Sleep positions and back health

[cat13]

I am concerned that our sleep situation isn't healthy for my 5 1/2 month old son's back. Hopefully I can describe it here.

My son sleeps in bed with me, and usually falls asleep nursing while we each lay on our sides facing each other. Because he has a giant cloth diaper bum at night, I find that he can't lay easily on his side without support, or he flops to his back (which then wakes him up). I usually have a rolled up receiving blanket or pillow snugged in behind his back and bum to hold him in place.

Lately he's been more active in his sleep. He'll throw his arm up and then be laying on his back, with the receiving blanket/pillow now stuck underneath his back, in a very awkward way. For some reason, this doesn't wake him up, but if I tried removing the blanket and setting him on his back, that would wake him up.   Oddly enough, he seems comfortable, but I'm afraid that this position might be unhealthy for his spine/back.

Does this sound unhealthy for his back? And for those of you with side-sleepers, how do your LOs lay?

(this is cross-posted from Ask the Experts Forum, where I haven't received a response)

[mamadiamond]

i wouldn't worry...if it was harming him it would probably be uncomfortable and wake him up. so if he's sleeping soundly like that it's probably fine. my dd flops all over me and the bed and after 18 months of crazy sleep positions her back is just fine. dh actually takes pictures of us sleeping when he wakes up some mornings because she will be laying in such a ridiculous way. babies are so flexible that positions that would hurt an adult feel ok to them.

[cat13]

Thanks for posting :) I agree, if it was hurting him, he would wake up, right? It just looks so strange!