I keep falling asleep whilst feeding lying down - is this safe??

[Marchmummy23]

Hi,

I’ve new to MN and never posted before, I just can’t seem to find the advice I’m looking for online.

I’m combi feeding my 3.5 month baby and breastfeed through the night. He used to sleep fine in his next to me, but since he’s started rolling he would wake himself up every time we put him down. Since, I’ve started safely co sleeping with him and recently have started feeding lying down which has been great for sleep and he seems happier this way.

My concern is that he and me will fall asleep whilst he’s feeding/still latched, or if he comes off he’ll stay nuzzled in my breast. I’ll wake up in a panic that he’s not able to breathe being so close to me, but he won’t roll (even if I’m awake) back on his back. Is this safe or should I stay awake whilst he feeds? No matter what I do, he’ll always gravitate towards my breast and get as close as poss and sleeps on his side with his face inbetween breasts or against one.

Any advice will be great! I’ve cried myself to sleep many nights worrying about sids and I just need to know we’re being safe.

Thank you! First time mum here x

Hey , congratulations on your baby 😌

i am no expert but i can give my opinion. Any form of co sleeping is just dangerous even though so many parents do it. Be as careful as you wish. But being sleep deprived can easily turn into a deep sleep when your eyes shut from exhaustion! And breasts can easily block babies airways if you are asleep and not seeing.

Is it worth the risk? No.
And co sleeping can also turn into disaster when you finally want baby in their own cot. They will want your bed with you always!

Starting a good sleep pattern early will help you in the long run!

And i also do believe no baby should be fed lying down even if they seem happy. Wind can get stuck. They may even choke on sick whilst you have fallen asleep. we don't eat dinner or drink laying down. If you wake in the night for a drink , you sit up.

Not sure if this was helpful , parenting is a whole new world of learning! Good luck 🤞🏻 😌

http://https//www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/

It’s fine OP, just stick to the safety precautions outlined in the link above.

Please ignore the hysterical post upthread, as the person said themselves- they are not an expert.

unfortunately cosleeping tragedy statistics are overwhelmingly made up by parents terrified of co sleeping that they pass out on the sofa holding their babies. That terror comes from the same place as the nonsense above. That, and parents under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

research the safe 7 - make sure you are following that.

Your partner shouldn’t be in bed with you at this stage, so as long as you are sleeping alone with baby- all good.

feeding to sleep, laying down is perfectly normal and natural. You are tuned into your baby and will be in the natural c-shape position whilst feeding them. You might find that baby snacks throughout the night whilst you sleep!

I agree with what previous poster said I coslept and breastfed from birth until my son was a year old and naturally started sleeping through the night. I fell asleep all the time whilst feeding lying down. I found at around 5 months he was able to turn and lean in to feed by himself, he wouldn't even really wake properly. If you are sleeping in a safe position you should be fine.

I Co slept with Al 4 of mine. I followed the guidelines.

It's safe if you make it safe.

Definitely safer despite what the PP says. I went to a presentation by BASIS years ago and they claimed that co-sleeping is actually safer as long as you follow the safe bedsharing guidelines.

Ignore hysterical PP 🙃

Co sleeping as a breastfeeding mother is very safe. Look at the lullaby trust and the La Leche league information on it. Enjoy the extra sleep 👍

After falling asleep standing up during the four month regression, I started cosleeping out of necessity.

I followed the safe 7 to the letter.

And remember a dream where I was being pecked on the tit by a woodpecker.

Reader, ‘twas my baby.

Can’t decide if you do or don’t need to hear that he’s currently snoring in my armpit, age 3.5.

I coslept and BF all four of my babies and spent ages researching the subject. If it weren’t safe the human race would have died out thousands of years ago as this was the normal way we used to sleep and still is in many countries around the world. As long as you want to do and and follow the safe guidelines of course.

I did exactly this with all of mine. It's what my mum did, so I never really questioned it.

However, I do have a colleague who's friend lost a baby by rolling onto them, so definitely read the safety guidance above.

Bedshared with my 3yo until he went in a cot at 18m. Bedsharing and breastfeeding my 5mo currently. Learn how to lie safely (on your side, legs bent, arm closest to mattress straight out. Not the most comfortable but you won't roll and baby will wake you when they want to latch in the night. Keep all blankets and pillows well away from baby. Wear a dressing gown if you're cold. Enjoy your sleep.

Most co sleeping deaths are caused by not following the sleep safe seven and influenced by drugs and or alcohol. Poor bed design like ill fitting mattresses and iron bar style head and foot boards also account for some.
If you follow the safe 7 you'll be fine. I have breastfed and coslept with both mine and my youngest I referred to as the cig paper baby as he'd sleep exactly as you describe, more or less nose to breast with no room for a cig paper between us (not that I smoke). I did side lay and feed both of mine as it was a way to get more sleep although I don't think it was ever a really deep sleep. I stopped feeding just after my sons first birthday and he is now 2 and has slept independently and right through for a year. My daughter on the otherhand at the age of 4 regularly ends the night in my bed with her dad in hers.

Ahhh my coziest times are co sleeping with my baby. I’ve done it since birth. It’s natural. As long as you follow the guidelines you’re good. Once my baby started rolling oh his own I wasn’t worried about placing him on his back. As a breastfeeding mum you’ll be very attuned to your babies needs in the night

haha same. Weird uncomfortable dream of a horse (why) pecking my boob

What a nonsense. It is much safer to feed lying down and fall asleep than risk falling asleep whilst sat up feeding baby on a sofa. The vast majority of 'co sleeping' deaths are when parents have fallen asleep of sofas with their baby's.

There is no evidence that I am aware of that feeding a baby whilst lying down is risky.

Agree that mumpower’s reply above is bollocks.

I wasn’t able to breastfeed but i safely coslept with my DS as he would only otherwise nap on me and I had to sleep somehow. As long as you keep to the ‘c’ position which should prevent you from rolling over, and the other guidance such as no smoking, you should be fine. I do also have friends who told me they did exactly what you’re doing and they were all fine at got sleep.

Babies lay down when they are feeding anyway so that's not going to make a difference.

Co-sleeping helped me get rest and I didn't always need to do it every night, so follow the guidelines and it minimises the risk.

When I had my DC we were given co-sleeping guidelines in the hospital upon discharge.

This brought back memories of DD sleeping tucked up in my armpit. She loved it there though god knows why. Later in she would roll over, belch and go back to sleep

When you co-sleep and bf you kind of naturally roll into a position where you are curved round the baby with your arm curved above your head and round their back... it does work.

I found that I slept but never deeply - I always knew that ds was there.

Follow all the safe sleeping guidelines though, and no alcohol or cigarettes. Or drugs.

Thank you all so much, I do follow the guidance. It’s just how close he ends up sleeping to me rather than staying on his back with a gap between us. Guess it’s natural for them to want to be so close to us!

Yes cig paper baby haha! The biggest worry I have. But comforting to know it’s normal

You're doing great - congratulations on your little tot ❤️
I'm still breastfeeding and cosleeping with my ds 21mo. I can't sleep without him noozled into me now

I co slept with and breastfed both of mine, they're now 16 and 11. I didn't follow any guidance on it and just did what I had to to get some sleep tbh.