Sleep worries! Help!

[Emelee]

My dd is almost 4 months old. She sleeps with me in a king size bed. She is able to roll from back-to-tummy but not tummy-to-back. Recently she fights being swaddled which was the only way to keep her still at night. She rolls, kicks, and squirms constantly. Now she has been flipping over onto her belly which terrifies me that she will suffocate. When I try to turn her to her back she wakes, cries, and flips again. I wouldn't be so worried if she would turn her head while sleeping but instead she goes face down breathing into the sheet. Even when I turn her head she puts it back. What to do? I'm so exhausted and scared. I'm getting like 15-30 mins sleep at a time because she's constantly struggling or I wake to check on her. I even fell asleep half sitting up which I've never done. I was practically lying over on her! How can I keep her safe?

[AZMel]

I also slept with my son in a king size bed and had similar worries when I was over-tired. He also refused to sleep on his back. What I ended up doing was putting a crib next to the bed with one of the sides removed. It was like an extension of my bed but gave him his own sleeping space that I could keep blankets out of and any other suffocation hazard. I also removed all the blankets from my bed and just put him in warm pjs and did the same for myself (I only slept with a sheet). If she does turn over the risk will be reduced if you make sure she is on a very firm mattress and does not have blankets/pillows etc. around her. I think that will be better for both of you than trying to stay awake and falling alseep sitting up. Good luck!

[Emelee]

Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately we don't own a crib but I tried to keep her in her playpen without a sheet on the mattress. It was a horrible night, she was up every hour and wouldn't settle unless picked up and nursed and this was after refusing to go to bed until almost midnight. I finally gave in at around 5 AM and just had her sleep on my chest like she did when she was newborn. That's what I've been doing the last couple days and although it's uncomfy, at least I know she won't suffocate ON me and she doesn't move either which is nice! I will try again tonight with the playpen to see if she will sleep by herself. I'm hoping that once she gets a little stronger I won't be so worried about her in the bed with me. I could also try sleeping with her in warmer clothes so I don't feel the need for a blanket. I just want 2 hours in a row at least

[HuntressMother]

Hi mama!

Im not sure if youve seen these:  http://www.growingyourbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/bednest-500x366.jpg 

But they look really neat and ive heard some great things about them. I cant remember exactly what theyre called, but maybe you can look into one if you decide that you need more options.  Best of luck to you, and i hope you get some shut-eye soon.

[MayasMama88]

I don't have a lot of advice for you, but I went through the same thing with our DD. We had a king size bed that DH, DD and I slept on (we still do, actually) and she started sleeping on her belly with her face STRAIGHT DOWN in the blankets. I freaked out. I did the same things you did and every time she would wake up and cry and then have to be nursed back to sleep, where she put her face back down in the blankets again! Finally I decided to just lay there and watch her one night. She laid there for awhile with her face in the blankets, but when she started feeling like she couldn't breathe easily, she turned her head to the side, and stayed like that quite awhile. If your mattress is firm and your DD isn't sleeping on TOP of soft bedding, she should be fine. I think at some point all babies do this... I don't really know why, but from what I've read/heard from other mama friends, it's common. They will turn their heads if they can't breathe in the position they're in.

[Emelee]

Thank you for the advice. I stripped the mattress of everything but a sheet over it so I'm hoping DD will be ok. I only have a few pillows that stay away from her face and two thin blankets that I put over myself. I had thought about one of those side crib co-sleepers but the way DD scoots at night, I'd worry she'd fall in the crack or just end up back on the bed anyways. I'm hoping this situation works out better before I try one of those side sleepers!

MayasMama88, I'm glad you had a similar experience and everything turned out well. It's just so strange she face plants herself. I wouldn't think it would be comfortable at all! I will watch her tonight and let her sleep next to me and see if she turns her head well enough. She has finally rolled over from tummy-to-back so I'm hoping this means she's strong enough to know when she needs fresh air.

Thanks again everyone for your help!