Chicco Next2Me - Please Help!

[FirstTimer2020]

Hi everyone,
Panicking a bit and just wondered if someone could put me at ease. My 2mo loves her Chicco Next2Me (Elegance) and we use it against our bed with the side down and there is a little thin strip of material left up presumably to stop any accidents should it move away from the bed or something. But, no matter where I put her in the crib, she manages to wriggle her way across to this side panel and smush her face against it. I was worried at first, then I was ok for a few weeks and now I'm worried again that this might increase her risk of SIDS by sleeping this way. I've tried moving her but she will always move back. Any advice?

We had the Dream and our baby did that too. I think it's quite normal. We asked the health visitor about it and she said that it was because it was more comforting to be against something as that was what it was like in the womb. If she's voluntarily sleeping like that then that's ok, I believe the SIDS advice is more about you as a parent putting them face down to sleep rather than them doing it themselves. I can't remember now what they do when but is she rolling around a bit now? I presume so from what you've said... Can she roll front to back? (Again I can't remember when they do it and my baby is only a fortnight off one) as once she's doing that you really don't need to worry as they can definitely get themselves back out.

@Cardboard33 oh ok, I've taken a picture so I might show my HV when she is next around. She can't roll over yet no, but since week 2 she's been able to move herself sideways with her legs. She does move her head in different positions so it's not always facing the crib, I just worry whether she will be breathing in her own carbon dioxide if she's facing the side for too long.

Show the photo to your HV as it's what they're there for and it will put your mind at rest once you hear their thoughts. Once they can move then no matter what you do they'll move themselves back to where they find comfortable - my baby currently sleeps on his head in a downward dog style pose but whatever! We never put the mesh side back up on our Chicco, it stayed permanently down until the baby moved out of our room at 6 months.

I think this is OK - it's why the sides are made of mesh and part of why cot bumpers aren't recommended any more, because babies will typically do this.

However check there isn't a lip between you, I am sure it should be either totally up or totally down rather than having a lip - there was an NCT bednest which was recalled because this was found to be dangerous and redesigned.

Mine does have a half height material side panel, should it not have that? I was under the impression they all had that?

This isn't mine, but you can see the side panel in this photo

I'm not sure, sorry, I haven't used this specific one. Maybe check in the manual as to whether this is OK. It might be that it was more solid in the one that was recalled.

I think they are all like that. Mine isnt a Chicco but has that. My DS did exactly what you describe on our first night home and I lay awake all night moving him back. He slept against the edge u ill he was quite a big bigger. My Midwife & HV said it was ok but obviously ask yours for advice.

Yeah my side panel definitely isn't solid, if she did manage to put any weight on it, it would just bend! Oh Brill, thanks @cazinge - I will still check, I worry about everything excessively and this is the latest thing!

If it helps OP, my DS did the same thing. I figured he was looking for the comfort of the womb, and if he got himself there he could move away too. He used to wriggle from the middle of the crib to right up to the edge, and although it made me nervous at first, there was nothing I could do to stop it. He was born with his nose squished slightly to one side, so I wonder if he had his face pressed up against something before he was born too.

My baby did that too. She’s always slept with her face in something. She’s now 5!

I dont have a next to me but my DS is 4 weeks old and rolls onto his side to sleep on a night but i don't mind as he can move his head and roll so he's fine but i think some babies just loathe been on their backs to sleep so if she can roll and move herself i wouldn't be worried i think the sids advice is more about not putting them into those positions yourself

My 3 month old dc2 is doing this every night and I'm honestly not worried.... I can't stop her, and I'm lying right next to her. Plus it's firm, not as if it's a squidgy crib bumper. I really wouldn't worry about it

Thanks everyone! Looks like a lot of babies are the same which is very reassuring! X

My LO does the same thing. I think its cute and it's because he wants to be close to me.