Is it just me? Is it OCD? Will it stop?

[widowwadman]

Mills has been awake and wanting fuss all day, so it was a relief that I could finally put her down for a nap about 20 minutes ago and she's nice and quiet. Immediately I snap into paranoia mode and now I have the overwhelming urge to keep checking whether she's alright and still breathing.


I've no reason to assume that she wouldn't be, but I just can't help myself. Same is when I wake at nights or in the mornings and she is quiet. The bloke managed to get me to lie down, rather than hawk over the moses basket at nights now, but it still is not normal, is it? I find it all really strange (a tiny part of me is watching myself with a raised eyebrow), especially as I was so über-relaxed during pregnancy.

Please tell me I'm not alone, and please tell me a way how to stop!

 

[Becky]

Don't worry - you're completely normal - either that or all mummies are mad!

I was exactly the same and it does get better, although I still feel the need to check on my daughter on occasion and she's 3! Don't worry about it and check as often as makes you feel better, there's no need for you to make yourself tense!

 

[LisaJ1986]

I still do it now!!! If she goes longer than 3 hours at night i'm in her cot with my hand on her chest to feel her breathe! If she's on her side or tummy i'll nudge her hand to get a reaction. Drives my OH crazy!

 

[Misslarue]

I was the same and would constantly check Dans breathing. I chilled out alot when he hit 6 months (90% of SIDS cases are within 6 months) The first thing I would do when I woke up would be to check he was breathing.

Like Becky says it does get easier and you will stop checking as much. Not sure if it ever completely goes away as I still check Dan every now and then throughout the evening!

 

[pilkers]

You're not alone... this is the reason why I have my little "ticker" (breathing monitor)

I'd be terrible without it!

 

[jenni32]

I was exactly the same, an Angelcare monitor saved my sanity. Have to admit though, he is 2 soon and I still check him now a lot... can't help myself!!

 

[widowwadman]

Decided against the angelcare thingy after a) reading that it wouldn't prevent anything and b) realising that it probably would drive me scatty with false alarms (same reason why I never bought a wotsits sound thing during pregnancy).

The moses basket is right next to my bed, so that helps, but I still can't bring myself to put her to bed upstairs, while we're still downstairs, she's sleeping in her pram until we go to bed. I hope I'll overcome that once we bought a ("normal") baby monitor.

 

[littlepip]

Im exactly the same!! If i wake up in the morns and ryan isnt awake yet i will lay in bed and try to listen for him breathing (our bedrooms are VERY VERY close!!) and if i can't hear anything i will either go in there or make a loud noise and listen for a reaction lol oh god that makes me sound sooooo lazy!! haha

 

[cloud9]

this does reduce..my son is 20 months and i chack him before i go to bed if i get up for the loo but the panic has gone. I would say more people feel this way than don't

 

[Julie84]

My mum admitted that she still wakes up regularly during the night to check on my brother (whose not a good sleeper anyway so she ought to try and make the best of what little time she gets!) He's 9 months old, sleeps next to their bed and is her 6th baby - I think it's a mummy thing!