked for us when our baby was a similar age. Although it might have just been luck!

Sorry OP just realised you have answered this!

Sending love to you @VeraGriffin xxx

The first few weeks are horrible. But try and remember that it takes babies a little while to reverse their sleeping patterns. While inside you they've been rocked and cradled all day and snoozed. Then at night when you lie down to sleep they would move about.

Google 4th trimester. Rest when you can. There's so many pictures of me and DD in the first few weeks with DD lying beside me on the bed (DH was awake and in the room) during the day while I just slept.

@SharyBobbins

yep so she has to be swaddled to be able to sleep as if not she flaps her arms around in a panic and thinks she’s falling every 5 seconds because of the Moro reflex but as soon as she wakes up and realises she’s still swaddled, she hates it and gets angry and upset trying to break out of it.

@TimeForTeaAndG

I’ve been reading up on the fourth trimester and makes total sense so I’m trying not to expect too much from her. I love having her sleep on me, it’s just a shame I can’t sleep safely at the same time! I guess we’ll just ride it out

Oh absolutely it's a nightmare at the time. I cried at my HV at about 3 or 4 weeks cos I was just so tired.

We had a big rocking chair that reclined so I could at least be comfy with DD in a sling so I didn't have to be holding her the entire time.

Could you co sleep for day naps and have your partner watch to make sure you are both safe? I remember this stage so well and its so hard x

Hi,

I remember at that age, I would get my partner to hold baby for a few hours in the evening while I got a few hours restful sleep & then we would swap over or I would lay baby next to me and co-sleep.

Obviously it's a personal choice but it's been the only way I've been able to get some sleep especially now that my partner and I no longer live together (long story). Like anything, there are risks but if you do it as safely as you can it may be a viable option.

Other than that, I would just push through and be consistent to get baby used to the next2me (I say, having an unused next2me which I now have to get rid of ha). I gave in, and 10 months later I am still cosleeping & contact napping so very much wish I had nipped it in the bud back then and sorted out these sleep issues.

@VeraGriffin so sorry for your loss, sending love ❤️

I feel for you . My husband and I use to take night shifts holding the baby as he peacefully slept in our arms . With my first it got better after 10 weeks. With my second I co slept and it saved me haha

We used the Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed. It’s tested and surpassed regulations for safe over night sleep as it has breathable sides and a firm base.

It was an absolute lifesaver.

Sorry OP mine are much older now (one still doesn't sleep at 13 though!) so no advice, but just thought I'd mention that this made me laugh...

sleep in things that aren’t safe when unsupervised? My arms/chest

I cannot imagine detaching your arms and/or chest is safe at all, in order for unsupervised use

That's the spirit, just ride it out. It will get easier x

This is what worked for us:

Swaddling
Dummy
Ewan dream sheep (white noise)
Sleepyhead

This was before everyone started freaking out about Sleepyheads for night sleep and everyone was using them. She was fine. I genuinely don't see how a Sleepyhead could kill a child. I don't think one ever has.

Dd from the start would be in her bassinet on her front (I watched like a hawk in hospital so knew she slept better that way) but feet to the foot and she would crawl her way to the top until her head was jammed against the top. I don’t know how. She was tightly swaddled. So I eventually gave in and put her down with her head jammed up the top and she slept better. And that was very early days.

Have you got a ZED?!!! It makes a MASSIVE difference to sleep!!

rockitrocker.com/product/zed/

Mixed reviews but it made a amazing difference to my son. He's four months and sleeps through the night.

👍👍

Could you co sleep for day naps and have your partner watch to make sure you are both safe

My partner works away Monday-Friday so no help during the week, I’m going to have a big fat lie in tomorrow morning though

I cannot imagine detaching your arms and/or chest is safe at all, in order for unsupervised use

I was tired that’s all I can say

@pinkgin1
Never heard of a ZED before? Just googled it, I might have to purchase!

I wish someone would open a business where you could hire these sleep things (ZED, Ewan the sheep etc) so you could see what works I have so many random items I bought that made no difference

Ours was the same. I decided to cosleep after deciding that it was far less safe for me to be as exhausted as I was and fall asleep while holding him. I don't fall into a deepsleep but it's better than no sleep.

Buys stuff second hand and sell on so you don't lose money on trying things

Can anyone find any info to suggest a sleepyhead isn’t safe? I always thought they weren’t for overnight sleeping, but from what I can see on google, they are and are made from breathable material?

@Sleepdeprivedanddesperate

Not an AIBU, but why does my baby only like to sleep in things that aren’t safe when unsupervised? My arms/chest, sleepyhead, car seat, bouncer, pram carry cot

The carry cot (ocarro) is no different to the next to me crib we have, both firm mattresses etc so HOW DOES SHE KNOW?

Apparently the carry cot isn’t safe for unsupervised sleep due to airflow but I’m confused why because the top is uncovered? So desperate for some sleep but can’t bare the thought of trying to transfer her into her bed and her waking up

Any tips?

who said those things werent safe for your baby to sleep in? ive yet to find a baby that could stay awake in any of them as for the prams carrycot well aslong as she is strapped in securely then that is the whole purpose of owning them

Non of the things I mentioned are ‘safe’ for unsupervised, overnight sleep, apparently, I don’t mean naps. Bouncers and car seats aren’t for long use due to babies upright position, my carry cot states not for overnight sleep?