Mum Guilt After My 6-Week-Old Baby Fell on the Floor

I’m really upset and struggling with a lot of mum guilt right now. My six-week-old baby loves sleeping on my chest, especially when we’re lying on the bed. Lately I’ve been extremely sleep deprived and haven’t been getting much rest. This morning at around 3:45 a.m., I woke up to a loud thump followed by my baby crying. When I opened my eyes, I realised he had fallen onto the floor. I was absolutely devastated.

I immediately called 111 and took him straight to A&E. Thankfully, he was examined by the doctors and discharged, and they reassured me that he was fine.

Normally, if I’m lying down with him, I put him back in his cot or beside me once he’s settled. I honestly don’t remember falling asleep. The last thing I remember is patting him to sleep, and then I woke up to hear him crying on the floor.

Seeing my six-week-old baby lying there broke my heart. I can’t stop replaying the moment in my mind and blaming myself for what happened. I know it was an accident, but I feel terrible.

My baby struggles with reflux and hates sleeping in his cot, which is why he often settles best when he’s on me. However, after this scare, I’m determined to be much more careful and make sure he’s sleeping in a safe space, even if it’s more difficult and means less sleep for me.

I’m just feeling incredibly guilty and upset about the whole situation.

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Don’t beat yourself about it, this stuff happens. My baby had really bad colic and a lot of times I had to let her sleep on her belly on my chest as well so I know exactly what it’s like having a baby who has to sleep on your chest. The fact that you feel this much guilt only proves how much you love him ❤️

You are the best mama and your baby is fine and so loved that you are willing to forgo even more sleep to make sure he is safe..that says a lot ! My 16 week old rolled off her change table when she was 12 weeks old- out of no where. Straight off something that is meant to be safe and the worst part is I was right there, just turned the other way to put the nappy bag in the bin at the side of the table. Horrible. I felt horrible but like you I did the right thing and we went to a and e and everything is fine. These things happen so much through no fault- your baby is loved x

I completely know that awful feeling of guilt. Please don’t be too harsh on yourself, it’s not your fault and these things unfortunately happen more than you think. The same thing happened to me when my baby was only 5 days old. I was really sleep deprived, on strong pain meds still recovering from my c section and fell asleep whilst nursing my baby. He fell from the bed onto the floor. I did the same as you and he was luckily discharged from A&E with the all clear. It’s the worst feeling I’ve ever felt and it triggered a really bad anxiety in me, worried it would happen again. I then made my partner stay awake with me through night feeds to make sure I didn’t fall asleep. I found this helped with anxiety so if you have someone who could be awake with you that might help. My baby is now 6 weeks and its lesson learnt. Just be kind to yourself! It’s so hard having a newborn❤️

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