Safe sleeping position for newborns

I just had my baby girl a week ago and I'm truely terrified of going to sleep at the same time my baby does. Her bassinet is beside my side of the bed. I fear when I awake that she won't be breathing. They say that 'BACK to sleep' (back sleeping) is the way to go. But I don't think it's safe to have blankets over the baby that isn't swaddled ( she hates being swaddled ). Can some one give me advice please? Do I just place her on her back and not use a blanket or anything - won't she be cold? I don't know.. I am at a loss and scared. Thanks

[adgal]

Congrats on your little girl.  I am going through the exact same fears you are...I think we all do at the beginning.  I am also practicing safe sleeping based on the SIDS Foundation Guidelines.   Putting baby on his/her back, no pillows, suffed animals or blankets. No positioners.  I either swaddle him (I bought the swaddlers with the velcro) or I use the sleep sacs.  They are designed to keep baby warm with no loose ends that can wind up on babies face.  They work great!  I bought mine at Sears for about $15.00 each.  Baby can still move his/her arms and legs but stays warm and safe.

Hope that helps!

[m3lanie]

thanks, you as well!  I did buy 2 sleep sacks from sears (baby days sale) 2 weeks ago. I havnt  used them yet because they seemed large on her and i was going to wait til she got bigger. She's over her both weight now and can eat on damand so hopefully that helps speed things along. I may just try the sacks during the day while she sleeps and I am awake, just to see how it will work. Do you have your bassinet mattress inclined slightly propped up with towel or just flat?

[adgal]

I currently just keep the mattress flat.  So far no signs of reflux or anything...he hardly ever even spits up so the Dr. recommended not propping unless necessary.

I too am absolutely terrified of him not breathing.  His basinette is right next to me as well, and I often fall asleep with one arm inside of it, hand resting on his chest.  I didn't think it would be this way, but I think it's normal for all of us to go through it.  I can tell you that as he approaches 3 weeks old with no problems, I am starting to relax a bit.  Still have moments of terror though.  

With the sleep sacs, my understanding is they are safe to use once the neck hole fits well enough that it can't ride up over their faces.  Ryder was low birth weight, so we are just there now. Thank God he is putting on the weight quickly (I am pretty sure you are exclusively breast feeding as well....it's amazing how fast they grow with that).  So your little one should be fine with them soon.  If it's not a good choice right now due to size, just a warm sleeper seems to be fine as well.  I did that a couple of times and just watched him the first 1/2 hour for signs he was cold...he let me know...lol.  I personally will not put a blanket in there no matter what anyone says. Too scary.

Good luck, and she is beautiful.  

[allmymarbles]

I slept my babies on their sides. You sort of fold one leg over the other. Additionally I put a pillow behind their backs (to keep them from turning completely onto their backs). I found this preferable to sleeping them on their backs. Were they to upchuck, the back position could be dangerous.

[trh0819]

My pedi has me put Annabelle in her car seat beside my bed for the first few weeks because she didn't sleep well in her bassinet. I didn't know what to think of it but it worked like a charm. She slept and I didn't worry. Granted I still bent over and checked for breathing every time I woke up (HA!) but at least I would fall asleep.