Safety of mother falling asleep with baby in Ergo?

[starkyld]

I'm 11 days postpartum, only marginally functioning, and don't know what to do. My son really hasn't taken to sleeping at night and usually 10pm to 4am brings a struggle of unsuccessful soothing attempts. Alarmingly, I've found myself startled awake several times after having fallen asleep holding him in unsafe positions. Once I fell asleep sitting straight up and holding him over the edge of the bed; several other times I've fallen asleep in the rocking chair with him on the My Brest Friend and me (inappropriately) with my hands at my sides rather than on him.

How unsafe would it be for me to fall asleep, either sitting up or reclining, with him in the Ergo? We have the older style infant insert and I position him side sitting (like the instructions for the old insert show); his face is pointed out to the side and I can't see how his head could get tucked down to his chest. I've been fighting to stay awake with him and failing thus far, but this is the first night I've put him in the Ergo for soothing (which he seems to like). I'm trying to stay awake now, but I feel like I'll doze off again at some point and I can't figure out what to do to keep him safe.

(I have been trying to sleep when he sleeps during the day. He keeps thwarting my attempts by waking up 5-10 minutes after I put him in the cosleeper every time, even if I wait until his limbs are limp before moving him.)

Advice? Is this dangerous enough that I should try rocking him instead and hope I don't drop him when I inevitably fall asleep doing that?

[prothyraia]

I would personally be uncomfortable falling asleep with a newborn in a carrier; I'd rather risk them falling, honestly.

Often, the only way I could get my oldest son to sleep as an infant was to lay him on my chest between my breasts.

Is there anyone who can help you at night? Or during the day so you could nap then?

[prothyraia]

Hope the night has started to go better for you!

[starkyld]

Still awake. About to wake my husband to switch shifts with me. He's been great about parenting but he needs his sleep too; there isn't anyone else.

[Mom2M]

So sorry to hear about your lack of sleep, I can totally relate! With DD #1, I remember realizing I had only slept for 13 min the whole night. She would never sleep on her back.

Anyway, here's what I did, I had a big pillow, like a couch pillow, and then 2 regular pillows on top so that I was lying down but had my head and chest somewhat elevated.
Then I just laid her on my chest to sleep. I can only remember a couple times that she rolled off onto the bed and I woke up immediately, I would feel her going. I think you get to be hyper alert especially when your LO is on top of you.
Just sleep more in the middle so she doesn't go all the way to the floor. Alternatively, you could put your whole mattress on the floor but with her, I was unwilling to do that since I had a c section.
She slept like that (at night) exclusively until she was 8 months old. Honestly, I kind of missed it when she stopped.
DD#2 really isn't a chest sleeper, she likes her belly and sleeping on the mattress.

I just don't know about sleeping with a carrier, I can see how it would seem to be safer since there would be traps preventing a fall, but I would feel uncomfortable.

Hope you get some sleep soon.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Do you have a swing? My boys would sleep next to me, but they would also sleep in a swing. We had one from fisher price, a papasan. It was sort of like a swinging cradle. I used to swaddle them up and tuck them into the swing, and that was the only other place they'd tolerate unless it was next to or on me. I hope you get some rest soon mama. It will get better!

[tanyam926]

I really feel for you mama!

I remember w/both my ds2 and ds3 that for the first 3-4 nights or so they would be so fussy and I could barely function.

I also used the swing for naps during the day when I really needed a few minutes of shut eye, and also at night sometimes when it seemed that nothing else would work. At first I felt bad about it, but then I realized that if it soothed them and they slept, and I picked them up when they wanted me, then there's nothing to feel guilty about. You do what you have to do to survive right?

I think the cradle style swings are the most helpful bc you don't have to worry about dangling legs falling asleep.

Also, if the fussiness persists you might want to consider other causes such as food sensitivities (through your milk), or need for chiropractic care (I have heard this works wonders for really fussy babies. Also, if your lo is sleeping a lot during the day he may not be nursing enough and then trying to make up for it at night.

Good luck, hope you get some sleep soon!