Fear of cot death

QUESTION:
My daughter is 21 weeks old now. The last few days she just wants to sleep on her stomach. This scares me!!! I sit by her, watching her the whole night just to make sure she is breathing. And I am exhausted!
Is there a specific time they learn that they must not lay with their noses is the mattress? Is there a pillow I can buy to make sure she can still breath???

Also… she still wakes every two hours! Is this normal?? I have tried so many things to help her sleep longer periods. But she still doesn’t.

Hope you can help me, PLEASE.

 

ANSWER:

I can feel your anxiety and it is justified - as new parents most of us have these concerns. To allay the concerns, i would simply turn her onto her back as sleeping on her tummy at this age does increase the risk of SIDS.

 

I do think however that if this concern continues and is disrupting your and her sleep that you may have an unnaturally high level of separation anxiety and fear of loss. Maybe you have suffered a loss in your life that leads you to fear losing her (maybe you lost your mom, another baby or a partner?) I suggest that if any of these situations are true, that you seek counselling. 

 

In addition follow these tips:

1. Always put her to sleep on her back - not her tummy

2. At this age do not have a pillow in the bed at all

3. Do not have any blankets in the bed - keep her warm by using a baby sleeping bag.

4. Get an apnoea mat or monitor if you continue to be so anxious. 

 

If she is waking two hourly she is probably hungry and ready for solids - i would introduce them now.