3 week old splutters / chokes when we put her in her cot at night

[cressie176]

Our 3 week old feeds / sleeps well during the day - usually in a moses basket in the sitting room, but at night she's started to be really difficult to get to sleep, and won't stay asleep for more than a few minutes. If we try and feed her she'll suckle for a maximum of five minutes before falling asleep on the breast. The minute you lay her back in her cot and she starts to splutter and choke, then eventually she'll wake herself up and start crying.

Tonight I've tried letter her sleep in the moses basket. She's a bit quieter but still chokes and splutters somewhat. Any advice on what this could be, why it only seems to affect her at night and how why she's so much better in the moses basket rather than the cot?

Thanks,

Steve

[hlatreille]

Hi Steve!!

Sounds like she may have a touch of silent reflux....  How long do you keep her elevated before you put her to sleep?  Sounds like as soon as you put her down she spits up in her mouth, hence the choking & sputtering.  Have your tried elevating the head of the crib?

Check out the Reflux threads and see if you can get some advise there as well.

[Mum to Ella Rose]

ditto to what Heather said.  and yes, come over to the reflux board and check out the symptom list.  Welcome!

[marensmama]

Congrats on the birth of your little girl, and welcome to this wonderful community!  Reflux is my vote too, speaking from experience, I'd head on over to the reflux board and see if that fits.  If so, a visit to your GP is in order.  My LO suffered from silent reflux right from the beginning, and I caught it because I could hear the spluttering on the baby monitor minutes after putting her down (followed by painful crying).  Thankfully, ranitidine has worked wonders for her and she continues to do well.  Good luck to you and your LO!

[cressie176]

Thanks all. I was worried it might be reflux, but had thought not because until we put her in the cot she feeds well, and doesn't show symptoms during the day. At night though the symptoms fit - so it looks like a trip to the GP is in order. The elevated crib is also a very good idea (the moses basket which she prefers is slightly elevated).

Once again thanks.

[hlatreille]

You're welcome!  Hope she gets better!

[Mum to Ella Rose]

it makes sense if the moses basket is elevated. Try keeping her upright after feeds for 30 minutes and yes, elevate the crib a bit. Not all refluxers necessarily need meds, especially if she is doing well during the day. The home modifications might help enough... 

keep us posted!

[fiona1274]

We have this exact same problem. Our DD#3 settles if I let her sit up for a while after feeds, it does prolong night wakening which is a bit of a nightmare but hopefully the night wakenings wont be forever!!