Gravatar How about looking in on her immediately when you've spent time away from the monitor (e.g. in the shower)?

But really, do you want safety advice from the mother who allows her infants to tummy-sleep with blankets and a pillow? (Hey, I do nap them on the floor once they start rolling/moving/putting themselves at risk for brain injury.) I leave doors open and check often, though.

And if she's sitting well I'd try showering with her--the first few times when another adult is in the house--you might find that initially you wind up sitting on the floor of the bathtub, but eventually it can be a nice break for both of you (assuming she likes the water and doesn't mind it in her face).


Gravatar Yeah, I don't really feel like I'm in a position to offer safety advice, either. I think we all have moments that we realize afterwards could have been tragic. (Did I tell you about the time LG fell off our bed onto the hardwood floor WHILE I was napping with him? Yeah.) How scary it must have been for you, though. Maybe after the shock wears off, you'll find that checking on her immediately before and immediately after the shower, and bringing the monitor into the bathroom with you, will keep your mind more at ease?


Gravatar Until now, we hadn't been using a monitor at all when she naps -- the kitchen, LR, bedroom, home office and guest room where she naps are all on the same floor. It's a relatively small house, and once she awakes I can hear her little voice all through the downstairs. But I think for peace of mind we are going to start moving the monitor from her bedroom, where we we use it at night, to the guest room during the day.


Gravatar My "experienced parent" advice to you is to freak out as long as you feel you need to, and then let it go. If you worry about how tragic something COULD've been every time something happens to your kid... well... you'll end up in the corner in the fetal position.

Babies puke. Usually you'll hear her. This one time, you didn't. I wouldn't take this as proof that you cannot leave her in her crib for 15 minutes while you shower. If you truly believe there was noise to be heard, maybe consider taking the monitor into the bathroom with you. But I suspect she just gagged, urped, and didn't really mind.

Give yourself a break, M. (And nibble those cheeks for me. I can't believe how big she's gotten!)


Gravatar I think I'm with Mir on this one. I don't blame you one bit for freaking out , but the truth is you aren't always going to hear everything.

All of my kids were tummy sleepers b/c even the 15 yo predates the advice to have babies sleep on their backs. So I didn't have that particular worry. Could/would she occasionally sleep on her tummy now? Would that help?


Gravatar Have you tried a doorway "jolly jumper" or some such device while you are in the shower? Quinn can happily spin/jump while I shower, and Celeste used to be able to, too. And be withing ear/eye sight. And you don't waste valuable sleeping time.


Gravatar Um, I don't have kids so I don't have any real advice. But I could come to Maine and hang out with Ess while you work or shower or whatever. Right now I don't have much better to do!

But really, I think it's natural for you to freak out. I think having the monitor in the room she's sleeping in is a good idea. And checking on her before and after you shower sounds like a good plan. Whatever it takes to make sure Ess is safe and you have some peace of mind.


Gravatar We all have these moments in parenting. I can still recall with crystal clarity my "what if" moments with Kid L and NSBH.

I wish I could say this is the last time but unfortunately kids do things that will stop your heart many times. Mir is right, freak out and then forgive yourself.

I don't use monitors and I hate waking a napping baby but I am in the habit of checking if I have been out of earshot for more than a moment or two. If she'll sleep with the door open, I'd just do that.

Hugs to you!


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