First, I want to say that I understand the SIDS risks associated with babies sleeping in any other position than on their backs—no need to convince me! I have been so anxious about this that we use an Owlet sock every night. I wake throughout the night and peep the readings on the app to make sure all is well.

I am FTM to a 6 week-old. For his first month, we had him sleeping in a flat position in a Graco Dreamglider, next to me in the couch, where I was recovering from my c-section. He slept soundly, if for short intervals (usually 2-2.5 hrs). He was strapped in at the waist and couldn’t roll, so he was always asleep on his back.

We moved him to a bedside co-sleeper after that. Put him to sleep on his back in a onesie/sleeper. He thrashed his arms and legs all night for several nights. Not much sleep for anyone. We then swaddled him, leaving his arms free, and he was sleeping much better, but insists on rolling onto his side no matter what I do. I wake up every 10 minutes and reposition him into his back. I’m getting no sleep and am totally miserable. The only way to keep him on his back is if I sit up next to him with my hand flat on his chest, holding him in place. Obviously a terrible plan, because I can’t stay up all night, every night.

What safe strategies can I use to get him to stay on his back? I know I can’t add any accessories to the bassinet (for example, we have a generic brand Dock-A-Tot that I imagine would help, but I bet it’s considered a suffocation risk).

I’m desperate for a way to keep him safe but also get more than a couple hours of broken sleep in the night.

Any advice would be appreciated!

PS: Also, just ordered a Nested Bean sleep sack.

UPDATE: we ordered a Reste safe sleep swaddler on Amazon. It’s a simple thing that basically Velcros a baby into its back. We tried it last night—worked really well! Our baby seemed very at ease with the set up, fell asleep easily, and stayed on his back all night. Everyone slept well!