Reflux baby will only sleep on sofa with dad!!!

[mummy2lola]

Hi there. I'm a bit worried & need some advice. Ds is 7 weeks and has suffered from terrible reflux from day 1 ( on ranitidine, dompeidone & sma staydown milk) but will only sleep in the corner of the corner of a with her dad, swaddled & with her soother. We've had a terrible 7 weeks with reflux as first time parents who've had to learn pretty quick & with little midwife/HIV support.

Ds used to scream all night due to her reflux, but since my other half started swaddling her & letting her sleep in the corner of the corner sofa, she gets a good 8 hours sleep at night.

I understand its hard for reflux babies to lie flat, but I've brought a reflux memory foam wedge for ds so she can have her head elevated in her Moses basket.

How can I get her sleeping in a better place than the sofa, which has become the habit & my other half is happy to carry this on if it means 8 hours sleep. I'd be happier if she kept somewhere safer I. E. her Moses. Basket .. Anywhere but the sofa. What can you suggest? I know the r isk of cot death is high on sofas, even though other half is very careful. Look cowed to some good honest IDE as & dont thinking a bad mum for allowing this.

Contact Alison Scott-Wright through her webpage or through Facebook. She is an expert on reflux and on sleep problems. Hope this helps.

Falling asleep on the sofa is dangerous if your DP is also asleep. Have you looked into safe co-sleeping in bed? Google for info. with my baby I'm letting her fall asleep on me then after about 15 mins moving her to her Moses basket, gently. have you tried that?

Sleeping on the sofa is very dangerous. Sorry!

When my ds reflux was at its absolute worst we used to let him nap in his bouncy chair and take that up to bed with us as it was slightly elevated which seemed to help and he was strapped in so couldn't go anywhere! It's not ideal butwhen they are only sleeping for a few hours between feeds and have reflux it might help.

Also put books etc under the end of the Moses basket (outside the basket itself) to bring the head end up so the baby isn't lying flat.

Hi everyone- thanks for your replies. I'm aware it is dangerous, which is why I'm desperately seeking an alternative. Have tried literally everything. Tried elevating cot and Moses basket, letting her fall asleep on me and then transferring her to a safe sleeping place. May look into safe co sleeping, as in the evening when the reflux is at its worst, ds seems to need constant reassurance and closeness at the moment, so safe co sleeping may help. It's so difficult with reflux and frustrating to see her in pain and can only do so much. Please don't think of me as a bad mother- that's why I'm here for advice on how to do the right thing. Thinking I might take the side off her cot and have it next to my bed, so I can put my hand on her stomach for reassurance while she sleeps safely- in fact..... I'm going to go get my screwdriver out now!!!!!

Hello, I have a refluxy baby too, she hates lying back even slightly and only manages small sleeping periods in a bouncy chair for example. We co sleep, I have a side car crib but she prefers to be in with us and tbh it's far better for getting some sleep, I lay her on her left side/or tilted over to the left with a blanket tucked more under one side and I lie on my right and often nurse like this too, we follow all the safe bed sharing guidelines and I've never felt unsafe with her there as the slightest stir and I'm awake and tending to her (also means no crying so dad is sleeping through). We have a waterproof mattress protected then our sheet, she sleeps on a towel and sheet on this is makes the washing easier, I was swaddling too but now she's in a sleeping bag at 9 weeks old. GL x

I second the sleeping bag. Stay awake until baby is asleep,and a sleeping bag means you can transfer them easily to somewhere safe.
It's the moving them to cold sheets that wakes them I think.A sleeping bag stays warm and cosy and smells the same wherever they are.
I also had the cot next to the bed at the same level so I could just shuffle the baby across.And put a top of mine in the cot for the comforting smell.

It's really hard for you OP,at the moment, but it will pass.You really have to stop the sleeping on the sofa,as it's dangerous- you know that.Good luck and Happy New Year!