Is there a website?

[StrongFeather]

where you look up questions about newborns? I try searching here on Mothering, but sometimes I just have no luck. I have the Dr. Sears Baby Book, but it's not helping me as much as I would like so the random questions I keep coming up with.

In particular..right now Sam seems to cry whenever I put him down on his back. Nursing to sleep he's fine, and then if I want to put him down in the Moses Basket right next to me, bam, he cries. If I take and roll him off my chest right now where he is napping so I can, say, go to the bathroom, he'll be crying in no time. Diaper changes, yep cries...(no rashes or anything) So I think he truly hates being laid down on his back. Any ideas? It could be reflux, but he rarely spits up. He does fart quite a bit so could it be gas?

Any help is appreciated!

[2boyzmama]

It could be several things...here's a few, think them over and see if any of them sound possible.

1. Newborns have a startle reflex, and if his is exaggerated for any reason, he could be waking himself up when he's flat on his back. You could try swaddling him BEFORE nursing him, then he's likely to startle when you lay him flat.

2. Reflux is a big reason for crying when on his back, and he doesn't have to actually spit up to have reflux. It could be coming up his esophagus without coming out, and that would cause the same pain. Try laying him on an inclined surface. Some babies sleep really well in swings or bouncy seats, and my first slept really well in his carseat (even though I've since read that infant carseats are a bad position for babies with reflux, but it worked for him)

3. Less likely, but still possible, is an airway issue. My son Connor had several airway malformations that weren't immediately obvious, but one of the first signs was that he absolutely PANICKED when laid on his back, like seriously panicked. I could see it in his eyes. His airway issues are/were: retrognathia, retroglossia, laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia, and bronchomalacia. He also had dysphagia and aspirated. Google those terms and see if Sam has any signs of those. Some of them are somewhat common and something that babies grow out of without needing any medical intervention, and it doesn't always mean that anything is "wrong" with them either.

Meanwhile, remember there's nothing *wrong* with laying him on his tummy, as long as the surface isn't too soft (I would put him on a carpeted floor with a blanket laid down, but maybe not on a bed with a comforter, for example). It's a little tricky learning how to transfer a baby from cradling in your arms to laying on his tummy, but it can be done and they often sleep longer/better that way. Just beware of his surroundings and check on him frequently.

[MyZoeJane]

I am inclined to think that your baby simply feels most comforted when he's in someone's arms... My daughter didn't like being laid down, either. It's a lonely feeling for babies, I'm sure! I think the startle reflex had something to do with it for my daughter, too, because swaddling did help, but she was perfectly content living in the sling for the first couple of months.

[hipmummy]

I would say he is.............Normal!!!! My guy refused to put down the first 8 months of life. We truly were a unit! An extension of pregnancy. I learned to do everything with a baby in a sling and I mean EVERYTHING! But I would not change it for the world. In fact wether this one likes it or not he will be living in a sling. I am not big on the whole back to bed thing either, yes I know it is safer but most kids do not like it. So one of us always held ds. Go with your heart. I did find when I needed to do something big, the baby papasan chair(fisher price) worked great it had an incline so he was content and it vibrated to boot. Think about it would you want to be put down if you could be warn in cozy in your Mama's arms??? I know what I would want:

[mkksmom]

Originally Posted by hipmummy

I would say he is.............Normal!!!! My guy refused to out down the first 8 months of life. We truly were a unit! An extension if pregnancy. I learned to do everything with a baby in a sling and i mean EVERYTHING! But I would not change it for the world. In fact wether this one likes it or not he will be living in a sling. I am not big on the whole back to bed thing either, yes I know it is safer but most kids do not like it. So one of us always held ds. Go with your heart. I did find when I need to do something big, the baby papasan chair worked great it had an incline so he was content and it vibrated to boot. Think about it would you want to be put down if you could be warn in cozy in your Mama's arms??? I know what I would want:

Yup, my dd was the same way. She didn't cry instantly at first, but she'd last MAYBE 2 or 3 minutes before crying when put down anywhere.

[Julia24]

Mine all do this - but they ALL have reflux as well. (actually - I think Charlotte might actually NOT have it, but by the third one, we haven't even ever TRIED to lay her down flat on her back It's just not worth it!)

She will sleep in the boppy or in her swing though (and with the swing never actually ON). I even have an extra pad in the swing, so it's REALLY cozy like someone is holding her. If I REALLY want to make sure she'll stay put so I can get something done - I'll lay my sweatshirt or something in there first and then swaddle her and put her down. That almost always buys me 20 minutes at least. But, there are times - like since about 5:30 this evening, that she just refuses to be put down.

It's such a short time though - I try to just resign myself and sit down and rock with her. I'll miss it when it's gone, yk?

She doesn't particularly like the sling unless I'm actively walking, so doing dishes or whatever kind of ticks her off that way, so we sick and snuggle - a LOT.

I would say swaddling to avoid the startle reflex, an upright cozy position (like in a swing or something), and making sure they're in a 'good sleep' are the best ways to buy a shower or something, yk?