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Original poster

Any hints to encourage sleep on back?

7 replies

grainmum · 29/09/2013 14:13

I'm having a tough time sleep-wise with 15w DS. He is EBF. I think he's had a growth spurt this week as he was awake for feeds every 2 hoursSad .

This has settled down a bit. Getting him off to sleep still takes ages - feeding/rocking to sleep stopped working as he kept waking when we put him in cot so now I sing while patting his back, he is lying on his side. Turning him onto his back is the challenge. Last night I put him on his front with the intention of turning him onto his back once asleep. He settled really quickly and had a 4 hour stretch but I feel awful that I've put him at risk (DH's response this am was "well he's still alive").

So I need tips to help him settle on back. if I settle on front, what's the optimum time to turn him over?

Thanks

OP posts:
themummyonthebus · 29/09/2013 14:34

No idea I'm afraid, but I'd like to know as we've an Amby hammock going unused as DC2 won't sleep for more than a millisecond on his back Sad I'm more upset at the thought of a wriggly 6mo still in bed with us as DC1 is still in the cot and won't move out of it until we move house in the New Year (no room for another bed)

JiltedJohnsJulie · 30/09/2013 10:10

Have you tried sticking him in bed with you? Know some people don't like the idea but my dd always slept on her side next to me and I barely woke for feeds.

2 hours between night feeds is pretty normal at this age though. Are you feeding from both breasts at least once during each feed and have you tried feeding more regularly in the day?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 30/09/2013 10:18

Have you tried swaddling, white noise and putting a tshirt DH has worn into the cot?

Original poster
grainmum · 30/09/2013 16:31

Thanks for hints, I'll try a t-shirt in the cot. When I say 2 hours that's from the start of one feed to the start of the next - so at times potential for about 45 mins sleep. When he was younger he'd just wake 2-3 times per night.

I struggle to get comfy with him in bed with me and to work out how to comply with safety guidelines and keep warm myself!

If he falls asleep at one breast during feeding I tend to assume that he's full and try to put him back to bed. I'd have to quite vigorously wake him to get him to latch on the other side.

I try white noise when I put him down initially in the evening, I'm not sure it makes a huge difference.

do you think there would be benefit in trying to swaddle him at this age? I wish we'd done it at the beginning but we didn't, he was really good overnight then...

OP posts:
NAR4 · 30/09/2013 20:02

I co-sleep with both my youngest dcs and just put them under the cover with my dh and me. As long as you don't put them in a vest and baby grow when you go to bed naked it should be fine. Just don't put baby in more layers of clothing than you.

All 5 of my dcs have also slept on their tummy. They were much more comfortable and settled better like this, so I just went with it. Once your baby can roll over it doesn't matter as they will sleep however they want then.

To put your mind at rest do a bit of internet research because I'm fairly sure the risk of cot death is far far lower for breastfed babies anyway.

Meringue33 · 30/09/2013 20:09

Muslin or cuddly toy stroking cheek, to give the illusion of being on his side?

HighFiveThenSquidAway · 04/10/2013 20:20

Watching with interest as mine has started to wake within minutes of being put on her back. I think I'm going to try taking her round the block in her pram. Failing that a sling and hope it passes soon

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