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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Co-sleeping question - baby sleeping on side?

24 replies

Caz10 · 03/04/2008 21:54

Due back to work soon and I've heard many people say that bf babies may reverse cycle and feed more at night, and that co-sleeping may be a way through that.

I've always had a crap latch and am still not v confident at feeding lying down, but have managed a few times and hoping it will get easier as dd gets better head control?

i sometimes bring her into bed with me after she wakes at 6amish, feed both sides sitting up then put her back on for a "3rd" lying down as this often seems to trick her into giving me a little long lie! However when we wake up (only usually 40mins or so later) she is always lying on her side still.

Got the FSIDS bulletin email the other day that says sleeping on their side a BIG no-no.

If the point of cosleeping is so you can feed without really waking up, what do you do re this issue?

(I am a scaredy cat 1st time mum can you tell?!)

OP posts:

NorthernLurker · 03/04/2008 21:59

how old is baby?

All I can say is when we co-sleep B has very often been on her side and we've been ok - but that's just my personal experience - sure someone better informed will be along soon

Washersaurus · 03/04/2008 22:03

DS2 sleeps next to me on his side most of the night. I am very aware of his movements so I don't feel worried about it.

You have to do what you feel comfortable with though.

I am more worried about DH pulling the duvet up over his head (yes, he sleeps partly under the duvet too )

PortAndLemon · 03/04/2008 22:07

Your baby is only around 3.5 months still, yes? If you are really worried you could use one of these (that site has the best price I've found).

MegBusset · 03/04/2008 22:10

DS slept on his side in the cot from as soon as he could roll, but whenever he was in bed with me he would actually be more likely to stay on his back. He would latch on by turning his head rather than his whole body.

I felt that as there were no other risk factors involved, that I wouldn't worry about the side sleeping. But you have to do what you are comfortable with.

MamaMaiasaura · 03/04/2008 22:12

Hi caz been cosleeping with since samuel was born. He does fall asleep feeding on his side but generally rolls onto his back, sometimes he is on his side still though. I dont use a duvet but i have a sheet and 2 fleece blankets for me. Samuel has a sleeping bag.

To be honest i havent really worried about the sleeping on side thing (awen looks across to baby lying on his side atm on the sofa as didnt settle upstairs tonight)

blueshoes · 03/04/2008 22:28

caz10, I sleep very lightly when co-sleeping and bf-ing. Dcs have been in my bed at night, in ds' case, from birth.

From the way I fed, they probably fell asleep on their side. But they were also very light sleepers and frequent wakers as babies (ds still is ). I felt that they were safe.

mummyofsofs · 03/04/2008 22:43

dd has been in my bed from birth. only started putting her in the cot for the last few months (now 9months).

When she was smaller she slept on her side while and after bf and was fine. I always had her head in my arm, so made sure she was ok.

Alittle later on she started sleeping on top of me. But she is also a light sleeper so never worried too much. And I always felt aware of her in the bed even when sleeping...

susiecutiebananas · 03/04/2008 22:45

DD had a moses next to my bed. When she woke, i used to sit up and feed her, crying with exhaustion, worried if i feel asleep with her next to me lying down, something would happen! It was like torture some nights as she fed every 1.5 to 2h when newborn, as she was prem, she had a fair bit of catching up!

As she got bigger, I worried less, and she was able to control her head from very very young, in fact, I genuinely don't remember her not having some head control... anyway, she slept o her back and turned her head mostly, to feed, I'd move her on her side, and she'd roll back to her back... she was fine, and I felt more relaxed about it then. So we went to feeding pretty much all night, on and off, in bed with me. Meant I got a heck of alot more sleep. though it'd really annoy me sometimes! I'd have to take her off... until she learnt how to lift up my top! Then I had to wear a bra to stop her helping her self, as I'd get sore from SO much sucking... then she learnt how to undo the drop down cup on it...

It saved my sanity TBH. Now she is 15 months, she gets into bed with me at 5-6am, by either me, or DH, and she just suckles until we are ready to get up! Its great! She sometimes goes back to sleep, sometimes not. She just goes from one side to the other, climbing over to chage side, or lying on my body,, or standing up with her legs straight and body bent, like a baby goat or something... She wont wait longer than about half 8 though... thats when the hair pulling, pinching and last resort biting starts to wake us up!

I think also, that if you follow all the other guidelines, like bedding, pillows etc then it surely can't be any worse than them on their backs. I assume its due to the fear that hey would roll onto their front, if on side?

We use a bed safety rail on my side. She used to have her own sleeping bag too, and ours went no-where near. I also made sure our pillows were not near her either. Though now, she climbs onto them, under our duvet, and sleeps o her tummy!

gardeninggirl · 03/04/2008 22:49

Same as the other mums - have co slept for the last 6 months with my baby and he usually sleeps on his side.
I too have worried about the sids advice, but he has been fine.
I wonder if the side sleeping as a no-no relates to the fact that if the baby is in the cot alone, then they can easily end up face down from the side position. When co sleeping they can't as you are in the way. So in that way I rationalise it in my own mind.
When we were in hospital after C section the midwives always settled him on his side but with a bolster against his tummy and back to stop him rolling over. I should of asked why they felt it was safe, and I remembered meaning to at the time, but was too morphined out to do so.
Again do what you feel comfy with. You could always feed him on his side (and it is wonderful feeding lying down!) and then gently turn him onto his back when he is asleep / drowsy.
GG

blueshoes · 04/04/2008 06:54

I would also add that in my 3 years of co-sleeping and bf-ing, I never once found dcs on their front unless they could already roll, in which case they had assumed that position thjemselves. Physically, the distance between you and a baby on side with boob in mouth is probably too small for them to roll on their front after they/you have fallen asleep.

Lizzer · 04/04/2008 16:26

Hi Caz, ds used to be in with us all night but now goes down in crib then with us early hours. Like everyone has said he starts on side then onto his back when finished sucking with no problems... It does work well for us though i have to add that i've been really sore from him latching on and i'm thinking of limiting the amount of time he's in our bed ie bring him in from 5am or 6am....

Hey caz, you never know she could start sleeping through the week you go back to work-happened to a friend of mine

LOL @ susiecutie's dd working out the drop clasp on her bra!!!

Original poster

Caz10 · 04/04/2008 16:47

oh i pray for that every night lizzer!

she's feeding 3hrly at the mo, i couldn't cope with any more than that!!

also lol at the bra unfastening, did you padlock next?!!

Seriously, thank you all for your advice, I guess I will just have to take it as it comes...I've never actually had her in with me and allowed her to latch on by herself - maybe I will try that next to see if she can!

Thanks!

OP posts:

thebluefoxategreensocks · 04/04/2008 23:04

My first baby was quite small (under 6lb) and she was in bed with me from birth (happened out of necessity as she would not sleep anywhere else, but would be my choice now ). I'm guessing she was frequently on her side, tho sometimes it works with baby on back and just the head turned. I think you'll find you get loads more sleep with baby in bed, especially if she feeds frequently. My 2nd baby (son) preferred to sleep in a crib next to my bed from the start, but I'd always take him into bed with me for feeds and he'd often stay for a while. Now at 12 months old, he actually prefers to sleep snuggled up next to me and I never really know when he feeds or when he doesn't! I think he just helps himself and we both sleep! lol It's loads better than having to get up & down to put them back in their bed. Just wouldn't mind a slightly larger bed, as a double bed isn't much room for 3 of us (and occasionally 4 when our 2yo comes in the night!).

Hope you have lots of success with co-sleeping - it's great! x

Ineedsomesleep · 06/04/2008 08:59

DS wouldn't lie down to feed so it wasn't an issue for me that time. DD loves co-sleeping, in fact its the only way we all get some sleep.

She sleeps on her side next to me. I figure that if you haven't had a drink/overtired/taken drugs then you will wake up if they are in trouble.

This is just imo but I think a lot of the advice on SIDS is aimed at ffing not bfing.

And i've heard that in countries where bfing and co-sleeping are the norm, SIDS is virtually unheard of.

I'd give it a go, but you might take a couple of nights to feel comfortable doing it.

smileyhappymummy · 06/04/2008 09:05

I had this with my little girl when she was about 8 weeks old. I asked the health visitor and she said she thought it must be alright, as this is probably how pretty much all bf co-sleeping babies sleep - and co-sleeping seems safe if breast feeding!

Original poster

Caz10 · 06/04/2008 12:29

Great, thanks all!

Next question - and hope you don't mind!! -those of you who's LOs can feed just by turning their heads - do you have (ahem) larger boobs? Mine are pretty tiny and I don't think dd would reach like that! i wish she could, that would make me feel safer about the whole thing!

OP posts:

MamaMaiasaura · 06/04/2008 14:29

caz - yes i have large ones (j cup)

Washersaurus · 06/04/2008 17:37

Mine are C and DS2 (8mo) usually manages to find them OK . I think latching themselves on is something that they get better at as they get older.

Ineedsomesleep · 06/04/2008 18:05

(waves at Wash) ..............mine are only C too, I think babies are much better at finding their food supply than I'd ever imagined they could be so don't worry about that either.

Loopymumsy · 06/04/2008 21:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MamaMaiasaura · 07/04/2008 11:22

know what you mean loopy have had hickies over my boobs and explained to dp tghat the baby did it lol (blinking hurts too!)

Ineedsomesleep · 09/04/2008 16:19

Caz, just wondering how you were getting on now and thought you might like to take a look at this

Original poster

Caz10 · 09/04/2008 16:27

That's great thanks!

We've been trying a few naps together - she seems to need me to help her get latched on - but again I haven't tried her being there all night, still a bit scared tbh.

I think it will be something we do more as she gets older - esp if this frequent night feeding continues!

OP posts:

MamaMaiasaura · 11/04/2008 22:25

re the sleeping on side thing, have a pic on my profile of ds2 doing just that

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