[AutumnWind]

I'm pg. and due in August. Our 3-year-old has always slept with us, and of course the new baby will, too.

We've got a king sized bed. BUT -- I'm still thinking that with a nursing infant, it might be crouded.

For those of you who have experienced the family bed with a toddler and an infant, how did you make it work?

 

[stafl]

When I sleep in the bed (which isn't that often it seems), I sleep in between my two children. Oldest DD just kicks and sqirms too much to let her sleep beside the little one. Usually DD1 sleeps with Daddy in the bed, and baby and I sleep wherever I fell asleep nursing her, in the recliner, or on the couch since I wake up before the rest of the family to nurse the baby.

I'm hoping at some point, that the girls will sleep together in a full-size bed, and DH and I will have our bed to ourselves again... not holding my breath, though.

We are discussing buying a bigger bed for the entire family, since that seems to me the best solution.

You'll find a way to make it work for your family once the baby comes. It seems things have a way of working out on their own, you know? I actually felt more crowded when I was pregnant, than after baby was born. I think that at least for me, being pregnant makes me very uncomfortable sleeping next to another person.

 

[Piglet68]

I'm due in October. Our king size bed is just enough for the three of us, DD is a total bed hog, lol. We're planning on either putting a twin next to the king, or replacing it all with 2 queens (we might not be bringing our king with us when we move). I plan to put myself between the two kidlets, but not sure who will go in the middle. If baby is a still sleeper like DD was, he can go on the outside. That would also help DH comfort DD if she wakes and I'm nursing the baby. OTOH, if baby rolls around, I'll put DD on the outside. We just have mattresses on the floor (no boxsprings) so DD isn't hurt if she rolls off. In fact she usually doesn't even wake up, lol. DH will be on the twin.

You find a way to make it work if that is what you want for your family. We can't imagine sleeping without DD or baby, so we'll just keep adding mattresses, lol!

 

[annethcz]

We've got 2 matresses/box springs pushed together on the floor. Our queen bed, and a twin bed next to it.

We start off the night with DH and I in the queen, 6 month old DD on the twin next to me, and the 2 older kids in their own rooms. 2 yr old DD always joins us sometime during the night, and crawls in between DH and I. 4 yr old DS occasionally joins us as well. When that happens, baby and I usually snuggle on the twin while DH and the 2 other kids are in the queen.

It took us a few months to come up with a good sleeping arrangement, but this works really well. DD2 was only a couple of days old when we discovered that a queen size bed is WAAAYYY too small for 5 people

 

[FreeRangeMama]

We have a queen and a double side-by-side on the floor (no boxspring because my 3 yo is a sleepwalker). Many nights we all end up crowded on the queen, and occasionally we all swap places in the middle of the night. Usually both boys want to sleep ON me :LOL Generally the 9 mo old sleeps between dh and I and the 3 yo sleeps on my other side (that way I can just roll over and nurse whichever one needs it). We actually get enough sleep most nights and are very happy with our arrangement.

 

[ChinaDoll]

8 weeks ago, I was wondering this same thing myself!

I discovered early on that in those first few weeks of night-time diaper changes, it was easier to be in another room. The first night we were home from the hospital, we all slept in the same (king) bed, and the baby woke the toddler

: so DH quieted the toddler, and the baby and I exited to a queen in the guest room. I kept wanting to try it again, but have been too afraid that would happen again and too sleep-deprived to risk it!

We stayed with that plan til the baby was 5 weeks old (I nursed the toddler to sleep in their bed, then DH joined her when he was ready to go to bed. She had been sleeping through the night, not waking to nurse, since I was 3 months pregnant, her own doing, very nice

)

Now we're visiting the in-laws for a month

so we have a queen bed and a queen mattress on the floor. Still me&baby, DH&toddler, but I SO miss sleeping with and snuggling my DD!

As soon as we get back home, we're buying a twin to put next to our bed, complete with new Dora the Explorer sheets, for DD. She already LOVES her Dora pillowcase, which I gave her before the baby was born, so I'm hoping she'll be excited about her new bed when she sees the sheets. I'm planning to keep it right next to our bed for as long as she needs, but hoping that eventually we can move it across the room, and later, to her room (maybe when both kids are old enough to sleep together or something?) That way, I can put the baby (who won't be a newborn anymore, but 3 months old) between DH and I, and still snuggle the toddler who is next to us in her own bed.

Sorry it was long; it was not exactly what I expected, but what ended up working for our family. You may just have to experiment to see what works for you -- good luck!

 

[jennymoon]

when we first had ds I slept in our king size between him and dd (3) who kicked and squirmed and cuddled close to to me. ds also wanted to cuddle and I ended up being totally squished all night, waking up sore from sleeping in some very unusual positions. we finally agreed to get dd a bed of her own and push it up against ours. she got special "Dora the Explorer" sheets and was totally excited about it. My husband will lie down with her in her bed until she falls asleep. She has even asked for her own room now, but I confess I am not the one ready for that step. good luck.

 

[milkmomma4]

This is my first official post on this board and it is something I know a little bit about.

I have coslept with all 4 (not at the same time....unless it is a crazy night)

When #3 was born #2 had made the transition into her own bed.

#3 was happy being smak dab in between....until #4 came.

So what works for us.....most nights NOT always....

King size bed....1 bed rail on one side....then mommy new baby....then daddy....then toddler.......another bed rail

this sometimes doesnt work when everyone wants to touch mommy....i was nursing 2 there for awhile.....

but we make the best of it.

DD age almost 4 .....is not budging from our bed....as much as I wish she would....she is a kicker.....and DH snoars so sometimes that effects her sleep

Good luck~

 

[AutumnWind]

Thank you for all of the great advice and reassurance!

I guess I should stop worrying.

milkmomma4 -- you're like my mom. She lactated for 9 years straight, staggered over her last 3 kids. :tandem Your babies are lucky!

 

[michray]

I am due in Dec and this is my biggest concern! DH has slept on the futon in the living room since dd was born 13 mos ago. We just moved and now she has her own room with a crib and I put a twin sized bed in there so that I can be with her if she wakes ( which she ALWAYS does) but I MISS sleeping with her.
We only have a full sized bed, so there is no room for all of us, not to mention the baby on the way...but I am not sure I am ready to give up sleeping with dd. DH is fine with whatever I decide, but I miss sleeping with him, too.
I know I shouldn't feel guilty, but for some reason I feel like a terrible mom by moving dd into her own bed and room so that I can co-sleep with the new baby in Dec. Of course, if she doesn't sleep though the night, it may be a moot point! LOL.. I really never thought I would have a 13 month old who DIDN'T sleep though, but it wasnt a real problem until I imagined nursing and newborn and soothing a toddler in the night, as well.