LO burying face in mattress to keep paci in?

bumpuser10054788

So the paci used to be a very good thing for my LO -- calming her and helping her to go to sleep. It still does to a certain extent. However, early last week she started waking up from naps after 40 mins looking for her paci, and waking up multiple times at night, realizing it had fallen out, and fussing/crying until we put it back. (Before this she'd generally STTN with one wakeup to eat.)

The last few nights, however, she discovered that she can roll onto her tummy and smash her face into the mattress to hold the paci in. It does seem to let her sleep better but it freaks me out! I've tried turning her over or turning her head and she'll generally just flip back eventually. If her head was turned to the side it wouldn't bother me so much.

I tried calling the pedi today to ask what to do but the nurse on call didn't have much advice. She said there was nothing I could do about it and just to check on her often). I asked if I should wean her off the paci since I think it's contributing to this behavior, and she said if I did I'd probably have to let her CIO and it would be difficult this young.

I've tried taking it out of her mouth after she falls asleep and it will either wake her up immediately or she'll still wake up later looking for it. I feel like it's really starting to disrupt her sleep but at the same time I don't really want to make her CIO (esp. at 3.5 months).

What would you ladies do? Do you think it is safe to leave her like this? Do you think it's just a phase? Should I consider CIO? :-/ It's now starting to disrupt MY sleep because I'm constantly checking to make sure she's ok.

tsmith312

My LO does this. But I'm not too concerned with it, she has really awesome head control. I figure if she can roll over she can roll back if need be. I wouldn't be too concerned with it. It did bother me when she started doing it because its like she is laying face first in her crib. Until I watched her on the monitor literally pick her head up and move it from side to side.

kimberpoo

that would make me nervous too! Have you tried a different brand/type of pacifier? we used to use these: https://www.target.com/p/philips-avent-bpa-free-soothie-pacifier-0-3-months-green-2-pack/-/A-13956486#prodSlot=medium_1_51&term=pacifier  as that's what the hospital gave him. they seem to wake him up more when they fall out. He loves these for naptime: https://www.target.com/p/mam-start-silicone-pacifier-2-pack/-/A-13968884#prodSlot=medium_1_58&term=pacifier    and these are what we use for bedtime: https://www.target.com/p/mam-love-affection-silicone-2pk-paci/-/A-13968887#prodSlot=medium_2_5&term=pacifier    He doesn't notice when they fall out, and I love them because they have lots and lots of air holes and don't cover his nose area. It should be noted that we didn't use pacifiers at all until he was around 6 weeks, and still only use them when he is overtired/fighting sleep or fusses when put down for sleep.

Have you also tried other things to help him sleep better? like maybe heartbeat/white noise, covering the windows, making sure the room is warm or cool enough?  Our lo sleeps best in a sleep-n-play with footies (nothing underneath except diaper). seems to keep him warm enough in the 72 degree air conditioning. he also sleeps better and longer if I put him straight into the crib when he falls asleep after his 9:30 pm/last feeding for the night instead of letting him sleep on me or in his swing for awhile.

good luck!!

bumpuser10054788

@babycaps It started out as turning on her side and turning her head so it was on tilt toward the mattress but her nose was definitely free. Now it is full on-the-tummy face-planting. I have taken a close look at it her and it looks like the paci in her mouth lifts her face up just enough that her nostrils are free, but still makes me nervous. There's nothing else in the crib except her and the paci.

@tsmith312 I know she is able to lift her head up pretty well, and I know she can roll from tummy to back (with a good bit of effort) since she has done it during tummy time. However I've never seen her roll tummy to back at night. (The odd inverse of this is I've never seen her roll back to tummy during the day, only at night.)

@kimberpoo We use white noise, heavy curtains on the windows, and put her in a onesie+halo sleepsack to sleep. We keep the temp in the low 70s and she has generally seemed comfortable. For pacis, we'd been using these so far: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Contemporary-Freeflow-Pacifier-Designs/dp/B001L2SA6M/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1404752702&sr=8-6&keywords=philips+avent+pacifier . She seemed to like them so we never tried any others. The ones you mentioned seem to get good reviews though, so it is definitely something to consider.

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas ladies

kimberpoo

g33kyg1rly   are you supposed to stop using sleepsacks when they start rolling over? Honest question, I'm not sure on that one...just thought I'd ask since that would worry me as well

jennybean80

Sleepsacks are fine for rolling over since their arms are free. It's swaddlers you have to be careful with since the arms are inside so if they roll to their tummy they can't use their arms to roll back or lift their faces up.

eta correct "their/there"

ahc1503

Mine is doing the same thing!!
He started off rolling to his side with his face down towards mattress to get the paci in his mouth, now he face plants, he's not sleeping all that well though! He used to spit the paci out once in deep sleep at night & 'never cried for it again, as of 2 nights ago he cries when it falls out & he can't find it by rolling over. When do they start putting it in their own mouth?!! It can't come soon enough!

Missfunball

No real advice but commiseration. LO doesn't use a pack but he's been faceplant sleeping during naps. I end up putting him on his back and cuddling to get him to sleep ...and he's also taken a liking to throwing blanket on top of his face....so I have to watch that during naps too

bumpuser10054788

Just figured I'd provide an update:

@kimberpoo In desperation I made a trip to BRU the evening after I made this post and bought two of the Mam pacis (the glow-in-the-dark nighttime ones) to try them out. After seeming a little bit confused the first time or two I gave them to her, it does seem she is able to keep hold of them a bit better than the Phillips ones.

I don't know whether it's a coincidence, a phase, or the new pacis, but her morning nap seems to have re-established itself (1.5-2 hours), although the other naps are still around the 40-45 minute mark. She has also started turning her head to the side more consistently when she rolls on her tummy (which makes mama feel better). Although I think I'm going to have to resign myself to the fact I might have a tummy sleeper. (Now that she's been doing it for about a week and has been okay I'm starting to feel less panicked.)

Of course, last night she did wake up TWO times to eat, followed by sleeping in until 9am when I finally woke her up. (Maybe a growth spurt...she's been chowing down like no tomorrow lately.)

kimberpoo

g33kyg1rly   glad to know it helped, even if just a little. Thanks for the update. I'll have my fingers crossed for you and getting better sleep! let us all know if you discover anything else that helps

kenwright

I give Baby A her wubanub only at bed time... figure if he lays on her chest, the pacifier wont fall out as easily, and she'll fall asleep before the pacifier comes out.  And she likes to rub the wuba toy.  Should i not be letting her have it at bed time?  once she's asleep, i take it out of the crib...