Co-sleeping safely with a newborn

[fazer6]

When Isabel was born she'd initially only sleep on my chest, we tried her on my OH's chest but that didn't work so I guess it's my heart she wanted to listen to. To stop her rolling off obviously I put her face down. Naturally I was a bit paranoid about SIDS so I didn't sleep well at all and was trying to get her to sleep on her own.

This time I figured I'd just find out how to co-sleep safely so I'm not worried, if that's how he wants to sleep and that helps him sleep then that's what he'll have. Hopefully I will be able to put him sleeping in between us both after a few days, or whenever he's ready.

So first of all how can I have a newborn sleeping on my chest safely? Secondly how do I have him between us safely? We have a super kingsize bed so space isn't an issue. I figured I'd put him up between the pillows and we'd probably shuffle down a bit so there's no chance of the duvet going near him.

Isabel's death wasn't SIDS or sleeping related, but now I've lost my innocence that babies can die I really want to know some do's and don'ts beforehand. I know with all the articles about SIDS recently that education on how to co-sleep safely can avoid problems, and that actually it's most likely falling asleep with a baby rather than co-sleeping as an informed lifestyle choice that's a problem.

[GoBecGo]

I'm really sorry you lost your DD

When my DD was tiny i did sleep with her on my chest sometimes (on her tummy). I think it was the milk bar mine wanted to be near rather than a specific heart!

I would also sleep on my side in a semi-foetal position, with her contained within the "C" my body made in the bed (so my thigh stopped her going down, my arm stopped her going up/out. I would curl the arm lowermost over above her head, and my uppermost arm i would either curl around her (hugging her to me) or put my hand beyond her, so my arm wasn't touching her but if she inched that way i'd feel it.

I never slept very soundly, or at least, i slept great but i never felt i'd been sleeping so deeply i was at risk of rolling onto or against her. I was acutely aware of her, all the time.

[mambera]

Hugs for the loss of your dd.

I was afraid to cosleep when dd was a newborn also. We bought a Snuggle Nest, which I think would have been fine except our bed was too small for both of us plus the nest. If you have a king size bed, you might consider the snuggle nest.

http://www.snugglenest.com/

For the record, I don't think pillows are a good idea bc infants can suffocate in them the same way they can in blankets. The Snuggle Nest has low, lightly padded walls.

[Maluhia]

I'd avoid pillows and blankets and if something like a snuggle nest appeals to you, use that too. I wore long sleeved two piece pajamas so I could lift up to nurse, that way less needing blankets

You might consider reading the Mothering Magazine Cosleeping Reprint, Article: Solitary or Shared sleep, whats safe?, Mothering's CoSleeping Webinar, and The resource list at the top of this forum (links being updated, not all work).

[purple indigo]

I'd recommend skipping all pillows and blankets, too. To me, it' just not worth the risk. I had DS tucked in the crook of my arm, which was my midwife's recommendation, which kept him on his back, and there was no way I'd turn over on him. Also, make sure the mattress is firm. We have a pillowtop, which we turned over to the non-pillowtop side to make it firm.

I don't know about the chest thing- DS did that too, mainly because I would fall asleep with him there (burping or nursing? I can't remember?) and DH always worried.