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Horizontal baby vs cot confines

6 replies

rambunctiousrapscallion · 30/01/2023 23:07

10 months ago I gave birth to a miracle baby, he's solar powered. He's desperate to be outside as much as possible regardless of weather but oh my god he does not sleep. After checking that he was in fact a baby and not a tree I accepted the lack of sleep and we've muddled through.

We do now have an ok schedule with 2 naps in the day and some semblance of sleep from 8pm - 7am albeit rather disrupted. We co-sleep on a floor mattress and it really works for us. In the evening I would stick him down, put on the monitor and have my evening then cuddle up next to him for sleep. Just before christmas he developed the alarming habit of waking up silently and escaping. I would peek over at the monitor and see him pulling all his books off his bookshelves. His room is totally baby proofed so nothing bad could happen but I didn't love it. Also I had bought an expensive and aesthetically pleasing cot before he was born when I was a naive pregnant lady (Only wooden toys, no screen time, I won't have to explain to him that it's not ok to eat toilet paper).

Our routine now bath, feed, story, go to sleep in cot. It's working, he goes down. Then at some point he wakes up... Now, most of his wake ups I can deal with. He's still so tiny and needs me or wants boob or whatever. What is winding me that he keeps turning himself sideways and bashing his head on the side of the cot. I'll come in, put him back and he'll do it again! and again... and again...

I was told in no uncertain terms from the health visitor that cot bumpers were a danger. Obviously the tree-boys safety is my number one concern but how do I stop him being woken unnecessarily by the confines of the cot?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Scramble1805 · 31/01/2023 06:08

I don't think cot bumpers are a danger at 10 months. I thought it was more of a newborn warning. But of course that's up to you.
I added an extra bumper when my son kept hitting his head but he was older than this, maybe 14 months or more.

It's quite common for them to move around a lot once they know how, even in their sleep, so confining him more would probably annoy him. I wonder if a travel cot would work as they have soft stretchy sides.

FuckOffPeroids · 31/01/2023 06:21

We had similar and moved to a travel cot for about 6 months. Soft sides, but safe 👍

Getthefiregoing · 31/01/2023 06:26

I love the humour in your post OP Grin

Babies are such rotters!

What do you mean when you say he bashes his head on the bars? Intentionally and over and over? Or accidentally? Is he upset?

Mine is 16 months and clonks his head often in his sleep or rolling about awake. Doesn't seem to register with him so I reckon he's absolutely fine. But I'd echo a PP and say at ten months and as mobile as he is, cot bumpers aren't the same risk as they were for a newborn.

MGee123 · 31/01/2023 06:32

Travel cot - ours slept in hers for 3 months at this age when we had to move house (long story). No hard sides to bump onto. Well done OP, you're doing great.

sammielouise · 31/01/2023 07:00

I had exactly the same with my eldest and moved her into a travel cot for a few months, in fact, I'd forgot about this stage until your post! It does work though. Get a decent travelcot mattress!

Percypiglover · 31/01/2023 08:32

We got breathable bumpers for our little one as he kept sticking limbs through the side.

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