Question:
>Hello, >I have a four week old who has a tendency to spit up in her sleep, long >after she has been fed and burped. As a result I am hesitant to sleep >her on her back in case she chokes. A friend suggested using a crib >wedge to elevate her head, yet still allow me to sleep her on her back. >I would like to continue sleeping her on her back, as I read that it >greatly reduces SIDS deaths. Toys R Us carries the crib wedge, however >I do not know if using them over a long term will cause spine >development problems. Does anyone know anything about the wedges? Does >anyone have any idea when she might stop spitting up long after she has >been fed and burped? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
My baby had the same problem, due to reflux. The latest recomendations for infants, btw, is to put them on their SIDE if possible, as that also helps to prevent choking if they spit up. The only ‘wedge’ I’m aware of is a ‘prop’, to keep the baby on their side. I kept both of my babies propped on their side until they were old enough to roll to their back and back on their own, and in my daugthers case, until she was over the reflux at 6 months. To my knowlege, there is no spine development problems associated with it. There are recommendations to alternate which side you put them on, to prevent the head forming ‘flat spots’ (which can also happen if they sleep on their back all the time.) As for elevating the head…I think it would be better not to, and just prop her on her side, as that would be safer if she spits up anyway. Hope this helps If Life was a Highway, I’d be in a ditch Bright Blessings Brenda Smeby ICQ#4128184
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Some argue that the side position is better than back and that the crib >wedge is the best option to begin with. > Hello, > I have a four week old who has a tendency to spit up in her sleep, long > after she has been fed and burped. As a result I am hesitant to sleep > her on her back in case she chokes. A friend suggested using a crib > wedge to elevate her head, yet still allow me to sleep her on her back. > I would like to continue sleeping her on her back, as I read that it > greatly reduces SIDS deaths. Toys R Us carries the crib wedge, however > I do not know if using them over a long term will cause spine > development problems. Does anyone know anything about the wedges? Does > anyone have any idea when she might stop spitting up long after she has > been fed and burped? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If she’s spitting up, DEFINITELY get the wedge. She will have much less opportunity to choke by being placed on her side and KEPT there. As for long-term, well, we used the wedge ALWAYS during baby’s first three months or so, and she slept very well. Now at 4 mo., she sleeps without it and prefers laying on her back exclusively when sleeping. No problems with back, neck, or spine; she’s already sitting almost on her own and when "walking" down the hall will consistently place on foot in front of the other. Little boogers are very elastic at this stage and any bend in the neck or back will straighten out quickly. Don’t worry, be nappy! :-) Use that wedge. GREAT invention for safer draining of fluids in newborns & prevention of choking for 1st few months when needed. We recommend it highly. (Get one with velcro wedges if possible; can be adjusted to hold baby tighter or, when more grown, be spread out for more room.)
Response:
what I did with my daughter is to put her to sleep on her side. I would roll up a towel and place it against the side of the crib and put her against it. Mind you she usually did end up on her back during the sleeping but at least the food had a chance to go down. I always made sure to rotate sides as the head tends to mishapen. This happens on the back as well whereby the hair is missing and the head flattens. I think it’s good to vary the position. She’s past the swaddling age, but when I swadled her she’d really stay on her side but once they start moving they do tend to end up on their back. It’s amazing they do spit up when they’re on their back put somehow they never do choke. I’ve seen my daughter do this and somehow it just dribbles out the side. It is scary though. I think that was the reason that they used to favor babies sleeping on their stomaches. Sorry, I don’t know much about the wedge, but it’s been around for some time and so I think it’s safe. M & D
Response:
I don’t know about the wedge either, but if your going to lay the baby asleep on her side, make sure she won’t roll over onto her tummy instead of her back. If her arm (the one underneath if she’s on her side) is pulled out from under her, she’ll naturally roll to her back instead of her tummy. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >what I did with my daughter is to put her to sleep on her side. I would roll >up a towel and place it against the side of the crib and put her against it. >Mind you she usually did end up on her back during the sleeping but at least >the food had a chance to go down. I always made sure to rotate sides as the >head tends to mishapen. This happens on the back as well whereby the hair is >missing and the head flattens. I think it’s good to vary the position. She’s >past the swaddling age, but when I swadled her she’d really stay on her side >but once they start moving they do tend to end up on their back. >It’s amazing they do spit up when they’re on their back put somehow they >never do choke. I’ve seen my daughter do this and somehow it just dribbles >out the side. It is scary though. I think that was the reason that they used >to favor babies sleeping on their stomaches. Sorry, I don’t know much about >the wedge, but it’s been around for some time and so I think it’s safe. >M & D
Response:
>Hello, >I have a four week old who has a tendency to spit up in her sleep, long >after she has been fed and burped. As a result I am hesitant to sleep >her on her back in case she chokes. A friend suggested using a crib >wedge to elevate her head, yet still allow me to sleep her on her back.
As far as I know, the wedge is supposed to support babies lying on their side, not to use as a pillow for their heads. I believe elevating their heads in this way is a SIDS risk as it can interfere with breathing – if you need to raise baby’s head (eg for a streaming cold) I was advised to elevate one end of the crib or the whole mattress. My daughter Tilly always slept much better on her side – at 11mo, she still sleeps almost invariably on her left side. When she was newborn, we placed her on her side and propped her up with a rolled up blanket. I suppose a wedge looks neater, but a blanket did the trick for us. I was told by our midwife and health visitor that lying a baby on her side is about as good as lying her on her back – the important thing is to avoid letting them sleep on their tummies. Anna
Response:
Hello, I’d like to thank everyone for their responses, they are a great help. I will avoid sleeping her on her tummy and use the wedges. The side prop wedges I do not have, I presently use a rolled up receiving blanket, but I will purchase the velcro ones. The wedge I initially questioned, (for those who asked) is a wedge that goes under the crib sheet to slightly elevate the baby’s head and shoulders. It’s great to know others had similar problems. Thanks again! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> If she’s spitting up, DEFINITELY get the wedge. She will have much less > opportunity to choke by being placed on her side and KEPT there. > As for long-term, well, we used the wedge ALWAYS during baby’s first three > months or so, and she slept very well. Now at 4 mo., she sleeps without it and > prefers laying on her back exclusively when sleeping. No problems with back, > neck, or spine; she’s already sitting almost on her own and when "walking" down > the hall will consistently place on foot in front of the other. > Little boogers are very elastic at this stage and any bend in the neck or back > will straighten out quickly. Don’t worry, be nappy! :-) Use that wedge. > GREAT invention for safer draining of fluids in newborns & prevention of choking > for 1st few months when needed. We recommend it highly. (Get one with velcro > wedges if possible; can be adjusted to hold baby tighter or, when more grown, be > spread out for more room.)
Response:
I know I am risking starting some really heated debates on this subject, but what the heck! I used a wedge for one of my kids, the other I rolled up blankets, they always ended up on their backs, stomachs, any position but their side! My kids always moved wildly in their sleep, I was extremely fearful of SIDS…so my first sons doctor told me this… SIDS is related to these things as well as the most popular positioning theory… SUFFOCATION!!! Due to…pillowy bedding…unsafe bed/bedding, stuffed animals and toys blocking the airway!! Basically she was trying to tell me, that most of the so called SIDS babies, we actually suffocated unintentionally. No mystery there! Now before everyone gets all passionate about this thought, and douses me with hate mail, think about it…besides, it is simply a theory! Just as the other suggestion are. Babies have been placed on their sides, backs, and stomachs, all in the name of avoidance of this terrible affliction, and I do not believe that any one position has been better than the other over all. I believe that if you are careful about what you place into your child’s crib, you will not have a high risk of this! *smiles everyone* elusive1
Response:
When my babies were young, both of them spit up quite a bit after feedings. The pediatricians told me that the muscle that closes off the stomach was still developing (which is normal in infancy). Placing the baby on his side to sleep seemed to do the trick. Later, they both naturally rolled onto their backs, but spitting never hampered their sleep. For ease in keeping the crib clean, I ordered Crib Bibs. Crib Bibs are pads that tie to the sides of the crib for extra protection and quick absorbtion of either spit up or wetting. I found them a blessing. They kept me from having to change the sheets and crib pads 2-3 times per day during those early months. I ordered mine from the "Right Start" Catalog. Another practice I tried (that worked) was stopping feedings either between breasts or halfway through the bottle, and burping the baby. Then burping him again after the feeding. Sometimes that additional burping will help with the spitting. I also found that with my second child (who was a real spitter) that keeping him upright for a longer period did help him. My clothes, on the other hand, didn’t fair as well. I learned to use a spit rag on my shoulder for up to 2 hours after a feeding when holding him. Good Luck to you and your dear one! > Hello, > I have a four week old who has a tendency to spit up in her sleep, long > after she has been fed and burped. As a result I am hesitant to sleep > her on her back in case she chokes. A friend suggested using a crib > wedge to elevate her head, yet still allow me to sleep her on her back. > I would like to continue sleeping her on her back, as I read that it > greatly reduces SIDS deaths. Toys R Us carries the crib wedge, however > I do not know if using them over a long term will cause spine > development problems. Does anyone know anything about the wedges? Does > anyone have any idea when she might stop spitting up long after she has > been fed and burped? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
– Robyn’s Nest ~ An Online Parenting Resource Robyn Surdel, President http://www.robynsnest.com
Response:
I think using a crib wedge is fine. My son slept in his car seat for the fist 2 months of his life because that is where he was most comfortable. As long as she is on the wedge for sleeping only her spine will develop normally. Margaret >Hello, >I have a four week old who has a tendency to spit up in her sleep, >I would
like to continue sleeping her on her back, as I read that it – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->greatly reduces SIDS deaths. >I do not know if using them over a long term will cause spine >development problems. Does anyone know anything about the wedges? Does >anyone have any idea when she might stop spitting up long after she has >been fed and burped? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Response:
Some argue that the side position is better than back and that the crib wedge is the best option to begin with. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > I have a four week old who has a tendency to spit up in her sleep, long > after she has been fed and burped. As a result I am hesitant to sleep > her on her back in case she chokes. A friend suggested using a crib > wedge to elevate her head, yet still allow me to sleep her on her back. > I would like to continue sleeping her on her back, as I read that it > greatly reduces SIDS deaths. Toys R Us carries the crib wedge, however > I do not know if using them over a long term will cause spine > development problems. Does anyone know anything about the wedges? Does > anyone have any idea when she might stop spitting up long after she has > been fed and burped? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Response:
Hello, I have a four week old who has a tendency to spit up in her sleep, long after she has been fed and burped. As a result I am hesitant to sleep her on her back in case she chokes. A friend suggested using a crib wedge to elevate her head, yet still allow me to sleep her on her back. I would like to continue sleeping her on her back, as I read that it greatly reduces SIDS deaths. Toys R Us carries the crib wedge, however I do not know if using them over a long term will cause spine development problems. Does anyone know anything about the wedges? Does anyone have any idea when she might stop spitting up long after she has been fed and burped? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.