Well, it is the top of the 3rd Quater and Aidin is up 1, Mom 0. As
you know Aidin is 4 months actual / 2 months adjusted. When Aidin
first came home from the NICU she slept great in her basinett. THen
the colic and silent reflux really set it and she was big on
sleeping next to me, then about 2 months ago I bought her the Fisher
Price Ocean Wonders Swing and now she refuses, let me repeat that,
REFUSES to sleep in anything else.

I have tried her original basinett, her crib, her pack and play with
the basinett. I have tried elevating all of these, putting music
and mobiles on them, swaddling her and tonight I even tried to let
her cry it out.

Tonight I gave her her bath, she ate a 3oz bottle (which is good for
her)and was dead tired. She fell asleep in my arms and I tried to
put her down in her pack n play basinett (since it is smaller than
her crib and she might feel more comfortable) and she immediatly
woke up screaming. I let her go for 20 minutes and then had to get
her. I calmed her down and then put her in her swing and she was
OUT. I let her sleep for a good half an hour then I tried again to
put her back in her basinett, and again the screaming. So she won,
and is now back in her swing, asleep.

The reason I am trying so hard for the bed is due to the fact she is
getting a little flat spot on the back of her head from sleeping in
the swing so much. When she is awake, she gets floor time, boppy
time, bouncy chair time and tummy time, but tummy time does not last
long due to the fact she starts to cry after 10 minutes of it.

I am going to take her on either Friday or Saturday to see her ped
about her cough and ask about the flat spot.

I heard about those *Boppy Noggin Nest* head supports that you can
put in the swing, but looking at them, I do not think it will fit in
her Ocean Wonder Swing because of the sewn in head rest.

Can anyone give me tips on trying to transistion to the bed and how
to help round out her little flat spot?

I wouldn't worry too much about her wanting to sleep in her swing. Noah always preferred his swing, and when he was diagnosed with reflux, the ped said to have him sleep inclined, so we know why he like it! We had him sleep in his carseat in his crib. We have one of those head rest things in the carseat, so its nice and soft.

For the first month of Noah's life, he slept in the crib on one side of his head. Before we knew it, one ear was out one in, and his head was completely flat on one side! After moving to the carseat, it fixed itself within a few weeks. We also positioned all toys to the opposite side so that he layed on the other side of his head when playing.

This might just be my opinion, but I wouldn't let her cry. I never saw how this would help. We try and make Noah as comfortable as possible. Also, crying can upset reflux.

How long did it take Noah's head to round back out? Also, do you think one of those car seat head rest things would work in her swing?

Last night was the first night I ever let her cry for more than 10 minutes. (Its was DH's idea) and I agree with you, I am not going to try that again, it is just too cruel.

I really do not mind her sleeping in her swing since she sleeps so well and it has helped with her silent reflux, but I am just freaking out over the flat spot. Is it true that they also will round themselves back out by the time they are sitting up more?

I would figure this would be a huge issue for GERDlings since so many of them sleep in bouncy seats/swings/car seats? Hummm.

Monica--

It took a couple weeks to a month for it to round out, but our ped had a close eye on it also. She said that if things didn't round out soon, she would have Noah wear a "helmet". That was devestating news for me, so I moved his mobile and crib toys to the other side of his crib, and worked hard at getting him to lay on the other side. But, we soon went to the carseat, and it fixed itself shortly after.

I have the aqarium swing, also, and the head rest that I have wouldn't work in it because it has to have the shoulder straps like in a 5-point
harness.

Has your ped recommended inclined sleep? That did the trick for Noah. He still wakes up to eat, but he sleeps much better. We did the carseat from 2 mo. up until this week, until our safe-t-sleep arrived and we got Noah to sleep in it.

I think letting her sleep where she's comfortable is fine, as long as its safe.

Good luck! She's adorable!

My older daugher Kaylin perpetually slept on her left side/back since being a newborn. No matter which way I put her, she'd always end up in that position. In any case, her head was flattened on one side and it stayed that way until she started walking. Now, she's five and her head still isn't perfectly round, but it's hardly noticeable. Once babies stop spending so much time lying down, their heads start to round back out a little. Maybe not all the way, but it gets a lot better.

I'm not sure what to do about the swing situation, but if it's not dangerous and she isn't too big for it, then I would let her continue and move her when you have to. Cady slept in her inclined bassinet for the first month, then the carseat for 2 months, then back to the inclined bassinet for three months, then at about 6 months she moved into the crib (not inclined) and is perfectly happy there. We never really had too many problems getting her adjusted to sleeping somewhere else, though.

Well, she went to the doctors today (she has had a cough for a week now) and of course I had DH ask them (he took her), about the flat head and swing. The doctor said if she sleeps good in the swing then let her and just try to do other things with her when she is awake for her head.

Someone recommended those little donut gel circles women use to relieve breastfeeding pain, so I am going to look for those and in the mean time try to make something out of foam to fit in her swing.

I also followed the directions on this site and made a "nest" in her bed. She napped for short bursts with that today, but as soon as she kinda woke up and realized she was not in her swing, she started to cry and of course when I put her back in her swing she went right back to sleep. *BIG SIGH*

Monica,

Your story sounds all too familiar! My little, well not so little guy was the same exact way. He would ONLY nap in his swing and sleep in bouncy chair at night. It made me nuts thinking he'd never sleep in his crib. I kept trying it on occassions with a little bit of crying here and there. Then, one night, it worked! He cried for about 10 minutes w/me lieing right next to him (at that time his crib was mesh w/my matress) and talking and patting his but. He fell asleep! Next night same thing, and the next and the next. He would still only NAP during the day in his swing for another month but we're finally sleeping ALL THE TIME in the crib as of 4 months of age. I think if you just keep trying once in a while she'll surprize you one day and do it. He looks so much more comfortable in his bed and when he wakes up, he can play by himself instead of seeing mommy right away and wanting me immediately! Oh yes, and the first few days or weeks of trying the naps in the crib, he'd only take little power naps. Little by little I guess. Heck, to this day he still takes cat naps!