Newbie question: Should the baby sleep on me or beside me?

[nofrillsmamma]

Hi,

First Baby is due in 5 months, and I'm very keen on the baby sleeping with my partner and me, rather than in a separate bed.  We probably won't have an attached crib, either.

My question is: Is it recommended to have the baby sleep ON me (or my partner), or next to/between us?  I love the idea of falling asleep with my baby asleep against me -- assuming we can sleep that way!

I'd really like to know which specific sleeping arrangements have worked well for others...

Thanks!

[fruitfulmomma]

Welcome to Mothering and congratulations. Here is a good place to learn about safe bedsharing guidelines...  http://safebedsharing.org/safetyguidelines.html

Personally until the baby is older and bigger I keep them on the outside, next to me, and on their backs, though we occasionally do tummy-to-tummy naps.

[contactmaya]

I like the idea too, but did not feel it was safe, and therefore could not fully relax. I used the snugglenest with all of my kids, until they grow out of it, and then they are between me and the wall, with their own blanket/sheet.

[erinita99]

I slept with by baby on me for many months because that is what felt right.  Watch your baby and you'll know what to do.

[katelove]

I am currently co-sleeping with my second newborn. With both of them the default position has been next to me, either in the middle or between me and the bed rail. Sometimes however they are more settled on my chest so I do that.

I do feel they are safer on the bed though. My concern is that they will roll off my chest and end up face down so I make sure there are no pillows or blankets around me. I do seem to sleep more lightly or be more aware of them when they're on me but I certainly couldn't say that I'm certain I would wake up if they rolled off. It is very sweet to fall asleep with a sleeping newborn on your chest though.

[MrsGregory]

I wound up sleeping on my side with my arms forming a cradle and my newborn daughter in my arms.  We did this for a few months, with no pillow, and it was murder on my neck.  I will probably try out a snuggle nest for the next one, or at least have it on hand in the event that they, like her, do not care for the Arm's Reach.  My newborn was always between me and the Arm's Reach, and not between me and my husband.  My sister-in-law, who is a singularly awesome mother, slept with her boys on her chest for the first few.  She couldn't sleep without them on her body.  I still struggle to fall asleep without cuddling my Little Miss.  Somewhere around 3-4 months we "graduated" to her just sleeping on her back next to me, and I started using a small pillow and pulling the blankets up for us.  Now she's almost 15 months and she sleeps in the Arm's Reach, which has been dropped down into the crib configuration, and she sometimes to frequently stays there all night.