EDIT: For those “who would never” please don’t just comment that I shouldn’t bed-share without offering an alternative solution to my problem. Please really read my experience and help me. Don’t you think if I could do anything else that I would? Bed sharing was my last resort and I feel awful about needing to do it. Either give me a realistic safer solution or move along and keep your judgement to yourself.
EDIT 2: Thank you all so much for the empathy, moral support, and ideas! This weekend we are going to build his crib, which has a toddler bed rail, and put that against the bed. Hopefully it will offer him the closeness he needs to stay asleep while the other sides of the crib will prevent me from rolling into his space. I don’t move much in my sleep but better safe than sorry.
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I posted something similar in another sub but I wanted opinions from other formula feeding parents. I’ll try to make a long story short.
At 6 weeks my LO developed very sudden and extremely severe acid reflux. For 2 weeks, he was arching, gagging, sputtering, wheezing, crying, etc. We had to hold him upright 24/7, so as you can imagine, I wasn’t sleeping basically at all. No more than a few hours a day when my husband could help take over. Changing from Enfamil GE to Kendamil then to Bubs did nothing. Pepcid helped but only a little and we still couldn’t put him down for more than a few minutes. We eventually switched to hypoallergenic formula and figured out that he has a milk protein allergy.
So now he’s a happy and reflux free little guy! BUT he got used to contact sleeping. He used to sleep in his bassinet like a champ, up to 2.5 hour sessions, and now won’t be in it more than 20-40 minutes. So I’m still not sleeping!
When I sought out advice, most moms I know told me just to bed share. I was shocked to hear so many moms in my circle who have done it. The granola natural mamas but also the science pharma medicine mamas. I know it’s a huge safety risk, but so is accidentally falling asleep with him in my arms or a sling on the couch or in the rocking chair, which was already happening. I had to choose between two unsafe options: co-sleep on accident or on purpose. I made a choice. I’m actually sleeping more than a few hours now! Baby and I are much more well rested and happy.
HOWEVER, all my research to make it as safe as possible ends with the same result: Safe Sleep 7. And according to that, formula fed babies don’t qualify for this practice. So… I have to suffer severe sleep deprivation and we have to fall asleep in more unsafe conditions because I don’t breast feed? I don’t get it.
What’s your experience?
Additional questions:
- What does your baby wear? Pajamas with or without sleep sack?
- What do you wear? I’m wearing 3 layers head to toe and I’m still cold without blankets. Room is 70 degrees F.
- Is your baby’s head at your breast? I feel like at my shoulder is much safer.
EDIT 2: Thank you all so much for the empathy, moral support, and ideas! This weekend we are going to build his crib, which has a toddler bed rail, and put that against the bed. Hopefully it will offer him the closeness he needs to stay asleep while the other sides of the crib will prevent me from rolling into his space. I don’t move much in my sleep but better safe than sorry.
—
I posted something similar in another sub but I wanted opinions from other formula feeding parents. I’ll try to make a long story short.
At 6 weeks my LO developed very sudden and extremely severe acid reflux. For 2 weeks, he was arching, gagging, sputtering, wheezing, crying, etc. We had to hold him upright 24/7, so as you can imagine, I wasn’t sleeping basically at all. No more than a few hours a day when my husband could help take over. Changing from Enfamil GE to Kendamil then to Bubs did nothing. Pepcid helped but only a little and we still couldn’t put him down for more than a few minutes. We eventually switched to hypoallergenic formula and figured out that he has a milk protein allergy.
So now he’s a happy and reflux free little guy! BUT he got used to contact sleeping. He used to sleep in his bassinet like a champ, up to 2.5 hour sessions, and now won’t be in it more than 20-40 minutes. So I’m still not sleeping!
When I sought out advice, most moms I know told me just to bed share. I was shocked to hear so many moms in my circle who have done it. The granola natural mamas but also the science pharma medicine mamas. I know it’s a huge safety risk, but so is accidentally falling asleep with him in my arms or a sling on the couch or in the rocking chair, which was already happening. I had to choose between two unsafe options: co-sleep on accident or on purpose. I made a choice. I’m actually sleeping more than a few hours now! Baby and I are much more well rested and happy.
HOWEVER, all my research to make it as safe as possible ends with the same result: Safe Sleep 7. And according to that, formula fed babies don’t qualify for this practice. So… I have to suffer severe sleep deprivation and we have to fall asleep in more unsafe conditions because I don’t breast feed? I don’t get it.
What’s your experience?
Additional questions:
- What does your baby wear? Pajamas with or without sleep sack?
- What do you wear? I’m wearing 3 layers head to toe and I’m still cold without blankets. Room is 70 degrees F.
- Is your baby’s head at your breast? I feel like at my shoulder is much safer.
