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Sleep

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Original poster

baby only will sleep with blanket covering face

17 replies

xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 14:49

im worried my baby will smother herself because she will only sleep if her blanket is completely covering her face and she wont move it and wakes up most of the time when i move it. also when she wakes in the night if i take her blanket off she will shove her face in it and fall back asleep i want to just leave it but i dont want to wake up to a blue baby shes 6 and a half months old

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Teaandcakeplease · 04/04/2012 16:23

You sound like such a lovely caring mum. A few of my nephews and nieces also did this (I have 10 nieces/ nephews). There should be enough air in there and movement of air for her to breathe but perhaps you should have a chat with your health visitor?

My son slept on his tummy from a young age as he slept better and I used to constantly check him anxiously. It can be nerve racking.

But I'm sure she will be fine but you could sleep train her to manage without it if you want?

Original poster

xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 16:46

she would only be able to sleep if i breastfed her to sleep which would take an hour because she used me as a pacifer, she wont take real pacifiers she just screams. she was waking up at least 6 times at night until i couldnt take it anymore and i started giving her formula at night (2-6oz depending on how hungry she is) and she started only waking up once or twice at night and i give her the bottle and her blankey and she flips it over her head or bunches it up and pushes her face in it. im so happy to be getting sleep but im always waking up and looking at her moniter to find that she put the blanket over her head again. i try and take it off when she falls asleep.

OP posts:

ragged · 04/04/2012 16:52

don't think there's a problem if cotton / breathable fabric. Baby dc3 did this lots

Teaandcakeplease · 04/04/2012 16:54

You have to either continue removing it once she's asleep. But she may put it back as she gets bigger. Or sleep train her? I actually did mine at 4 months. Pick up put down is a more gentle method, than CC but takes longer and persistence. It's tricky you love them so much and you do not want to upset her with sleep training to manage without the blanket on her face but don't want her to suffocate herself either. Rock and hard place spring to mind.

wendieann · 04/04/2012 16:55

I don't see it a problem as my son did the same....

Original poster

xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 16:57

i do take it off when she falls asleep its fine for naps but in the middle of the night she will cry till she gets her blankey this was my sleep training i wanted her blankey as a prop instead of me i cant sleep without a blanket over my head either so i know how she feels but i make breath holes:(

OP posts:

TheDowager · 04/04/2012 16:58

So make some breath holes in it?

Original poster

xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 17:08

she bunches it up its not like its just the one layer over her face

OP posts:

littletomato · 04/04/2012 18:56

sleeping bag and then give her a small light muslin square for face?

Original poster

xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 20:13

she doesnt need the blanket for her body just her face and whats a muslin square

OP posts:

saladspinner · 04/04/2012 20:16

My ds has always slept with his blankie over his face too; it's about 20cm x 20cm and designed to be used from birth. Can't remember make and don't want to wake him to check. Think it's fine tho, at 6 months he can swipe it off?

naturalbaby · 04/04/2012 20:19

what kind of blanket is it? ds1 did this with a muslin (very thin material) when he was tiny then was happy to have it against his cheek/half his face. my other babys had a velour blanket animal so it's quite small.

BlackOutTheSun · 04/04/2012 20:22

dd would only sleep if something was covering her face, i used a muslin.

saladspinner · 04/04/2012 20:25

I think muslin would work too. Think it's jellycat? Had a mini teddy in pocket. Gave it to him from about 4 months old

HairyButtMonkey · 04/04/2012 20:27

My de did this too but with a muslin. It was great for signalling it was nap/bedtime! I would recommend swapping the blanket for something thinner and more breathable. They do grow out of it but I found it tends to freak other people out

Original poster

xkatxdollx · 04/04/2012 20:42

ill have to look for one but until i get one everyone else just left the blanket on their faces?

OP posts:

CruciFlisspaps · 04/04/2012 20:48

xkatxdollx Don't forget, at 6mo babies are perfectly capable of rolling over and sticking themselves face down in the mattress - so a blanket over the face shouldn't be a problem :) It's unlikely that your DD will smother herself with a blanket. What about if you give her a cellular blanket (the ones people use for newborns with lots of holes in)?

A muslin square is a very thin piece of fabric that can be used for anything from a comforter to a bib or a general cleaning cloth. Very handy.

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