Would you be concerned/Any suggestions?

MrsApplelovesMrApple · November 2013

Okay, so this may seem silly but even though I'm a STM I'm a paranoid STM. For those of you who know about my oldest son I know you'll understand my fear regarding my baby not breathing. Here is the situation:

When I put my 6 week old son down to nap/sleep I come back to find him on his stomach or side. I put him down on his back like you're suppose to. I swaddle him. But almost ever time I wake up to feed him or check on him while he's napping he's out of the swaddle, one sock off, and on his stomach or side. He was in the NICU for three weeks so I didn't see him sleep at night and I don't know if he's been doing this his entire (short) life. I even had to remove a stuffed elephant I had in the bottom corner of his crib because not only did he scoot all the way to the bottom, but he turned around and had his head UNDER the elephant.

I mentioned this to his pediatrician last week and he said "Are you sure you put him on his back?" like I somehow forgot and just threw him in his crib half swaddled and de-socked to land whatever way he landed. I just dropped the subject but I'm so paranoid that he will suffocate. He's not old enough to coordinate his movements so I'm afraid he's going to get into a position that's not safe (such as sticking his head under a stuffed elephant). He's also pulled a hat down so it completely covered part of his head and face. I had a funny feeling while in the kitchen and went to check on him. When I pulled the hat off he took a huge gasp of air and then started crying. I no longer put a hat on him unless we are in the same room.

As of now, I'm constantly waking up to make sure he is still breathing and turning him back over. He slept a 6 hour stretch last night and I couldn't even enjoy it because I had to check on him at 2 AM to make sure he really was just sleeping and not hurt.

Am I being overly paranoid/concerned or is this really something I should worry about? Does any one have any suggestions aside from tying him to the mattress?

edit: Needed to make paragraphs for easier read. Sorry guys!

Eshirley26 · November 2013

We just got home after 5 weeks in the NICU. The day before he was discharged, one of the nurses told me that she found him on his tummy that morning, and she knew he had started on his back! He had always been bad to wiggle out of the swaddle, but flipping himself over just seems crazy! The nurse told me that once they start turning over, their little bodies are just ready to turn over. Makes me nervous as hell!
I'm interested to see what advice others give you- good luck!

MrsApplelovesMrApple · November 2013

Well, at least I'm not crazy for being worried about this since you're worried too!

AlisonM12 · November 2013

Sorry no great advice here, but I would think that if he's getting out of the swaddle then it might be a good idea to switch to sleep sacks?

KatieintheCity · November 2013

Have you tried the swaddle blankets that Velcro? DS is quite the wiggle worm and even he can't bust out of them. Also, are you swaddling with his arms straight down at his sides? If his arms are bent, he can wiggle out easier.

Lastly, I've just been reading Happiest Baby on the Block, and he actually suggests using duct tape to hold a swaddle in place! We haven't back to do that, but might be worth a try for you.

And no, you're not crazy. I check DS constantly when he's sleeping, all day and night. I stopped putting hats on him as soon as we got home from the hospital for that very reason you mention. He only wears one if we leave the house!

IforShort · November 2013

I think it's totally normal to be worried. It sounds like you're doing everything the docs suggest and LO is just an active sleeper. Have you thought about getting a snuza or similar monitor for peace of mind? Hope it gets better soon!

dobrydney · November 2013

Still an inside baby here, but I was going to suggest the Swaddle Me swaddlers. We got a few of those as gifts and that velcro seems really hardcore and there's a lot of it.

Jennybabe0706 · November 2013

As a first time mom still waiting on her little girl to arrive, I don't have any advice but I do want to say that you are not crazy for worrying! Oh and also wtf to the dr who questioned how you were putting your baby down! Good luck, I'm sure everything will be ok.

MrsApplelovesMrApple · November 2013

I have tried the swaddlers with Velcro. And the miracle swaddler. And the sleep sack. He can get his arms out of all three. The sleep sack we have looks a bit like a jumper and then has two pieces that go across his arms. We put his arms down to his sides. Somehow he manages to free his hands and they stick out of the bottom. When we unzip the sleep sack his socks are off and laying in the bottom of it. But it's still the most successful of all of our swaddlers. I might have to buy more of these and figure out a way to close the part he's getting his hands out of.

Oh man, @katieinthecity, I really don't want to duct tape him!

Momtothreelove · November 2013

You are not crazy! DS1 was rolling to his belly by five weeks and I was a wreck about it. I also drive myself nearly insane with every hour checks and I was in the same room. I agree, nix the hats, the toys, blankets, anything that can get in the way. We used halo sleepers, but any Velcro ones are better than just a blanket swaddle for active lo's. Also ask your ped about his neck control. I was literally in tears worried something was going to happen to DS in his sleep and she did a few neck muscle checks and showed me how he would be ok. It made me feel a ton better about letting him sleep without getting anxious. Good luck mama!

MrsApplelovesMrApple · November 2013

I will definitely ask the pedi to look at his neck muscles. My first didn't do all these things so watching such a young baby be so active is weird. I haven't seen him roll during tummy time but he does tend to throw himself back a lot when I hold him to my chest so I know he's strong and wiggly.

LittleNan · November 2013

You don't sound crazy to me, either. This was new to me, but I'm a FTM so you may be aware of it already, there is a hammock like thing you can put in your crib (Lifenest). It is made to prevent flat spots on the baby's head, but is suspended a bit off of the mattress and made of mesh. My thinking is a) it's mesh so it's breathable if LO rolls on side/stomach and b) because its hammock-like it would be harder for him to roll over. Good luck!

eta: it is about $100

MrsApplelovesMrApple · November 2013

You don't sound crazy to me, either. This was new to me, but I'm a FTM so you may be aware of it already, there is a hammock like thing you can put in your crib (Lifenest). It is made to prevent flat spots on the baby's head, but is suspended a bit off of the mattress and made of mesh. My thinking is a) it's mesh so it's breathable if LO rolls on side/stomach and b) because its hammock-like it would be harder for him to roll over. Good luck! eta: it is about $100

$100 is totally worth that. I'm going to check this out. Especially since his pedi suggested that I change which side he faces ever other time to prevent his head getting flat on one side. That was part of what brought on the rolling question. I can put him down facing a certain way but that doesn't mean he's going to stay there!

AlisonM12 · November 2013

MrsApplelovesMrApple said:
I have tried the swaddlers with Velcro. And the miracle swaddler. And the sleep sack. He can get his arms out of all three. The sleep sack we have looks a bit like a jumper and then has two pieces that go across his arms. We put his arms down to his sides. Somehow he manages to free his hands and they stick out of the bottom. When we unzip the sleep sack his socks are off and laying in the bottom of it. But it's still the most successful of all of our swaddlers. I might have to buy more of these and figure out a way to close the part he's getting his hands out of.
Oh man, @katieinthecity, I really don't want to duct tape him!

Have you given the sleep sacks without arms a try? I don't know but maybe that will take care of him getting out. What an active little guy you have!!!

Linny0316 · November 2013

I would be running out to get the angel care monitor as a safety back up too. I've used it for every baby and it caught my son when he stopped breathing at five days old. Just follow the testing directions to get the sensitivity right.

sands42 · November 2013

I like sleep sacks... I don't swaddle because it seems like my babies ALWAYS unswaddle themselves. I am super paranoid that my son will stop breathing- I was also with my daughter. So, I totally understand how you are feeling about that! If he doesn't wake me up every 2 hours at night I'll wake up anyways all worried.

I hope you find a good resolution!!!

Justnooch · November 2013

I would be worried too! I agree with @sands42 on the sleep sack. I always felt better about his hands being available to suck on or something like that so if he's doing that, he's not entirely face down. I'm not sure if this is true but it makes sense to me.

Would love to have an update on what your pedi says or what he advises, especially on his neck control or on that special mesh mattress. That would definitely put my mind at ease.

MrsApplelovesMrApple · November 2013

I had a cousin who used the angelcare monitor and she said it would randomly go off sometimes. I thought about one with my first but between her experience and the price I didn't want to waste money if I didn't like it.

I think my best bet is to buy the other type of sleep sack and try that.

I will definitely post an update about what the doctor said for those that have the same worry.

LittleNan · November 2013

Please do! I'd like to hear what works.

MrsApplelovesMrApple · November 2013

@Dapostrophe Where did you find those?

mom2curlygirls · November 2013

Sounds like he may not like being swaddled at all. Neither of my girls did. They would not sleep well at all and were continuously trying to wiggle out.

Edvoncupacake · November 2013

Way back when it was recommended to prop them into positions to keep them either on their side or their back. We got this blanket thing that velcroed into a tight roll so that it wouldn't come undone and smother DS. I don't know if they still recommend that or not, but it helped us a lot. Otherwise, the sleep slack or footie pajamas are great ideas.

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