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Original poster

2week old DD refusing to sleep on her back

21 replies

Sparklesandglitter · 08/09/2012 08:24

My 2 week old DD is usually a bit difficult to settle in her Moses basket but will sleep in it from about 2.30am until 9.30am (of cause she has feeds/changes in that time!) but last nite she refused to sleep in her basket and screamed when she was placed on her back. As soon as I put her on her front on my tummy she's slept instantly. She was fed, warm, dry. Any ideas why she was/is so unsettled on her back and what I can do to help? Thanks

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PurpleAndPoppyWearer · 08/09/2012 08:27

Sleeping on her tummy is probably helping with wind. My DS was like this. Unfortunately with the safety guidance you need to persist with back-sleeping. maybe try massaging her tummy (left to right or clockwide around her tummy button) or lay her on you on her front until she's asleep, then put her down? That should help to shift any wind.

DS and I finally reached a compromise where he was happy to sleep on his side. But as soon as he could roll himself over, he started sleeping on his tummy and has done ever since.

Original poster

Sparklesandglitter · 08/09/2012 08:29

Is wind the same as colic? Thanks

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Herrena · 08/09/2012 08:32

Gas, maybe? My 7 week old DS is gassier than his older brother and will often settle down if we turn him over to face downwards (i.e. he's lying on his stomach on our arms rather than on his back as would be normal). Sometimes he burps, sometimes not, but it generally soothes. We keep him at an angle so head is higher than feet - makes it easier for air to come up.

All I can really suggest other than that is a rigorous burping procedure - don't let her lie down until she belches! How ladylike :)

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Herrena · 08/09/2012 08:33

Wind = gas, btw. AFAIK colic is a catch-all term for 'we don't know why they're crying'! Many cases of colic are probably due to trapped wind though IMO.

ilovesprouts · 08/09/2012 08:34

my 7 week old gd hates sleeping on her back so she sleeps on her tummy with her head to to side sleeps much better .

Whatevertheweather · 08/09/2012 08:39

My 3 week old dd was a bit like this - struggled with wind pain when put in Moses basket on her back. We've started giving her a dummy to suck just as we put her down, seems to relax her tummy enough to fall asleep then the dummy falls out and she doesn't look for it again.

I know they say not to use dummies until 6ish weeks if b/f but it hasn't confused's ds's latch at all.

Original poster

Sparklesandglitter · 08/09/2012 08:39

She will sleep all day on her tummy but I'm too wary to let her sleep like that!
I can't wait till she can roll over and sleep how she wants!

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Original poster

Sparklesandglitter · 08/09/2012 08:40

I have tried her with a dummy but she won't take it

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conorsrockers · 08/09/2012 08:42

2 out of 3 of mine slept on their tummies. It's the only way they would sleep, how about propped up on her side? ....
Is she swaddled?

littleoldme · 08/09/2012 08:47

This is a tough one. Ds2 gave us 5 months of sleepless nights because he couldn't sleep on his back and we couldn't bring ourselves to put him on his front. We ended up with she carrying him in the sling where he slept til his 1 am feed then I'd get up and put him to sleep in his car seat for 2 hours. Then I'd get up and do my best to resettle him. Once he could turn himself over he settled fine. Good luck c

Fairylea · 08/09/2012 08:50

I'd buy some big muslin squares and try swaddling her. She probably feels more secure on her front - swaddling should have the same feeling. Sometimes the startle reflex is very strong.

(Disclaimer - I have a thread today about my ds 12 weeks waking ready to start the day at 3am so I'm no expert but swaddling him in the early weeks really helped!!!)

Original poster

Sparklesandglitter · 08/09/2012 08:51

No she's not swaddled, she hates being wrapped up, she will kick off any blankets that she has tucked in. She does prefer her Side to her back but refused to sleep like that too. Literally she's asleep on me now, if i put her on her back she screams if i put her back on to me she's asleep in
Seconds

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hlipop · 08/09/2012 09:13

my 2nd baby was like this she would not settle unless she was on her front - so i let her sleep on her front in the moses basket, the pram and across my knee, it made her so much happier!! do what you think is best for your baby (yes i KNOW the guidelines say lie them on their back but i white lied to our HV - she never knew)

ByTheWay1 · 08/09/2012 09:24

It is really interesting to hear how many are put to sleep on their front here - the guide lines state back to sleep is absolutely the thing to reduce the chances of cot-death - so how many people are lying to their HV and totally swaying the statistics about how cot death has reduced due to back sleeping?

hlipop · 08/09/2012 09:32

meee i definately lied because i didn't feel the need to be lectured at re the chances of cot-death - i just wanted a happy baby that slept if she tried on her back their was screaming forEVERRR!! I used a fitted moses basket and never had toys etc in the moses basket as she is now 18months and can move herself i put her down on her back in the cot (as it's easier) and she rolls to how she wants to sleep

Fairylea · 08/09/2012 09:43

Even if she hates blankets I would definitely give the swaddling a go or buy a swaddle pod from jojomaman or wherever. Its having their arms tight against their bodies that makes them feel secure, its not quite the same as having a blanket over them... But you may be right and she may hate it!!!

conorsrockers · 08/09/2012 11:15

I never 'lied' to my HV - I never saw one. I just did whatever worked, tbh I didn't read any of the leaflets/advice. For me parenting was an instinct thing, not a textbook thing so I didn't have a reason not to lie them on their fronts! But I agree with you - the statistics I am sure are seriously flawed .....

Original poster

Sparklesandglitter · 08/09/2012 17:10

Swaddling is a definate no!i just tried it and she screamed the house down!lol

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ProphetOfDoom · 08/09/2012 17:19

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MamaBear17 · 08/09/2012 20:43

Swaddling might help - I used cellular blankets folded into triangles. The other option is to use a rolled up blanket and place her on her side. I did this with my dd and used a baby movement monitor. Sleeping on her side really seemed to help and felt a little more 'safe' than letting her sleep on her tummy. Some nights, when nothing else would work, I also lay her on a pillow and co-slept with her snuggled in next to me (of course I didnt put the quilt over her). xx

Dutchie77 · 11/09/2012 07:02

Our son didn't want to sleep on his back. DH is also a 'belly sleeper'. So we ordered an Aerosleep matrass and cover, bought and Anglecare sensorpad baby monitor and put DS on his belly. Children that are put asleep on their belly, only have 0.1 % more risk on cot death then back sleepers..... Believe me, we read every scientific article about this. I was very reluctant to put DS on his belly. Everybody warns you, but hey, we we put on our bellies and the advice changes every 10 years.

After three tiring weeks, we decide to put him ons his belly and hooray... He slept 4 hours straight. With all the precautions we took, it felt pretty safe to put him on his belly.

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