How does your baby sleep

I feel ashamed to admit that my 8 week old baby sleeps on my chest at night - and I fall asleep too. I’m propped up in a reclined position, I’m sober and non-smoking, it’s only me and my baby in bed (husband in spare bedroom).

I obviously tried putting my baby on her back, in her crib, in our bed, swaddled, all sorts - but she would always grunt, squirm, kick her legs so much she often woke herself up crying within half an hour. I know it is somewhat normal for babies to have “active sleep” but it just seemed impossible for us to get a decent night without having to “wake, feed, settle” a million times. I dreaded bedtime every day until she started sleeping on my chest - she sleeps so peacefully in long stretches, and I sleep much better too. Bedtime becomes bonding time and I genuinely love the closeness between us!

However, I feel terrible because (a) all the articles saying this poses significant SIDS risks and (b) am I creating bad habits - is it going to be really difficult to transition her into a back-sleeping position (in her own crib) when she’s older? Advice would be much appreciated x

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I’m curious. Do you at least sometimes get to lay down with the baby off you or do you mean you’ve stayed reclined on a chair all this time? If so, girl hats off to you. My back would give out I think lol.

I’m in the exact same boat! Hows your back coping with being propped up?This week I started transferring her on to the bed next to me and twice shes managed to sleep for 2 hrs. Other times she wasn’t having any of it so I just popped her back on my chest. I think if you don’t give her the opportunity to settle lying down she never will but also it’s important that you both get to sleep. If you’re breastfeeding, side lying feeding position may help as she might fall asleep feeding and you can slowly roll her on to her back. If you haven’t already have a look at @cosleepy on instagram, talks about safer chest sleeping. Everyone I’ve spoken to who have also been in the same position say their babies grew out of it and at the very least would sleep next to them in the bed (some say their babies managed to eventually sleep in the cot but I’ve given up all hope of that happening 😂) Hope you’re managing to get some sleep lying down, I never thought lying down would feel like such a luxury x

My first was like that. I got the owlet sock because i was so anxious i would never actually fall into deep sleep i was so sleep deprived so hats off to you! To be honest and i am ashamed of it as well but the only way i got to put him down was on his belly. Fortunately, he started turning early and would turn on his belly as soon as i put him in his crib and the dr said it was okay to let him sleep like that if he turns on his own that is when my life got so much better.

I know it’s not recommended and you have to do what’s best for you and weigh up the risks but we used the sleepyhead deluxe in our bed for the nights our little one won’t settle. Especially going through the 6-8 weeks. It’s mainly after 4am when we try to get some extra sleep.

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