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Children's health

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Baby unable to sleep on back

5 replies

Grey1234 · 21/11/2019 07:31

So my five week old is not able to sleep on his back.

Basically whenever he gets put down he has phlegm in the back of his throat or up his nose (both) that comes up and causes him distress. He'll wake within five minutes to half an hour. It can sound like he's choking. In turn this is causing me a lot of distress. I'm very sleep deprived. Last night I fell asleep with him in my arms. I'm heavily relying on other people to come in while I catch up with sleep during the day so I can get sleep at night so that my husband can sleep then as he goes to work during the day.

Last night we went to the doctor's. They said that nothing is wrong with his lungs or heart. That it sounds like this is a lingering cold or similar. But the issue is is that it's been getting worse, and I'm stressed to my eyeballs.

Has anyone been through anything similar? Do you know a possible cause? At the moment it is coming up for winter and the temperature is so cold that we need the heating on a lot. This is causing the air to be dry in the house. My husband thinks this may be an issue so we're getting a humidifier today.

I'm very worried about him. During the day I need to stay awake but I'm finding it more and more difficult. I've tried bed sharing in terms of him sleeping next to me directly in the bed, but even that doesn't fix the problem.

The midwives where I am recommend only allowing him to sleep on his back.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 21/11/2019 07:36

Could you put towels under the mattress to prop his head up a little. The back is the safest sleeping position

Pinkblueberry · 21/11/2019 07:40

If the air is too dry put out some bowls of water or spray the curtains with some. Raising the mattress with another blanket or towel underneath might help? I did this for my DS who had reflux and really struggled sleeping on his back. Not sure if he’s too young for some snuffle spray? It’s just that time of year for colds and babies and toddlers will get a lot of them because they’re still building up immunity.

Witchend · 22/11/2019 14:37

The back is the safest sleeping position, but dd2 would not sleep on her back at all. As soon as she could, she flipped onto her front. She rolled back to front very early as she is missing a hand, so found it easier.

The simplest thing to try is raising the top of the cot. It does work fairly well that.

han01uk · 22/11/2019 14:40

Is it reflux? Are the secretions milky? Definitely worth trying to prop the head end of the bed up when he's lying flat. Nasal drops might help clear after a cold etc,but sounds like it might be reflux if it's ongoing post feeding.

Anyoneever · 22/11/2019 17:56

Cranial osteopathy helped my DS in this situation. Something to do with his birth apparently (forceps). May be worth trying if you had a c section or forceps or similar.

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