I push the bed up against the wall (in the corner) and make sure the mattress is right up against it. I only keep one pillow in the bed for myself. I have my own blanket and the baby gets it's own light weight blanket.
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It can be tough at first co-sleeping with a newborn because they are so tiny and they are good at pulling blankets over their faces. What I usually do the first month or so is sleep on my back with the baby on my chest. When it's time to breastfeed, I put both of us on our sides with a rolled up blanket behind the baby for support.
We do both of those, too. Also, for the early days whenever I have the baby on my chest, I put a pillow under each of my arms to help support them while I hold the baby. It's more comfortable for me. When they are sleeping right on me, I do on their tummies.
We had a constantly evolving system. Bed against the wall. Crib against bed without rail. Mattress alone on floor (for when they start crawling). <-- Also, when we started our toddler in his big boy bed, it was just the crib mattress on the floor in the corner, our mattress on the floor against his crib mattress. So, he was still with us, but not. Not sure what we'll do with this third, as our 1st is still in our room, but our 2nd sleeps better in her crib in her bed (comes into bed to nurse with me on the few nights she does wake). Hoping that the oldest, who will just be turning 3 right before this baby comes, will be ready to try being in a room with his sister, the 2nd. We'll see...
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