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Original poster

1 month old, won't sleep on back

31 replies

AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 16/01/2020 07:48

My one month old has never really liked sleeping on her back.

Now she's got so over tired, she struggles to get to sleep and stay asleep. I can get her to sleep in my arms. But as soon as I put her down on her back, she'll wake in about 10 minutes.

If she's in my or dad's arms. She'll sleep happily

But I have fallen asleep with her on me a couple of timed, which I don't want to happen obviously.

Not sure what to do

White noise does nothing seemingly.

Swaddling. Doesn't seem to work.

I have out hot water bottle on mattress to make it warm. (Obviously taking it out before DD is put down

Does anyone have any ideas?

I am trying to get her to sleep as much as possible to catch up with her sleep. But yesterday I had to go out somewhere with her and she "missed" a sleep. And one sleep was disturbing, because I had the put her down

Today and tomorrow we're doing nothing at all and plan to get her sleeping as much as possible. She sleeps really well on me. I can do this during the day.

But night times break the good sleep.

Any advise?

OP posts:
harrypotterfan1604 · 16/01/2020 08:08

At 1 month old she doesn’t realise she’s a different person to you yet. She’s brand new in the world and takes comfort being cuddled it makes her feel safe.
Could you try a next to me crib and lie with her so you can touch her but still get some rest

putputput · 16/01/2020 09:14

For the day have you tried a sling? A stretchy wrap sling seems to send them in to a great sleep and leaves you free to get on with anything.
Night times are harder but co-sleeping can be a safe option. Have a look at the lullaby trust guidelines.

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 16/01/2020 10:43

I use a sling in the day, works well. But means I can’t nap.
She sleeps in a Moses basket next to the bed on my side.
NOrmally I feed her to sleep, and wait around 20 minutes and transfer her to the basket. This worked fairly well until a few nights ago. Maybes 5 days?

Maybe if I can get her to catch-up on sleep her nights will be better.

OP posts:
Sandrine1982 · 16/01/2020 10:46

We had the same problem. Co-sleeping or not, position was the problem. Our baby would only sleep on her tummy for about a month when she was about the same age. She would scream as soon as she was put on her back. It was scary because she was so young and we were terrified of SIDS, but we had no choice but to leave her on her tummy and check on her often. Otherwise she would not have got any sleep at night time. She also loved to sleep on us but that wasn't an option for the night as I'd also fell asleep a couple of times and she slid off me!! Scary. We never found out what the problem was, but suspect it was a bit of reflux as well as colic / indigestion. Eventually she started sleeping on her back, but it took a while. So we feel your pain!
Maybe you could buy that device that monitors breathing and movement? We never used that but I've heard good things.
And it will eventually pass.
Our DD now sleeps on her back, but we have a new problem. She rolls over onto her tummy, and she has obviously forgotten how to sleep in that position because she can't get back to sleep. Groan

Good luck xx

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 16/01/2020 21:59

Not keen on the idea of putting her to sleep on her front.

Co sleeping wouldn’t help, as she’d still be on her back and wake up?

OP posts:
Golfcart · 16/01/2020 22:01

i used to put mine right next to me on their sides when co sleeping

ReallyLilyReally · 16/01/2020 22:05

Our DD was like this. We did a bunch of things:

-infacol for colic
-holding her upright after a feed for reflux
-tilting the cot (reflux)
-putting a tshirt one of us had been wearing over the cot mattress as a sheet
-hot water bottle in the cot
-moses basket in the cot so she's in a smaller space

Eventually (5/6 weeks old??) she cracked it. Still woke up a fair bit, but 3-4hr chunks

iusedtoloveopalfruits1 · 16/01/2020 22:10

I used to stuff the cot sheets down my t-shirt for a few hours so they’d smell like me and not persil.

Bobbybobbins · 16/01/2020 22:12

I used to cosleep and have him on his side next to me

Spam88 · 17/01/2020 09:18

I've got one of these! Genuinely didn't think this baby could be a worse sleeper than my first, but alas...

I've started co-sleeping with him on his side next to me. Always said I'd never co-sleep but he literally won't go down in his cot and I fell asleep a couple of times with him on me so this is definitely the safer option.

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 17/01/2020 10:09

Ok. Going to try a next to me cot and see if it helps. Maybe have her on her side.

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 17/01/2020 10:10

And the T-shirt thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 17/01/2020 22:46

So, she has my T-shirt I’ve been wearing all day as a sheet.

Womb sounds playing.
She fell asleep whilst feeding. Waited ten minutes, gently transferred her to mess basket (warmed with hot water bottle)
Woke up when I out her down :(
She’s been “chatting” and kicking legs for last few minutes.

Now wide awake .... Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 17/01/2020 23:00

Got herself into a state...now back on boob...

It begins again

OP posts:
ReallyLilyReally · 18/01/2020 11:26

Hang on in there mama, she'll get it eventually. Treat yourself to something yummy today, take five minutes to remind yourself that she's learning all the time, and she's got the best teacher she could ask for.

Nix32 · 18/01/2020 11:31

Swaddling?

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 18/01/2020 18:02

Will try swaddling tonight

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 18/01/2020 23:07

She’s in the swaddle (nice and tight) just feeding her now. Will wait a good 15-20 mins, and put her down...Wish me luck! 🤞🤞🤞

OP posts:
HeyMac · 18/01/2020 23:24

We had to swaddle. Just wouldn't work otherwise.

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 18/01/2020 23:32

Ok... she’s been upright and burped

Soundly asleep in my shoulder...

It’s been a good 15 minutes....

I’m going to do it.... I’m going to put her down.....

Will report back....

OP posts:
TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 18/01/2020 23:39

Good luck, I remember those days well!

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 18/01/2020 23:41

5 minutes down...slight stirring...BUT, still asleep...

I’m waiting another 10 before I think about trying to sleep...

Most boring live update ever ;)

OP posts:
GetTheSprinkles · 18/01/2020 23:42

Haha, enjoying this thread! Hubby just put my 8wo to sleep in the Next 2 Me crib proudly. Only took him 10 minutes of rocking so he was well chuffed.
2 mins later hubby is snoring loudly and baby wakes up.
Baby currently nursing and I'm hoping he falls into a deep enough a
sleep on the boob that I can get him back to his crib. We shall see!
Luckily he will sleep on his back although he does make a lot of gasping/gurgling sounds :/

SilveryMountainStream · 18/01/2020 23:45

Are you breastfeeding OP? If you are, then co-sleeping with her and feeding lying down will mean she (and you also) is sleeping on her side rather than her back.

If you're not breastfeeding you can still co sleep with her and you both on your sides.

The Lullaby Trust is a great resource for providing info on how to co-sleep safely.

My DD hated sleeping on her back too and co-sleeping on her side was about the only thing that kept my sanity! You have my sympathy as it's tough

SilveryMountainStream · 18/01/2020 23:47

Sorry just caught up with the rest of the thread and seen you are bf. fingers crossed for some sleep for all tonight!