We recently transitioned DS from his swing to his crib for daytime naps. The swing was in the family room so I could always see him when he was asleep.

Now he is in his bedroom in his crib, which is great, BUT, now I'm paranoid. I have the monitor (audio only) set-up and if it gets quiet I have to check him, if he sleeps too long, I have to check him. Everytime I walk in the room I'm thinking "I hope he's still breathing". Even in the morning if he doesn't wake before me I'm worried.

O.K. I figure some of this is probably normal right? How long does it last? I hate that feeling and I'm sure he would probably sleep longer if I didn't keep going into his room and I could stop poking him to make sure he's still ... well you know. BTW he's 12 months.

By Hlgmom on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 02:20 pm:

LOL! I still do it sometimes! She is 17 mos! Most of the time I just have to force myself to stay out! Or just peek and no touching! Good Luck!

By Boxzgrl on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 02:22 pm:

I sooooooo remember that! I was "Mrs. Paranoid" and it drove me crazy. DD started sleeping in her room when she was 3 months old. My room was right next door and both doors were open so I could hear and I still had the baby monitor by my bed. Even then, I woke up 3-4 times a night to make sure she was still breathing. I think with all the SIDS information they are handing out, they are also making Moms a nervous wreck. As soon as DD had more mobility with her hands, she ALWAYS pulled the blanket over her head. It drove me crazy but she couldn't sleep without one because it was too cold. Even now she sleeps with it halfway over her head. I did the same thing as a child. It was a comfort thing for me. Everytime I watch a child under 1 year old, I am constantly checking them during nap time to make sure they are breathing. I suppose we're just worried mommies but my paranoia drove me nuts.

Sorry for the rambling. I guess i'm just saying you are not alone. I stopped worrying about it with DD when she was able to pull the blanket on and off herself and could get out of bed on her own. Probably about 15 months old.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 02:36 pm:

Totally normal! It's a Mommy thing. You will get better but it will never totally go away. I still check on my kids (6 & 8) every night before going to bed, more often if they are sick. You don't need to poke them to make sure they're alive. LOL! I either hold my fingers under their noses to feel their breath or very, very gently place my hand on their chest or back to feel the rise and fall. {{{HUGS}}}

By Cat on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 02:38 pm:

I hate to tell you this, but I don't think you ever really get over that! Mine are 9 and 11 and I still check on them before I go to bed, in the morning, if they're sleeping really late, etc. It's not as bad as when they were babies (like a half a dozen times a night! lol), but I still do check on them.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 02:49 pm:

Oh thought i'd also add, I still check on her before I go to bed or if I wake up in the middle of the night to get a drink but I don't make special middle of the night trips anymore.

By Reds9298 on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 03:02 pm:

I'm the freak in the group - I rarely check on dd. BUT she's also never slept with anything but in a sleep sack because I hated the idea of blankets. She's almost 10mths. and still uses one. I want her in one until they don't make her size anymore! I've heard of this 'mommy paranoia' but never experienced it. I just don't worry I guess, but I think for me it has A LOT to do with the sleep sack. I'm a weirdo I guess! From what I hear from other mommies though, you're totally normal!!!! (I'm ABnormal I guess!)

By Vicki on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 03:45 pm:

I did check on dd as an infant, but not too much. I had a super sensative baby monitor and I could hear her breathing. LOL I am sure if I wouldn't have been able to hear that, I would have been checking 1,000 times a night though.

By Missmudd on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 03:47 pm:

For all the time I have sat and stared at my kids while they were sleeping it is a wonder that THEY arent paranoid lol.

#3 as soon as he was able to roll over would immediately roll to his tummy when sleeping, no matter how often I rolled him to his back he would roll right to his belly. At 8 yo he still is an ademant belly sleeper.

By Beth on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 03:50 pm:

Deanna your not completely alone. I get home after midnight from work and I don't check on my dk's before I go to bed. I am scared to death to wake them and usually I am so tired I go straight to bed. Mine are 4 and 6 though and they are in a room together and grandma is right across the hall so I feel pretty safe I guess. I do remember doing this more when they were young.

By Heaventree on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 04:01 pm:

We used a sleeping sack until DS outgrew his at about nine months. I remember at 6 months getting funny looks from people because I was using a sleeping sack/bunting bag. I'm not paranoid about the blanket as he can move around and pull it off his head. I'm just paranoid that I'm going to walk in there and he won't be .... well I can't even say it.

I also miss him terribly when he's sleeping during the day. This is so frustrating because sometimes I'm just counting the minutes until nap time and it's such a relief to put him down. However, if he sleeps for more than an hour I get a physical pain in my diaphram, it's like a longing. It's not really a pain just kind of a tension or knot. It's worse on Saturdays as DH takes care of him most of the day. He's not a clingy child, he's actaully very independant but I need him in the same room with me! It's crazy.

I never thought that becoming a mom I would feel physical discomfort at not having my little one close to me. I'm not even nursing anymore. I can't imagine what moms in jail must go thru.

Oh I think he's awake, gotta go.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 04:51 pm:

Hey - I've done it with my 37 year old.