Briefly unresponsive???

[kdmalk]

Has anyone else ever had this happen? I could use some reassurance here.

A friend lent us the Happiest Baby on the Block video a few weeks ago and we finally sat down to watch it yesterday. DS has always liked to have his arms out, so we only really swaddled him for probably the first week or less of his life. He sleeps well, but pretty lightly because he occasionally startles or knocks his pacifier out while moving around.

He used to fight the swaddle like crazy because he wanted his arms (even in ultrasounds he ALWAYS had them by his face), and it made no difference to us since he sleeps decently. But we thought that maybe he would like to be able to sleep a bit better and that I could get some more rest too if we could figure out how to swaddle him and keep him happy (since I go back to work in 2 weeks). The tips in the video worked like magic and he was out like a light in less than 5 minutes.

He took an hour and a half swaddled nap in his swing yesterday afternoon and slept pretty hard. Then he slept swaddled last night and slept 6 hours, still pretty lightly like he usually does with a bit of moving around, but unlike when he has his arms, I was able to settle him right back down while he was swaddled.

I swaddled him for his morning nap and put him back in the swing. (I am trying to get him used to not being held while he naps because he starts daycare in 2 weeks.) Anyway, I went across to the other side of the living room to work a bit and kept my eye on my sleeping boy. Then I got the urge to go over and check on him about an hour in. I felt like something was off for some reason. I almost brushed it off because I usually tell myself I am just worrying for no reason, but I always check anyway and everything is fine. But this time when I got to the swing, his cheek was cold when I touched it. So I poked him a few times. Nothing. Took him out of the swing and he was completely limp. So I lightly shook him and nothing. Lightly shook again and loudly said his name. Nothing. And then the third little shake, he finally just barely opened his eyes a sliver but wasn't really breathing audibly yet. So I opened his little mouth and blew some air towards his face in hopes that the wind would remind him to breathe because he still hadn't taken a good breath. (side note, I swear I didn't shake him enough to do damage. I wasn't like SHAKING him... just jostling him to startle him awake). So that finally woke him up a bit more and I could feel him breathing again.

He is now in my arms asleep. It took 5-7 minutes for his little cheek to warm again, so I know he was sleeping WAY too hard and something was off. I probably won't swaddle him again because I guess it causes him to sleep harder than he is used to and forget to breathe properly. We always put his snuza on at night (little diaper clip that monitors breathing and alerts if he stops breathing for 20 seconds), but I never leave it on for naps. I think that has changed now!

I already spoke to a friend who is an ER nurse at the local Children's Hospital (that my doc loves and recommends for anything and everything, so he would just send us there - if anything at all) and he said that as long as he hadn't gone blue and it doesn't happen for a second time in one day, he is alright. It sure won't happen for a second time today because I am terrified to put him down now!!!! I just keep thinking about his cold cheek! The second time I tried to get him to respond, I literally thought he was dead.

Please tell me someone else has had a moment like this and their child went on to be happy and healthy without having this issue again! I am petrified about him starting daycare now because I am afraid someone won't notice if it happens again! I would drop everything and stay home if we could afford to pay our bills without my income.

 

[pradabooties]

My bub is 7 weeks old and although I can't say this has happened to me I definitely understand your concern. I'm SO paranoid and constantly check my bub is still breathing, one night she must've been breathing too lightly for me to feel in the dark and I switched the lights on in a huge panic expecting the worst but she was fine. I'm so so sorry you had to go through such a scare! That must have been so terrible for you. I have heard from many people that some healthy babies may pause breathing for up to 30 seconds and it not be an issue. Personally, if I were in your position I would take your baby to the doctors for a check up before starting daycare - it's likely they'll tell you the same, that he's fine, but it might make you feel better knowing he's been looked at thoroughly. Best wishes xx

 

[kdmalk]

He has his two month checkup next week, so I absolutely plan to mention it to his doctor to make sure he has a good looking-over.

 

[justplay91]

Wow, that is really scary. Does he sleep with a pacifier? They help prevent SIDS by keeping the baby in a lighter sleep. I would continue to use the snuza and also call his pediatrician right away. They would want to know. I do know that some professionals do advise against swaddling for that reason; it puts babies into a deeper sleep. That said, we do swaddle our 11 week old because she sleeps much better that way...

 

[kdmalk]

He does sleep with one for that exact reason, but he typically spits it out once he is asleep. I read that it was still a protective factor even if they spit it out once they are asleep.

I am just so terrified to put the poor kid down now. So much for working from home for a few hours today!

 

[Taurus8484]

How absolutely terrifying for you xx

Honestly i think the swing was the problem. Because of the way the swings are designed their chin rests on their chest the same as car seats. It restricts breathing. Its out there to not let your baby sleep in car seats and swings but Im guilty of it as well. A swing was the only place DS2 would sleep during the day the first few months.

I would go back to swaddling for sleep with his diaper clip on but lay him down flat so his air ways are open.

Sorry you went through that. My heart skipped a beat reading your story xx

 

[kdmalk]

I have always been so against napping in the swing for that reason, but the stupid PEDIATRICIAN on the movie did it, so I stupidly said, "well it's just a nap. Not like it's all night. And I'm right here watching." He gave other sound advice, so I just assumed it was okay and that I was being too cautious (always buckle baby in, make sure baby sleeps on back when put down, and several other things I know to be good practice). But he said "some people let their baby sleep in the swing all night, and that's okay" and I was like.... What?! Weird! I guess he can nap in there if I am right there if this pediatrician says a baby can sleep in there all night (which I would NEVER DO, no matter what he said, so that should have been my flag on the nap).

I am going to take him out of his swing as soon as he falls asleep from now on. I don't just let him sleep in his car seat for no reason because I know it is unsafe, so I have no idea how I convinced myself to just let him sleep in the swing for over an hour. I really want to punch myself for this one. I could have killed him. Lesson learned.

 

[Taurus8484]

Dont be too hard on yourself hun......i let my DS2 sleep in there for all his day sleeps the first few months. I had him at my feet facing me so I just watched him. We all "break the rules" as parents. Gosh my DS1 watched way too much tv when DS2 was a newborn. We do anything for some quiet and sleep. Dont stress xx

And i would keep swaddling. Babies still have startle reflex at that age and he obviously likes it as he sleeps better. I stopped when they showed signs of rolling.

 

[sethsmummy]

a lot of swings now are made to be more flat laying, dont be too hard on yourself. my little one slept in his swing for the first couple days for his naps. it can actually be recommended for reflux babies etc but only with the ones that kinda lie flat.

Please call your paed now instead of waiting for babies check as they will most likely want to check little one out sooner. Use your snuza during naps too so that you will be allerted if it happens again. If it happens again place baby straight on the floor and tip his head back a little so his airway is completely clear and easier for him to breathe. If this doesnt work straight away call an ambulance and they will do breath count with you and if need be further than that. Also on a small child if they cant be roused tap his foot, its the most sensitive part on them if i remember right but do it gently.

I know how scary this must have been for you but it definitely needs checked even if its just a one off just incase there is an underlying issue there. our youngest stopped breathing at 12 days old and its the scariest thing in the world (he pulled through after 3 weeks in intensive care) so i want to give you the biggest hug in the world

 

[_Meep_]

Just wanted to say thank God for your strong instinct around your son.

I hope it was one of those one-off, stupid things that never happens again but makes for a good story when he is old enough to understand.

 

[Snufflepop]

Sending you hugs! We had a similar experience with my eldest and I can't be sure but I think the Snuza may have saved her life.

Basically she was around 4 months old and we had put her in her crib to sleep for the night. We had done everything "right" i.e she was lying flat, feet at bottom of crib, in a Grobag with no loose covers or anything and she had been sleeping like this for a few months by this point with no problem.

Anyway we got her off to sleep and went downstairs to eat dinner. About 10ish her Snuza went off. I raced upstairs and poked her tummy incase she was just sleeping deeply, no response, I picked her up and she still didn't move, blew on her face and jostled her around and she finally took a breath. I have never been so scared in my whole life. I don't know if she was just in such a deep sleep that her breathing was just too shallow for the Snuza to detect or if she did actually stop breathing but I thank god that she had the Snuza on because if she did stop breathing I would not have known and the alternative is just too bad to think about.

Safe to say I will be using the Snuza with my new baby. I'm surprised more people don't know about them as they are amazing.

 

[_Meep_]

Seconded - we don't use a Snuza but we use an Angelcare with a mattress pad, and it keeps me sane even now.

My parents bought something similar when I was born 28 years ago - at the time it was incredibly advanced and cost over a hundred pounds, but now it seems so primitive lol! We still used it for my daughter's first six months before we got the Angelcare.

That old Axminster monitor saved my life. I set it off when I was a month or two old and horribly congested with a cold. My dad had to suck snot out of my nose with his own mouth to let me breathe again.

I will always use one, however many more babies I have in the future. They are invaluable - because they give you the chance to DO something.

 

[Snufflepop]

Sending you hugs! We had a similar experience with my eldest and I can't be sure but I think the Snuza may have saved her life.

Basically she was around 4 months old and we had put her in her crib to sleep for the night. We had done everything "right" i.e she was lying flat, feet at bottom of crib, in a Grobag with no loose covers or anything and she had been sleeping like this for a few months by this point with no problem.

Anyway we got her off to sleep and went downstairs to eat dinner. About 10ish her Snuza went off. I raced upstairs and poked her tummy incase she was just sleeping deeply, no response, I picked her up and she still didn't move, blew on her face and jostled her around and she finally took a breath. I have never been so scared in my whole life. I don't know if she was just in such a deep sleep that her breathing was just too shallow for the Snuza to detect or if she did actually stop breathing but I thank god that she had the Snuza on because if she did stop breathing I would not have known and the alternative is just too bad to think about.

Safe to say I will be using the Snuza with my new baby. I'm surprised more people don't know about them as they are amazing.

 

[sethsmummy]

I had never heard of the Snuza until on these boards. I just recently bought the hero because im a paranoid mess with my son but he hates it because he rolls all over in his sleep so i cant use it back to just checking every couple hours with the light on my phone

 

[Larkspur]

Definitely have him checked if that helps ease your state of mind, but I do think some babies just get into a very deep sleep, especially in the first few months, where they are quite fine but just sleeping very deeply. I remember that at times my son was so fast asleep that I could change his nappy without waking him.