[NaturalTXMama]

I have a 26 month old son who sleeps with my husband and I, all three of us are very content with our arrangment and love being together. BUT I am expecting a baby girl in August and I really want her to join us in the family bed. I am just worried about my son rolling on her, or her waking him up when she fusses at night. I was thinking about using a sleep positioner (with firmer sides) to prevent him bothering her. Does anyone have any suggestions? How do you co-sleep with two children? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ryleigh'smama]

We have a king size bed and a crib side-carred to it. Dd (26 months) sleeps on the crib side, ds (12 weeks) sleeps in the middle in a positioner. I am between them. We moved the crib in for the side car while I was pregnant (4-5 months along I think) to get dd into it and used to it. It works REALLY well for us.

 

[miguelsmom]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ryleigh'smama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7934515"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">We have a king size bed and a crib side-carred to it. Dd (26 months) sleeps on the crib side, ds (12 weeks) sleeps in the middle in a positioner. I am between them. We moved the crib in for the side car while I was pregnant (4-5 months along I think) to get dd into it and used to it. It works REALLY well for us.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that">:<br><br>
except we have a queen and no positioner

 

[mothertoall]

we struggled with this for almost 6 mos after dd was born. ds (2yrs) did nOT want to give up his position in the bed...which was just about anywhere mom was! he wouldn't sleep next to dad for a long time...and we had a few bouts of ds climbing over and bumping the babe ....not fun.<br>
fast forward to today....ds sleeps on a crib mattress on a built by daddy platform next to daddy! he sleeps better and is on his way to sleeping through the night i think.<br>
he still wakes about 2 times a night...but actually they are early morning wakes....we usuually get about 5 hrs at first.<br>
he seems to like that his bed is made by daddy.....and he has a really huge connection with daddy...but at night ....he still won't let daddy comfort him back to sleep....we're working on that.....

 

[rmzbm]

We cosleep with 4 kids, it's never been a problem. I just kept the babe on one side of me when she was small. Now (at 13 months) she sleeps wherever.

 

[Peony]

We spilt off into two beds when DD2 was born. I have the baby with me, and Dh and DD1 sleep together.

 

[Drummer's Wife]

Because we only have a double bed we side carred the crib and that's where my 26 month old ends up sleeping. I'm on the edge closer to the crib and then the new baby is between DH and I.<br><br>
I think with a toddler and a newborn you just need enough room for everyone (which we didn't have) and I'd keep the two separated at least when the baby is brand new.<br><br>
No if only I could master nursing both laying down at the same time <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> I'd get a lot more sleep.

 

[miguelsmom]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Peony</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7938017"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">We spilt off into two beds when DD2 was born. I have the baby with me, and Dh and DD1 sleep together.</div>
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In the beginning we had many nights like that!

 

[goodheartedmama]

We have a king sized bed. It is in the corner, and a crib is sidecarred on the other side. DH works nights, so it's usually just me and the kids. My 13 month old sleeps between the wall and me, and my newborn sleeps between the crib and me. There is no possibility for rolling on her in that case. He would have to climb over me, which I would notice. If DH is home, he sleeps between the wall and DS.<br><br>
My son did wake up during nightfeedings for the first week or so, but I've learned to start feeding her as soon as she stirs so it doesn't get to an all out cry. He's also a pretty heavy sleeper, and if he does wake, I can usually get him to go back to sleep rather quick.

 

[jee'smom]

We have a kingsized bed next to the wall. The newborn always goes next to the wall, then me. The older than gets moved to between dh and I. Dh is NOT allowed to sleep next to any newborns, as he's a very deep sleeper and will roll on top of them. This one is our third, so it was going to go: wall, newborn, me, toddler, preschooler, dh. But, preschooler decided that she wants her own big-girl bed, so I bought two toddler beds, put them together, took the middle rails out, and tied the beds together. They're in my room at the foot of the bed (so cute!!!). Dd sleeps there most of the night, and now ds has been wanting to start the night out there too (wouldn't that be great if he night-weaned and stayed there the whole night?!!!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/praying.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="praying">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/fingersx.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="fingersx">: ). When newborn comes, I will just tell everyone that mommy is the ONLY one allowed next to her in bed. Everyone else has to be on mommy's other side. I just feel bad for dd, b/c ds still nurses, so I'll have ds on one side and newborn on other... what about my sweet dd?<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> I told her that when ds and newborn go to sleep, mommy's going to come down to her bed and snuggle with her... just special snuggie-buggie time with mommy. Or if she's in bed with us, on the other side of ds, I'll hold her hand until she falls asleep. Poor thing.

 

[boheime]

We just make certain that baby is on the other side of me from older sibling(s). It works well for us.

 

[josh&davesmomme]

NAK<br><br>
we also side car a crib, works great for us <a href="http://groups.msn.com/SteveandLishsFamily/sidecarcrib.msnw" target="_blank">http://groups.msn.com/SteveandLishsF...decarcrib.msnw</a>

 

[scorch_dc]

A month or two before new baby, we placed a toddler bed as a side car to our bed (we have a queen). Our bed is a euro platform thing, so is 9" from the floor and same height as toddler bed. My son (then 20 months) slept there, I slept on the edge of my mattress, so that we were still close/touching. When the baby came, the baby went in the middle between my husband and I (where our first son had been). My oldest didn't have any jealousy issues that the baby took his spot since he switched over before then. After the first year, we removed the toddler bed and all slept together again!<br><br>
Good luck! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[kikidee]

I'm not in this situation, but I think I would put my Arms Reach co-sleeper on the bed and put the baby in that, and the toddler between me and DH.

 

[clavicula]

i have a 21 mo and a 10 day old. we all sleep together on 2 queen mattresses. no problems so far.

 

[desert_mommi]

When we had #2, we had our king mattress on the floor with the new one on the outside with a positioner then Mom, Dad and toddler on the other side with a toddler mattress next to our bed. (though she'd migrate during the night across the top of the bed)<br>
Now that I have a preschooler and toddler, they are both in between us. Their choice, not mine, I'd rather be next to my DH. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/loveeyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Loveeyes">: oh well.<br><br>
We are trying for #3, and now have a bed frame also. So, I suspect we'll have to get a side car thingy for the newbie.<br>
Maybe the older two will start sleeping in their room by then.

 

[momma2libby]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>josh&davesmomme</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7941928"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">NAK<br><br>
we also side car a crib, works great for us <a href="http://groups.msn.com/SteveandLishsFamily/sidecarcrib.msnw" target="_blank">http://groups.msn.com/SteveandLishsF...decarcrib.msnw</a></div>
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I'm bookmarking your site for future reference! Great info!

 

[wendy1221]

I was really worried when I was pg w/ ds3, but it wasn't a problem after he was born. Ds2 was content to snuggle daddy as long as I still nursed him to sleep. Ds2 has a very easygoing personality, though. Each child has their own personality and needs, so you have to figure out what works for your family, and sorry, but you won't be able to figure it out until after the new one arrives. Good luck!

 

[arratt]

When dd2 was born we moved dd1 to her own bed (full) at the foot of ours and dh slept with her. dd2 and I slept in a queen for the first few months, until dd2 started crawling and crawled off the bed<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> The queen mattress was quickly moved to the floor next to the full. Now we all sleep together on the two mattresses side by side: wall, dd2, me, dh, dd1. Although dh cant stand all the movement/noise in bed at night so he usually migrates to another bedroom to sleep during the night.