Scared my phone could have hurt DS :(

[newmum234]

I have a white noise app on my smartphone that I use throughout all DS's naps and at bedtime. I've been leaving my phone in his cot with the app playing constantly. I wedge it between the cot and the mattress so it's secure, and it's only about 20cm from his head.

I randomly started wondering earlier if it's okay for a baby to be so close to a mobile phone, Googled and came across this article:

www.mirror.co.uk/science/you-should-never-your-baby-9935251

Now I'm really worried that I've exposed him to electromagnetic fields and am feeling terrible Could I have harmed him?! DS is 5.5 months.

[OverTheRainbow88]

@Feminist10101

Why keep on the attack of a new mum? Shouldn’t we support fellow women? You are doing a disservice to your username.

Going to bed at 12- noon clearly worked for you, excellent, but it won’t work for others. OPs baby is 6 months in a couple of week anyway.

[newmum234]

Use an alexa or a google mini and play through that - it does 12 hours!

Thanks. I will be using my mobile phone on airplane mode (which I understand is totally safe) until I buy a white noise machine, Alexa or similar from Amazon.

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

@feminist10101 u ok hun? Xoxox

[newmum234]

@1940s that's terrible, I'm so sorry.

[OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow]

The Mirror-that bastion of scientific research. He’ll be fine.

[Genericnewnumusername]

My four month old DD goes to bed in our room about 7.30/8, and yes, I do go upstairs and stay with her for the rest of the night - I take a drink and my kindle and chill out on the bed until my husband comes up about 10.30. Seems strange that you’re so panicked about something that isn’t a risk at all, but willing to go against guidelines that are there for a reason

[buzz91]

Also have a myHummy - expensive but the Bluetooth version is great and it’s portable, I’ve used it at other people’s homes, the train, out and about

[newmum234]

Good for you @Genericnewnumusername if that's what works for you. However, I don't want to spend every single evening in my bedroom thanks - I would go absolutely mad.

[JassyRadlett]

@newmum234 The quote is from the doctor in the Mirror article - just buried in the piece as it’s too reassuring to be good clickbait!

[BertieBotts]

The baby is going to be 6 months old in 2 weeks and is past the risk period for sids so yes, he will be absolutely fine in the bedroom alone. Don't worry about it.

[Moonshinemisses]

Leaving the baby to sleep in his room of an evening seems perfectly normal to me at this age. Outside of mumsnet I dont know anyone who sits in the babies room all evening.

[1940s]

@Letsallscreamatthesistene I think the least you can say on this matter is not calling anyone who follows or recommends the guidelines as baby sleep police regurgitating guidelines. It's a risk you have chosen to take. However it's a risk not everyone is comfortable doing any some of us 'regurgitating' guidelines have deeply tragic reasons to want to.

[newmum234]

@JassyRadlett lol - I didn’t get that far. I just read the first bit and panicked!

[newmum234]

@JassyRadlett thanks for sharing that though, it has really put my mind at rest x

[newmum234]

Outside of mumsnet I dont know anyone who sits in the babies room all evening.

Neither do I!

[JassyRadlett]

You’re very welcome! Glad it helped.

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

But the guidelines ARE regurgitated time and time again, with no thought or perspective.

[ScarMatty]

Wow Mumsnet sleep police in force tonight!

OP guidelines are just that, guidelines. You way things up, as you do every day as a parent, and decide what is best for you and your family.

The phone won't have harmed your child. Just maybe put it further away now?

You don't need to wean your child off white noise.

[Ohalrightthen]

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

But the guidelines ARE regurgitated time and time again, with no thought or perspective.

Ah yes, all those mindless sheeple taking heavily researched medical advice to minimise the risks of their babies dying.

[Changedmynameagain1]

Just ignore most of the posts OP! At 5.5 months both of ours were in their own bedrooms from 6pm each night.


We use too white noise machines, we do have a MyHummy but in all honesty it’s not great and we don’t rate it at all. We’ve got an old one from mamas and papas that is an owl but has an hour setting for white noise. This works a treat.
We only use this as we send it to nursery as well, something else that might more work is an Alexa? As you ask Alexa to play for 12 hours etc... so that might work really well. We used Alexa in the living room for naps.

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

@ohalrightthen im not sure how your reply fits in with what ive been saying? My point is that people weigh up risks and does what suits their family, yet MN sleep police seem to forget that and jump all over people who dont follow guidelines without any real thought about it.

As an aside, I did A LOT of research into the topic before making an informed decision. I read research papers and the consensus is that nobody knows what causes SIDS, so when looking into a SIDS death everything surrounding it is taken into account. Then the guidelines are based around that. Sleeping in the same room is ONE factor, and its not even the one that comes out top each time. Alcohol, smoking and falling asleep on the sofa with your baby are. Heat and undiscovered heart defects are also in there. Yet on MN everyone gets super excited about sleeping in the same room. But yes, as you rightly pointed out, 'sheeple' indeed.

[ScarMatty]

@Ohalrightthen

You make it sound as if those who didn't follow the guidelines didn't read heavily into the medical science behind them.

When I had DS the guidelines were not to co sleep. Guess what all the actual science said? Oh, that co sleeping was perfectly safe if done correctly.

So yes, guidelines are just that, guidelines.

Do not for one second try and make out as though a mother who hasn't followed the guidelines is inferior to you.

[newmum234]

Thanks for the posts @Letsallscreamatthesistene and @ScarMatty.

[corythatwas]

My four month old DD goes to bed in our room about 7.30/8, and yes, I do go upstairs and stay with her for the rest of the night - I take a drink and my kindle and chill out on the bed until my husband comes up about 10.30. Seems strange that you’re so panicked about something that isn’t a risk at all, but willing to go against guidelines that are there for a reason

So how do you envisage people with multiple children dealing with this? Genuinely interested.

(Actually I know what I did when I had a 5 month old and a 4yo. It wasn't sit stock still in his room the whole time he slept or napped while leaving her to her own devices).

OP, I think it's highly unlikely you've exposed your baby to any harm. Or to put it a different way- all our babies get exposed to something or other (because of where we live or how we cope or by accident), you can't worry about it all.

I'd say it's probably better to do without the white noise unless you have a poor sleeper (then you just do what you have to do!), simply because having a baby that can sleep in different environment and with different kinds of noise going on makes your life easier. An older baby or toddler who will nap in their pushchair at the zoo or on a busy train means you can be less house-bound. SO from that pov you might find it practical to let your lo get used to yourself and your dh speaking and moving normally around the house. If it poses a problem you can always rethink it.

[newmum234]

Thanks. I’m now using my phone on airplane mode and have lowered the volume of the white noise, with a view to phasing it out altogether...