Side sleeping baby

[Nat888]

Firstly I'm not looking for anyone to approve this. I know its not the safe way for babies to sleep...

7 week old potentially has silent reflux. GP won't help until his tongue tie division next week as she said this may solve it. Fair point but I'm in a bit of a pickle right now for the below reasons...

My neighbour went to A and E last night. She has no one so knocked on my door at 4am with her 2 year old twins. She has to stay in for a while so they can investigate so they are with me. FTM so I am bloody terrified but I'll cope.

Anyway my boy will only sleep on his side. I've tried putting him on his side then moving him after 1 hr, 2 hrs, 3 hrs even but he wakes up screaming. He will sleep on his side on me or in the crib - for some reason not next to me in the bed though. Odd, but I'm too tired to work out why right now. Tilting the next to me doesn't work - he was basically sleeping upright last night and still didn't sleep. Wedge pillow was also a useless waste of money.

It's usually fine as I literally watch him sleep and my partner takes a shift in the evening for me to sleep so he is safe but today is going to be hard with two two year old to watch too - partner is at work.

Has anyone had to do this? Is there a position / aid I can use maybe?

Again -not looking for anyone to condone this. Just if anyone has had to put their little one on their side to sleep and anything else they tried or did

He is also not overly fond of being in the sling/carrier. If I move around with him in it he kicks off a bit

Does he get in that position himself?

My baby has been a side sleeper since a few weeks old as well, I usually leave her to nap and just check on her periodically instead of watching all the time because I have a toddler to entertain also.

He should be fine as long as he's getting himself on his side I think!

My DD was ALWAYS a side sleeper from birth - I am sure that if they can roll themselves onto the side themselves,they can roll back.

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable!

Bicaquu Colorful, not easily deformable baby pillow, baby shaping styling pillow, prevent rolling for(Triangle pillow white) amzn.eu/d/gUQqR1S

I used this from Amazon - was great.

Sort of.. I put him on his back at a bit of a slant and he gets on his side so not from flat on his back. @NCgoingdry thansk for that I've just ordered it! Wont solve today but hopefully helps for the future.

I think I just have to go with it a bit today and check in whenever I can. I'll try to preserve a bit with the carrier too.

All of our babies slept on their fronts in the 80s this was considered the safest at the time including my own DS. Id be interested to know how .any more deaths this caused and why.

I always napped mine on their sides, alternating the side, then they slept on their backs at night. They had lovely round heads.

The 'Back to Sleep' campaign reduced the SUDI rate by over 50%

safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/activities/SIDS/progress#:~:text=Between%202001%20and%2020098,for%20the%20same%20time%20period.

Putting babies to sleep on their back massively reduced SIDS rates.

Around 2000 babies died each year from SIDS in the 80s - it's about 200 a year today.
www.lullabytrust.org.uk/the-lullaby-trust-celebrates-25th-anniversary-of-back-to-sleep-campaign/

Oof, that's a very tall order from your neighbour. You're a FTM with a 7 week old and there's definitely nobody else who could watch her twins?

I'd use a sling for naps and put the baby to sleep on their back at night, but I find it quite hard to believe there's no one else who could help. Ok in an emergency in the middle of the night, but not for days on end. Is it just because you're off work and someone else would have to take leave?

I think she literally has no one. She said her mum can help but not until Wednesday (think because of work) Just spoke to her and she is definitely staying in for a while longer.

My partner can help tonight but yeah it feels a bit overwhelming at the moment. I'll work it out for today - hopefully she isn't in too long. She said she is feeling a bit better now and hopefully results are all good and she can come home before this evening

But yeah - I mean who knows if they find something it could be tomorrow too. I want to help and its not the little ones fault but I don't know if she would do the same for me. She was also kinda flippant about it on the phone just now like it wasn't a big deal and "mum will come Wednesday" I know she is sick but.. maybe I'm just being grumpy and mean because I'm tired

Anyway thank you all for the advice x

Yeah sorry, in the nicest possible way you are being a walkover. You can't look after 2yo twins. Tell her. She will magically find someone I'm sure. Can't believe anyone would dump toddler twins on a neighbour with a young baby, truly shocking.

I agree and I’d be surprised if any employer wouldn’t authorise leave for a grandparent on these circumstances. I’d tell her you can’t keep them tonight so her mum will need to come and collect them.
My DC has silent reflux and slept on her left for most sleeps from a very young age. It obviously isn’t ideal but neither is not enough sleep for you or DC. I don’t like the look of that cushion though. I think I’d rather use a rolled up muslin behind their back, although I didn’t use anything.

• I am being a bit of a walkover. My partner just rang her and said we can't do it over night - she said to him "ill have to get my mum to come today then" like it was always an option ... she was pretty rude to him - but you are right. It's a bit much to ask right now.. and as my partner said I honestly highly doubt she would do the same for us.

I’m glad you’ve sorted it. She’s got a bloody nerve!