My 4 week old only sleeps on this left hand side

[froglegs]

Hello, advice please.

We have figured out that our 4 week old son only sleeps (for any lengh of time) on his left hand side.

As with most new mums I am terrifed of SIDS so although while he sleeps nicely like this I am constantly checking him which means I don't sleep!

When I put him on his back he wakes up with-in 20 mins everytime but if I put him on his side he can sleep for up to 3 hours!

I know little babies sleeping on their front is a big no no, but whats the rule of them sleeping on their sides? Should I just relax? or should I make sure he is always on his back?

Have you considered getting a monitor that goes under the mattress that sounds an alarm if baby stops moving (ie. breathing) for over 30 secs? I have heard they are quite sensitive and can go off too much if you dont turn the sensitivity down, but they pay off may be better nights sleep for you.

My first would wake after 20 mins every time I put him down; I ended up co-sleeping at 12 weeks when I got too tired to keep getting up. If he would have slept for 3 hrs on his side, I would have let him but used a monitor to reduce the risk of him stopping breathing and me not noticing as I would have been very worried about the increased risk of SIDS laying him on his side.

I've been sleeping my 7 week old baby on his side for the last 3 weeks as he is suffering from reflux and only comfortable on his side.

We have one of the above mentioned monitors and have rolled up hand towels either side of him in his moses basket so that he is fully supported and cannot roll onto his front or back so we feel we can relax.

When dd was born the midwife swaddled her and put her in cot on her side - mum said we all slept on our sides. Think it's ok if your ds sleeps.