chest sleeping

[holdingmyson]

My 4 week old baby is terribly congested (only at night) and has bad gas problems (trying to find what is causing it in my diet). I have found that sleeping on my chest at night, he gets optimal sleep. It is only for about 2 hours at a time, but it is better than the 10 minutes he would get if I laid him next to me.

Last night I woke up and he was off my chest and between my husband and I, up against my husband's back. My husband is a deep sleeper and had no idea. It scared me so bad because he could have very easily rolled on him. I dont know how the baby got on the bed, and that scared the bejeebers out of me too. Any advice? I am so scared to do absolutely anything at night.

[HeliMom]

Is there another place hubby could sleep temporarily until the baby can sleep a little better? A comfy couch? Or an inflatable mattress on the floor? If it helps everyone get more sleep it's worth the minor inconvenience. This will also let you sleep in the center of the bed with no fear of baby falling off either side.

[AFWife]

Do you have extra pillows you could put alongside you? That way if the baby leans to either side he has a "barrier" to stop him from rolling all the way off?

[holdingmyson]

Originally Posted by AFWife

Do you have extra pillows you could put alongside you? That way if the baby leans to either side he has a "barrier" to stop him from rolling all the way off?

I do, but wouldnt that be a suffocation hazard?

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by holdingmyson

I do, but wouldnt that be a suffocation hazard?

Isn't his falling off you a suffocation hazard in general? That came out harsher than I intended...sorry...it's your judgment call.

[haurelia]

When my LO was about 3 weeks old, he had a horrible stuffed nose, and I slept him on my chest for several nights. I propped myself up a bit in bed, and used a pillow underneath each arm. I also wrapped a wide, thin pashmina shawl around him and my torso and tied it, just in case. I know, I'm sounding weird, but it gave me security, and kept him warm without a blanket. You have to do what you're comfortable with...I remember clearly how tough those first 6-8 weeks are with sleep deprivation. Hang in there!

[rhiOrion]

My DD will only sleep on my chest (I actually came to this forum to ask about that). I put the boppy on my lap, and put her with her feet down in the curve of the boppy. Then the "arms" of the boppy help hold my arms in place so that I don't move them and she doesn't roll off of me.

[One_Girl]

I did this right at first with my dd, so we pushed the bed up against the wall so there was no gap and I practiced laying down to nurse and having her sleep next to me instead of him. If you are eating chocolate at all then I suggest cutting that out of your diet first. I had a horrible chocolate addiction and my dd was fussy a lot until the lactation consultant told me that chocolate has something in it that acts the same way as caffeine. Once that was gone from my diet dd was much happier.

[montalino]

It is very disconcerting to wake up with your baby in weird position, I've done it many times. My 5 month old son often sleeps on my chest. He often is on and off of me throughout the night. If he "falls" or slides off I usually wake up a bit and readjust him. After a few freak out wake ups, I've learned to trust my instincts and utilize the mama hormones that wake me up with he needs me. Good luck with your babies suffy nose.

[milkybean]

Sounds cozy to me.

Then again, at the beginning we were worried about DH, too. So we got a sleep positioner with mesh-covered foam wedges that velcroed onto a mat. Put the wedges both on DH's side, so that if he rolled, he ran up against those first. Helped with the confidence.


I would bet that if you had video of the night, that your baby had *just* rolled down, and that you woke up instantly. Can't prove it (unless you have video!), but that tended to be our experience, and I've read enough stories like that to really think that you woke up immediately and no one was in danger. IMO.

[SilverFish]

that's my experience too. i think there's only been one time where i woke up and didn't immediately know where in the bed she was (also during the strange newborn stage where she was sometimes in her bassinet, sometimes on my chest, sometimes on my boob). past the immediate newborn stage (which you're approaching) i find that babies are really much more robust than we give them credit for. obviously, it's hard to get used to, but as long as you're breastfeeding and there aren't any major suffocation hazards (extra pillows, heavy blankets) i really doubt that your baby is in any danger. like a PP said, i'd bet you woke immediately after he rolled off, and i also highly doubt that your husband would have completely rolled on top of him (sleep disorders, drugs or alcohol aside). anyway, it's good to be cautious, of course, but you will both get more relaxed and comfortable with it as your baby grows.

[dziwozony]

I slept with my 2nd son on my chest a lot when he was a newborn. I loved it and so did he! :-) I always woke up immediately if he slumped off & agree it's quite possible that's what you did.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by HeliMom

Is there another place hubby could sleep temporarily until the baby can sleep a little better? A comfy couch? Or an inflatable mattress on the floor? If it helps everyone get more sleep it's worth the minor inconvenience. This will also let you sleep in the center of the bed with no fear of baby falling off either side.

This seems the safest bet for me.

[Lilygoose]

My DD also slept on my chest for the first 8ish months (otherwise she WOULD NOT SLEEP). I agree that DH sleeping elsewhere and safe co-sleeping bed practices would make you feel more secure. I used to be so nervous about this, and my DD was a large (10lbs, 11oz. at birth) sturdy little girl, but once we took the steps to make sure that we were as safe as could be I relaxed and she and I slept well. My DH is a deep sleeper who would not wake up and could potentially have rolled over.