pillows near baby

[blumooned]

Hi - is it OK for me to use a pillow (under my head) with baby sleeping right next to me? When he first came into our bed, I stopped using a pillow and use minimal blankets (for fear of suffocation), but my neck & shoulders are very achy & I miss my pillow! DS & I sleep facing one another.
What do you do?

[Louisep]

I've always used pillows. When DS was very little, I made sure he slept below my shoulder and positioned the pillow so it wasn't above his head. Now, we have lots of pillows (acting as safety barriers) and sometimes I get paranoid when I see he's smushed up against one, but I think he's old enough where he'll just move if he can't breathe, like you or I would do.

I'm interested to see what others say though.

[Comtessa]

I was just about to pose the same question, but about blankets. I've always used pillows too, but I'm pretty paranoid about not letting DD's face get too close to the pillow - she sleeps at breast-level anyway since she nurses practically all night long. What I'm wondering is, how dangerous is it really for me to have blankets on/near her?

[Straggletag]

We use buckwheat pillows, which we experimented with on ourselves, and we could breathe right through them with no effort. They're also small and don't seem to move at all at night, so we've been confident using them. For blankets, we have hospital style woven cotton no-snag blankets (in fact, one was from the hospital, the EMTs that stopped by after our birth just gave it to us and its become my favorite!). The blankets are also hard to suffocate on, lightweight, warm, and great for layering. They sell them everywhere, often as "thermal" blankets. Hope that helps!

[Dandelionkid]

We use pillows and comforters etc. I am always aware of baby and I make sure to position myself at her level so the blanket stays off her face. Her head is usually on my arm or I move away with the pillow when she is done nursing.

[Jackies Ladybug]

i use a light cotton blanket that is woven (similar to the hospital ones described above and have always used a pillow. now at 13 months i am looking into a small pillow for dd as she has started creeping up and stealing mine!

[katelove]

I'm thinking about using a small square throw pillow-type cushion when we start co-sleeping. I figure that way my head will be supported but there won't be any extra pillow for LO to get under.

[mambera]

I have a really cheap old flattened pillow that I double over and put under my head. It is not anywhere near dd.

We do have a comforter that she shares, and which keeps me perennially nervous (I'm always checking on its position all night long).

I'm liking this thread to see what other people are doing about this issue. I love cosleeping but the pillows/blankets do make me very nervous.

[cdmommie]

I use a pillow and I keep my arm just above her head so she can't get any higher than breast level and that way the pillow poses no threat. We have one blanket for baby and me and then dh has his own blanket. That way I am always in control of the blanket on dd and me. With dd1 I used to tuck it in the bottom end of the bed at just the right level so that it couldn't creep up on us. We also have a king size bed and a rail so dd never comes close to dh's blanket or pillow.

[alegna]

I've always used my usual pillow and covers.

-Angela

[StrawberryFields]

I have always used pillows. In fact, I use several pillows since I have to sleep somewhat upright in order to breathe. I use full blankets too (winter babies! Wisconsin!) but I scoot way down in the bed so that the blankets are nowhere near the baby's head and put my arm out to shield baby from rolling/scooting into the pillows.

[lifeguard]

We still use our pillows. I must admit it did make me a bit nervous when he was small but I absolutely cannot sleep without my pillows.

[blumooned]

Thanks for all the responses! I think I will try to go back to having a pillow -I really miss it! I think with some thought-out positioning & maybe an arm barrier it should work.

[doulawoman]

I would love to hear mroe thoughts on this...we have a very cold bedroom in winter and I am due in Feb. so I am not sure what to do about multiple blankets cause otherwise it's collld. Plus the Amby bed we have just got recalled. I think I can make due with one pillow instead of two but dh yanks on the covers all night long...