Feet to Foot

[InternetDad]

Hello Folks,

Now my darling wife has reached 30 weeks, I've moved from fretting about the pregnancy to fretting about SIDS. We're keen to establish a routine and sleeping pattern early so are considering baby being in his room from day-1, but reducing the risk of SIDS is my top priority at the moment (though I appreciate it's not foolproof).

I've been reading that growbags are good for SIDS because there is no loose bedding to obstruct the baby's face, but that seems to present an issue with the feet to foot advice, as there is a lot of excess growbag between their feet and the end of the cot/basket!

Any tips Mums?

I think as zippy has said, the baby will really lead the way initially. We have a routine now (15 months) but that didn't even start until weaning began, I don't think I could've done it.

A routine doesn't guarantee anything (particularly not the much sought sleep!). One of our NCT group had a small baby (5lb) he obviously doubled his birth weight quite quickly (easier than say a 10lb baby doubling theirs), and was then onto a routine. I can't say that it has achieved anything at all. He's a crap eater and a crap sleeper (and not very well progressed but that's by the by), whereas the other babies have all really gone from strength to strength - but this is purely anecdotal of course!!

And yes a routine can be established without it being strict or in own room. When small out routine would be roughly baby in clean babygrow, fed and settled to sleep in living room around 9pm. At 11pm/12 we would take them into our bed and co sleep for the night. Still a vague routine

I remember very clearly one night when ds1 was little and I said to dh 'get me that book' (the baby whisperer book) and crying my eyes out because I was doing everything it said in the book and ds was crying and I was crying and we were all in despair. 'Why is he not doing what it says in the bloody book' oh looking back I should have burned it (not the baby, the book that is).

So my advice is obviously op you will do what you feel is right but pls don't let a book written by someone years ago, someone who doesn't know you or your baby, dictate what your baby should do, when it should be tired or hungry, and basically listen to your instinct. And be safe!

Please keep things in perspective - SIDS is every parent's biggest nightmare, but a healthy baby born to non-smoking parents doing all the right things is far more likely to NOT succumb to SIDS than it is.

Follow the advice, but do remember to enjoy your baby and marvel at its perfectness.
Re routine: yes, inform yourself about different ways of dealing with v new babies - and then accept that the baby will have you trained in no time at all!

I would wait to see what kind of baby you have before you worry about routine. There is no way my daughter wanted a routine until she was about 7 months and she happily did as she pleased and was content with that.

In relation to SIDS could you take it in turns to sleep in the baby's room if there is no room for a Moses basket in your room? Take a look at the lullaby trust website for up to date information in reducing the risk.