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Sleep

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Original poster

4 day old sleeping on side

30 replies

Meowstro · 08/08/2017 01:38

I've had a rough few nights with DD and her sleeping, although she's been sleepy with jaundice, she's been very restless. Last night was the first night I'd tried to put her in her cot, the day before (1st day home) she was in her carry cot.

The actual cot is way too big so when DD stretched out her arms it panicked her every time and she would cry.

So I bought a next 2 me crib and put her in that tonight. DD immediately rolled onto her side in the crib. I was shocked as I wasn't expecting this so soon and I thought maybe it was a fluke, after putting her in again after a feed, she's done the same thing again.

Is this safe? She's completely silent and not fussing at all like she has been but that concerns me just as much.

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Original poster

Meowstro · 08/08/2017 01:42

Just to add, she was put in on her back, in the middle with feet to foot but she's now rolled side nearest to the bed with about 3 inches from the side netting (it's a Chicco Next 2 Me).

She's now making the same deep breathing noises she had been on previous nights but still concerned...

OP posts:

GloveBug · 08/08/2017 01:46

DD1 did this from the day she was born. I felt like stapling her babygro to the mattress (I didn't obviously!). midwives/health visitors just said to keep putting her to bed on her back but there wasn't much that could be done to stop her rolling on to her side and not to worry too much about it. Perhaps others on here will have ideas on how you can stop her rolling over

GloveBug · 08/08/2017 01:47

oh i missed the part about it being a next to me crib. That might ne an issue then

GloveBug · 08/08/2017 01:47

*be an issue then?

Original poster

Meowstro · 08/08/2017 01:56

The side isn't down - I'm not a fan of cosleeping although I get it works for some. So it just looks like a travel crib right next to the bed, it's got breathable netting between the crib and bed and I can see right through, I'm just concerned she might roll onto her face or into the other side.

OP posts:

Dauphinois · 08/08/2017 01:59

Have you tried swaddling her?It sounds like she might like the feel of being all wrapped up and it might encourage her to stay put too!

Original poster

Meowstro · 08/08/2017 02:33

I've just tried that. I was hoping it had worked but she manoeuvred her shoulders and head to turn slightly again, despite hands still being wrapped tightly in there.

OP posts:

3littlebadgers · 08/08/2017 02:41

My DS was like that from the go. I too was worried and went to the GP for something else but sought his advice. He said that as the baby was sleeping in the classic recovery position he was perfectly fine. I still worried (still do and he is 18 months) so I bought an angel are baby monitor that registers if they stop breathing for an added bit of peace of mind.

FATEdestiny · 08/08/2017 09:04

Are you sure the crib is flat and fully horizontal?

Your baby is 4 days old, side sleeping is very, very unsafe this tiny. Sleeping on the baby's back and not their side or front is the biggest SIDS risk alongside the risk from smoking.

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/sleeping-position/

It makes no difference that baby is next to you. If she rolls onto her front while you are asleep she will not have the muscle time or ability to lift her head to breath. So she could die. It is that basic.

While some people might choose to take this risk, I would definately wait until after the 2-4 month peak SIDS risk.

Timetogrowup2016 · 08/08/2017 09:15

Babies also die sleeping on there backs fate,
Saying " so she could die " all babies are at risk of sids even slept on there backs.

FATEdestiny · 08/08/2017 09:29

I know they do. It's not a pleasant thing to be discussing. Especially not to a mum of a 4 day old.

Timetogrowup2016 · 08/08/2017 09:36

Yes it's horrible to think about.

But yes the risk isn't minimised by sleeping babies on there back.
Once my dd could roll her self that's when I let her choose sleeping position

saffronwblue · 08/08/2017 09:46

Actually the risk is minimised by putting babies on their back. It is evidence based. Not sure what to suggest OP but didn't want to leave wrong information up.

FATEdestiny · 08/08/2017 09:49

The Lullaby Trust says putting babies to sleep on their back and people not smoking around them are the single most significant factors in preventing cot death.

FrizzyNoodles · 08/08/2017 09:52

Mine did the same from birth she kicked her legs up and tipped herself over. When she does it watch her for a bit then nudge her back onto her back when she's sleeping a little deeper.

HT85 · 08/08/2017 10:19

Hi OP, my baby was most comfortable on her side from day one. I think she had a touch of silent reflux which made sleeping on her back uncomfortable. She would cry anytime I put her on her back. As above the lullaby trust does recommend putting baby on back but I will just let you know what worked for us:

invest if you can in a sleepyhead, they are a little pricy but worth every penny. Baby feels very secure.
tilt the next to me crib mattress slightly (I think the recommendation is the head is 5cm above the bottom) - this will minimise any discomfort if there is any on baby's back

Then you can make a decision with the sleepyhead whether you lay baby on back in it or on side. Ours slept on her side with her underarm raised up towards her face so she couldn't roll and then we wrapped her tightly in a blanket into the sleepyhead. I hope this makes sense.

Yes, this is against guidelines. But it worked for us and we felt safe. I cannot advise that you do this because I'll get shot down! I am just letting you know what worked for us.

My daughter is now 6 months and sleeps on her back.

Bubblesoup · 08/08/2017 13:39

There is a sleepsack for infants that is part cot sheet, ie it tucks into the mattress so that the baby is pinned on their back and cannot roll. I will find a link although I live in New Zealand so it's a NZ shop.

So hard for you as she must be comfortable in that position! Perhaps she was like that in the womb!
Congratulations by the way!

Bubblesoup · 08/08/2017 13:47

It looks like it's for babies of 6 months and older. Sorry!
www.thesleepstore.co.nz/shop/safe-sleep/safe-position/snug-sheet-snugsheet-cot-white-jersey

boatrace30 · 08/08/2017 13:50

My DD did the same, I turned her back whenever she was non her side but not much else I could do!
We also had a next2me but genuinely don't think that was the issue as she also did it in her Pram and playmat.
Out of interest was your DD breech? Mine was and kept curling her legs up which is what made her turn

silkpyjamasallday · 08/08/2017 15:00

Our DD did the same, only wanted to sleep on her side, I stayed awake pretty much all night pushing her back into her back for about a week. HV told me to do this but I concluded it was impossible. DD could also do a half push up and hold her head up from the first time we tried tummy time at 2 days old so I was confident she could make it known if she couldn't get off her tummy having rolled in her sleep (she didn't ever roll onto her tummy until she could roll both ways at about 4 months too much momentum was needed to get her over from her side). Obviously keep putting dc down to sleep on their back but there isn't much you can do if they want to sleep on their side, just make the space as safe as possible, no loose blankets or sheets, toys, cot bumpers etc.

Littleguggi · 08/08/2017 15:26

My little one has done this from day one and she's 1 next week! I've never seen an issue with it as she never slept any length of time (she's still up every 3 hours at least) so she was always being monitored. I think she likes the comfort of having something to snuggle up to. Occasionally she turns onto her back.

lucyloopy · 08/08/2017 15:41

I wouldn't get a sleepy head for a baby that side sleeps. That would increase the risk of suffocation massively.

DD was a roller and side sleeper due to wind, I just kept her upright or a bit after feeding and it passed after a couple of weeks.

fredmay · 08/08/2017 20:57

My DD was 5 weeks early and while on the TCU ward the nurses put her down after each feed on her side tightly tucked in with a blanket - she is now 11 weeks old and prefers to sleep on her side she does move onto her back once in a deep sleep.

sycamore54321 · 09/08/2017 02:35

Id be worried too if I were you OP. You can't compare to practices for premature or sick infants if your child was full-term and healthy. My baby tended to roll slightly on his side and the paediatrician recommended we fold up a newborn nappy into a wedge shape and wedge it under the baby's hip to prevent rolling. There is obviously some degree of risk as the advice is absolutely nothing in the cot but it was a balance of risks. You could put the wedge underneath a tightly fitting cot sheet to reduce risk. Obviously discuss with your own doctor or nurse before taking my advice.

Original poster

Meowstro · 09/08/2017 04:00

I'm at a loss here. DD is still rolling when put on a changing mat or down on a flat surface but thankfully tonight she is on her back, just with her head to one side.

Midwife mentioned a sleepy head only for day time sleeps and suggested that she'll get into the habit of sleeping on her back again if I do this but the thing is she doesn't do it in her carry cot during the day.

I'm hoping she won't do it again but needless to say, I'm not sleeping well!

OP posts:

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