Newborn sleep help

[barbarhow]

Will she sleep in a car seat? It is a bit more contained than a baby lying on her back. My DS slept in the car seat inside his crib for the first 3 months. If you find she can sleep well in the car seat you might try this version-at least until she is a little bit older.
Barbara-mom to Jack 3/27/03, a Red Sox fan
and Anna 5/12/05, my little Yankee fan!

[betsydenny]

I second the carseat sleeping. Both my kids slept in their carseats at night for months! I would let them nap on their tummys during the day and then they were in the carseats at night where they were very comfy.
They both refused, like yours to sleep on their backs.
Oh, they also napped and slept in their bouncy seats with the vibration on.

Hang in there! I know it is hard!
Betsy

[kbudsberg]

It sounds a lot like reflux to me. That is exactly what my dd did. Like a pp said they do not have to spit up to have reflux. My dd didn't spit up much but had severe reflux. It's called silent reflux and basically they swallow it back down. It's worse for them than regular reflux because the acid travels up and down the throat twice.

Try the carseat. My dd slept in hers until she was 10 months old! We placed it in her crib so she was used to sleeping in the crib. She still didn't sleep great but she would sleep 1-2 hours in it versus the 15-20 minutes we got w/out it. Make sure you buckle her up. My dd managed to wiggle out of her carseat at 6 weeks old. I've also heard of 2 situations on the news were babies strangeled on the straps while sleeping in their carseats so please buckle her up.

My dd did sleep better on her tummy also. If you suspect it may be reflux I would go w/the carseat, tummy sleeping, or side sleeping. I put my dd on her back and didn't feel right about it given her reflux. I went to check on her and found her chocking and not breathing. I had to perform the infant heimlic on her several times to clear her before she started breathing. We took her to the ER and they told us not to let her sleep on her back. They suggested the carseat. Of course her reflux was very severe. If it continues I'd ask your dr. about reflux. Here's a great infant reflux sight if you want to read more about it www.infantreflux.org.

Good luck. I know how hard it is!

Kim and Emma 1/14/04

[Wife_and_mommy]

My dd slept on her tummy from 2 weeks old. Yes, it freaked me out at first but she was able to move her head back and forth and was fine. We didnt' have any of the other risk factors either.


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[niccig]

Another reflux baby here. DS was the same as your DD. Reflux medication + sleeping in a car seat per ped's directions for 6 months. Once he could roll over, he was always on his tummy with his butt in the air. Until he could roll over the doctor didn't want him on his tummy, unless it was a last resort and it would involve a special monitor for his breathing.

Talk with your doctor.
Nicci

[tina-t]

Another reflux baby here. DD acted the same too. The ped. did say that putting them on their tummy helps the reflux but he did not recommend it for sleeping bec. of the SIDS risk. We had to start her on Zantac and put the yellow pages under her mattress so she can sleep on an incline.

I honestly would not feel comfortable putting her to sleep on her tummy.

[torontomom]

Thank you everyone.

I'll talk to the doctor about reflux. I assumed spitting up would be a sign of reflux and DD doesn't spit up at all. Hasn't since she was born. She doesn't burp either, but she's quite gassy out the other end!

She actually will sleep on her back during the day sometimes for a couple of hours. So, I don't know what the problem is at night.

She hates being swaddled, unfortunately. Has hated it since birth. In the hospital, she managed to get out of the nurse's tight swaddle and pull off the mittens she had on. Stubborn kid, I guess.

We tried the carseat last night but she didn't like it. Any suggestions? Did you rock your kids in it, take them for a car ride etc?

Last night she wanted to sleep on her tummy on my tummy. I don't know if that's better or worse than sleeping on her tummy in the basinette beside our bed.

It's hard because I know that tummy sleeping is a risk for SIDS. But, on the other hand, I need to sleep at night (I have a 2 year old to take care of during the day as well). Mom said we all slept on our tummies and were fine but if anything ever happened, I don't think I would be able to forgive myself.

Thanks again for your advice and for telling me what did and didn't work for you.

[torontomom]

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[LucyG]

In addition to her reflux, my DD was a baby that just needed to sleep near people. I didn't think we'd ever be co-sleepers, but she slept with DH and I for her first two months. I don't know if co-sleeping is something you want to consider, but it might be worth a try. FWIW, my DD now sleeps happily and easily in her crib at age 6 months.

Oh, and she had "silent reflux," too. She didn't spit up much, but was hoarse (another reflux symptom).


DD #1 (2/03)
DD #2 (3/06)

[o_mom]

Well, it could just be that she wants to be near you. :-) She spent 9 months with you and has only been out for 2.5 weeks. I spent alot of time with DS1 sleeping on my chest the first few weeks. I think they just have a hard time separating after being so close. If you are worried, you are not going to sleep well, so I would keep working on getting her to sleep on her back. If she can do it for naps, it might just be the time of day or some other subtle cues she is picking up.

Keep trying the swaddling occasionally, she may grow to like it. A bouncy seat can also be used instead of the carseat, that may be more comfortable. How about a swing? If you have a cradle swing, that might help. Have you read/watched The Happiest Baby on the Block? That seems to really work for alot of people.