What bedding do you remove when cosleeping with a newborn? - Page 2

[insidevoice]

Originally Posted by APToddlerMama 

Even now at three, he tries to bury his head in pillows and it drives me nuts!

I gave up with my three year old.  He's taken to wrapping the blanket completely around himself and ducking his head under the pillow at night.  I invested in a couple super-light breathable pillows for him because it made me paranoid.  I also put up a heavy duty ceiling fan AND have a window fan in blowing fresh air over the bed.  I talked to my pediatrician about it yesterday, he laughed and said he didn't worry much about  three year old, they often put a pillow over their heads to sleep, but they have enough body mass (usually- and certainly in my DS's case) that there isn't a way to trap air under the pillow- even a little crack will  be enough air exchange for them. His worry is with tiny babies who don't have enough body mass to create much air exchange or who might have parents cover them and who aren't strong enough to move themselves or a pillow for better air exchange.   The other thing he said to watch for  is a child who snores a lot- in that case, he feels it is best to keep them in snuggle sacks instead of with blankets and pillows for a longer time to help preserve a good airway,

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by insidevoice 

I gave up with my three year old.  He's taken to wrapping the blanket completely around himself and ducking his head under the pillow at night.  I invested in a couple super-light breathable pillows for him because it made me paranoid.  I also put up a heavy duty ceiling fan AND have a window fan in blowing fresh air over the bed.  I talked to my pediatrician about it yesterday, he laughed and said he didn't worry much about  three year old, they often put a pillow over their heads to sleep, but they have enough body mass (usually- and certainly in my DS's case) that there isn't a way to trap air under the pillow- even a little crack will  be enough air exchange for them. His worry is with tiny babies who don't have enough body mass to create much air exchange or who might have parents cover them and who aren't strong enough to move themselves or a pillow for better air exchange.   The other thing he said to watch for  is a child who snores a lot- in that case, he feels it is best to keep them in snuggle sacks instead of with blankets and pillows for a longer time to help preserve a good airway,

Thanks insidevoice!  He does snore.  He had apnea as a baby from reflux too which is half the reason I got so paranoid.  I think I need to get the snoring checked out.  I am wondering if he needs his adenoids out or something...

[SweetSilver]

I used a small pillow and kept the blankets down just above my waist.  I didn't use my blankets for them.  Every night I wore a super-soft poly fleece shirt to keep my top half warm.  This felt warm and comfortable against my skin.  

[1love4ever]

I never removed anything.  I have 2 small pillows and a thin blanket and sheet on my bed.  I am a pretty light sleeper and am always aware of the position of the blankets and pillows and baby, so everything has always worked out.  I would not use a heavy comforter that is for sure.

One thing we are trying to do now is replace all of our bedding including our mattress with natural products that are free of petroleum chemicals and flame retardants.  I wish I would have known about that stuff when DD was a baby so she would not have been exposed to my traditional mattress and pillows.  Our first step is to replace our pillows with wool pillows, I already got a cotton and organic cotton mattress protector to use until we can afford a natural/organic matress.

[hasya]

I used to place the nursing pillow around her feet until she was 6 months old. To tell us that that is where she is. I use only a light pillow. All other pillows go to the foot of the bed. We used only thin bedsheets for "comforters", and then, wrapped them around us. Just these past 2 days. it somehow feels comfortable to use a light comforter over all of us. We don't pull it up high, though, and her head is just below mine; just right for nursing, haha.

[Somemyrrh]

I sleep with my daughter with the normal number of pillows, but she sleeps between my knees and shoulders so she can nurse at night.  I use blankets over my legs and sometimes over my back, but not over the baby.  I sleep topless for the skin to skin connection and to make sure my body keeps the baby at the right temperature.  We just set the central HVAC to between 67 degrees (winter)and 71 degrees (summer) at night.  This has worked well for over a year.

[Archaeomom]

What about transitioning out of co-sleeping? This down the road, but I can't find any literature on this issue. Eventually I want my bed back for me and the hubby. Mom of 15 month old.

[StarCoveter]

We didn't change anything with DD.  I've been mindful of how high the comforter goes, but haven't been too concerned.  We haven't had a scare and I feel she's completely safe between the two of us.  I usually sleep with my arm around her and can wake up in an instant if she begins to fuss.  She's now 7.5 months old.  It really hasn't been a problem at all!

Edited by StarCoveter - 8/9/11 at 6:41am

[PrettyBittyMama]

When DD was very young (0-4 months) she had her own blanket (warm, but not fluffy).  The bed we were using at that time was big enough that she could have a "side" all to herself.  That way the comforters and pillows that we (adults) used never really got too close to her. 

Now (she is 16 months old) I just tuck the blanket around her like I would with any child (not around her face, of course).  She doesn't use pillows, but they are there on the bed for me.  If it is winter than the blankets are big and warm.  We've never had problems with it.

[jldumm]

Originally Posted by Peony 

Everything stays. I do switch to a smaller pillow rather then my large one with a young baby and then when they are a little older, I switch back. I don't pull my covers up as much as I would either when they are smaller. 

this. we/ i just watch the comforter. and dress more warmly myself when needed..

[hasya]

She's 15 months old, and I am now feeling comfortable with tucking the comforter around her legs, with the other side tucked below me. She kicks it off if she doesn't want it.

[Kobaby]

When DS was tiny he had a Close and Secure co-sleeper in bed with us. From 2.5 months he was sleeping with us, and we didn't reduce any bedding. I got lulled into a false sense of security, and just recently at 8.5 months we had our first co-sleeping scare. We no longer sleep with pillows in the bed.

[Devaskyla]

We didn't change anything. With ds1, I actually had him completely under the covers after a couple months because it was winter & our place was *cold*. There was no way I was going without blankets and I had them pulled over my shoulders. He & I shared a single bed for the 10 months or so, so if I was covered, so was he. With my other 2 kids (and the purchase of a king size bed) we keep all our blankets & comforters, I just make sure they aren't pulled up over the baby's head. I do actually cover them with the blanket though, if it's cold enough & depending on how their skin feels temperature wise.

[greencarnation]

We are new at it, though I grew up with family bed.  I use a pillow, but I keep him with his head at breast level.  I sleep on my side curled around him, sometimes with him in the crook of my arm.  I am using a thin blanket that I tuck under my pillow and smooth out, so he can be on top of it, then I pull it over me.  I usually put him in a swaddle blanket or one of those sleep sack things.

[Veritas Vitae]

Wondertwins, that is what my twin sister and her husband do as well,  they each have their own twin sized blanket, and then have the baby in between them.  I'm thinking that is what I'll do as well.  

[ChristinaLucia]

There was a baby who recently died close to where I am living due to pillows so I think it is good to be cautious.

I love having a blanket on even in summer, so that was an adjustment.  I wear flannel pants and a nursing bra which helps it feel more like a blanket to me.  I later bought a tiny travel pillow to sleep on too. 

[MrsGregory]

When she was brand-spankin' new (and it was already obvious that if she didn't sleep in my arms she didn't sleep) I slept flat on the mattress with the sheet and cotton blanket pulled up to my waist.  Now that's she's older, stronger, and able to adjust herself (and squawk loudly if she's in trouble) I have my pillow back.  Which is AWESOME for my neck.

Husband reports that many mornings he'll be trying to rouse me by rubbing my arm, saying my name, and he gets no response, but shortly before or after she'll sigh and try to turn, and I'll pop and eye open, arrange her to her liking and move around her again.  He's amazed by it.

She hates the blanket.  So it's still just up to my waist, and over the shoulder farthest from her. 

I did not plan to bed-share.  We planned to have her in her co-sleeper and not in the bed.  The hospital would not allow her in my bed, so after 48 sleepless hours (we'd drift off, nurse would come in and move her, she'd scream, I'd pick her up, nurse, comfort, we'd drift off...  repeat) I got in bed at home and we took our first good nap together.  And we were off to the races, so to speak.  She naps in her co-sleeper now, and starts the night out there.  But as soon as she wakes up for her first middle of the night feeding she comes in bed with me and stays there until morning.

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by Veritas Vitae 

Wondertwins, that is what my twin sister and her husband do as well,  they each have their own twin sized blanket, and then have the baby in between them.  I'm thinking that is what I'll do as well.  

I would never be comfortable with this. I just dont feel like my DH has the intuition that I have about our babies while he is asleep. IMO, little babies belong in between their mother and the edge of the bed, not in between two adults. But, Im also a cuddlewhore and I cant imagine not being able to sleep next to DH.

We would love to sleep under a heavy down comforter and keep the room at about 60 degrees at night. But, we dont. We use only a sheet and a quilt and two pillows that are fairly stiff and very large. Basically, they stay where they are supposed to stay and I sacrifice being able to put a pillow under my arm at night. We go back and forth between the co sleeper and having him in the bed, and did the same with DD. Everyone has to do what is best for them, but I dont know that dads should be sleeping right next to brand new babes.

edited for clarification.

[greencrunchymom]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 


I would never be comfortable with this. I just dont feel like my DH has the intuition that I have about our babies while he is asleep. IMO, little babies belong in between their mother and the edge of the bed, not in between two adults. But, Im also a cuddlewhore and I cant imagine not being able to sleep next to DH.
We would love to sleep under a heavy down comforter and keep the room at about 60 degrees at night. But, we dont. We use only a sheet and a quilt and two pillows that are fairly stiff and very large. Basically, they stay where they are supposed to stay and I sacrifice being able to put a pillow under my arm at night. We go back and forth between the co sleeper and having him in the bed, and did the same with DD. Everyone has to do what is best for them, but I dont know that dads should be sleeping right next to brand new babes.
edited for clarification.

I know that I don't trust my DH to sleep with the baby in the bed because he's a heavy sleeper and I'm afraid he'll squash the baby.  I agree that babies should be by mamas and not in the middle.

[mamazee]

My husband and I are both very light sleepers so this isn't something I've worried about. I never removed any bedding, but at some point I put the first one under her own blanket so she wouldn't get overheated by my body temp, and I always had the second under her own blanket. I don't have extra pillows anyway but if I did I would get rid of those.