Co Sleeping Question

[kristenyostdc]

I have never co slept with a newborn before so I need some advice. My sweet girl will not sleep in the co sleeper next to our bed. She has to be right next to me. So, she has been sleeping in our bed, mostly with just me and my hubby has been sleeping in other places. Anyway, I know you are not supposed to sleep with covers and you aren't supposed to let baby get to hot. But what else is there to ensure safety? She is just so tiny next to me and I don't want anything to happen to her. I'm probably being paranoid, but can all you cosleepers out there give me some advice and help? Thanks!!!

[AllisonK]

Honestly I use a flat (very old) pillow to put the babe on when they are new. I can curl the edges around them its so flat. Then babe goes between me and DH up near our heads. I can then pull the pillow when they want to nurse and since they are so high in the bed near our heads/upper bodies the blankets don't even get near the baby. As for temp just see how they feel if they are soaked with sweat take off a few layers. You are doing great mama! Congratulations again on the sweet baby girl.

[~Katrinka~]

I just got my first co-sleeper, but in the past, I put a bed rail on the bed (the kind you would use to keep a toddler from falling out of bed, and then a firm pillow, or bolster, or the boppy turned around backwards between baby and the bed rail. I get rid of all my pillows for my own head but one firm one, and keep the baby away from my pillow. I also only pull my down comforter up to around my hips, and then just use a lighter blanket to cover me and the baby...not higher than baby's chest.

I wouldn't worry about baby getting too hot. If she got hot enough, she would wake up and cry. This time of year, I would use a fuzzy blanket sleeper over something soft and cottony for baby, and then if baby gets hot, just unzip the blanket sleeper as much as needed.

[milky_mama]

We have the Arms Reach co-sleeper and dd1 loved it but just like your little one our sweet little girl likes to be right up close to mommy all night and right now doesn't love the co-sleeper so much. We just bought a snuggle nest to place her in between us while we sleep. Our mattress is soft so we needed something that would be safe for her to lay on. So far (it's only been a couple of nights) it's worked out well. To keep baby warm - you could use a sleep sack or a tight swaddling blanket. Good luck finding something that works for you mama and congrats on your baby girl!

[watermama05]

With DD, I slept with the covers only up to my waist, and one pillow at my head. I slept on my side, with one arm curling around the top of her (so between her and the pillow), and one arm around the bottom of her. She was right up against my chest. She never moved more than an inch away from my breasts and I felt good having her right there. I dressed her just in normal footed sleepers (she was born in May), this little one I might layer a cotton onesie underneath since it's colder now than when DD was born, but personally I'd rather err on the side of too cold than too hot (especially since they really do get toasty sleeping right up against you!).

[mama_in_PA]

I've always co-slept with my babies and this one will be no different. I keep the baby right next to me so that his or her head is right at the level of my breast. I have two pillows under my head with my arm curled up so that my hand is under my cheek between the pillows and my elbow jutting straight out just above baby's head. I also curl my knees up just under baby's feet. This provides some kind of barrier so that DP doesn't roll over too far when baby is in the middle - he will hit my knees and elbow first. I am a side-sleeper so this is easy for me. I also have the bed pushed up against the wall so that when baby is not in the middle and I want to sleep on my other side, he or she won't fall off the bed. Blankets aren't pulled up any higher than baby's middle if it's cold and my hips if it's warmer. Oh, I we have about 4 receiving blankets folded in half under baby's head and my chest to minimize some of the milk mess.

[Leilalu]

Put baby up close to the top of the bed, close as possible. I like to have my babies right next to my face. I am a heavy sleeper, but I always wake up easily for my kids. Always.

keep covers to a minimum, dress warmer if needed. Or use a thin top sheet.

keep your head on the edge of your pillow, not the middle

lets see, I also like to usually have one hand on the baby. And really, the closer baby is to you, the more they can get in rythm with your breathing, which is really nice for reassurance in that area.

[Romana]

My dd hated the co-sleeper also and would not sleep in there. Plus, I couldn't sleep without her next to me. She slept at my breast, usually in the middle of the bed but sometimes closer to the outside when I'd change sides for her in the night - but it was not an issue because the cosleeper came right up and there was nowhere for her to slip down. Not to mention sleep was altered when I was with her so I was very aware of any movement and always woke. She would nurse and then lift her head and use my breast as a pillow.

I slept with only a sheet (no heavy blankets) and put her on a single flannel folded blanket (really a very thin item, just there to be a good texture and catch spit-up etc.). My dh slept in the guest room (he snores and it keeps me awake if we're in the same room). The sheet that covered me usually did not touch her - it wasn't hard to arrange it that way. She was always warm/comfortable enough temperature wise without anything, but I need to feel something on me in order to sleep.

I was not a deep sleeper when co-sleeping. Kind of a twilight sleep . . . peaceful but not unaware. I always woke at her slightest stir or sigh.

[kristenyostdc]

Thanks for the advice mamas! We have been doing really well co sleeping!! She sleeps right at my breast and I just wear warm clothes and just put the covers up to my waist at the highest. And my pillow is pretty far away from her so I don't really worry about to much. It makes me so happy that it's going well! Hope everyone elses co sleeping is going as well!

[Trinitty]

This is good to read!

We are waiting for our baby to arrive and we will be cosleeping.

We've side-carred the crib to my side of the bed, so I imagine that babe will sleep between me and the crib-area.

I'm a really deep sleeper, I have even slept through a small earthquake, and DH says he can see and feel my belly going crazy with movement at night, but I don't stir..... so I'm a little worried that I will sleep too deep to cosleep..... I really hope some special mother-awareness kicks in at birth and re-wires my brain for my baby!!!

Trin.