Swaddling and co-sleeping question

[dusty]

DH and I are now considering co-sleeping with our newborn when s/he arrives. This is new for us as until recently we didn't think we would be able to do it but have now have some confidence to try it when Phoenix arrives.

I heard that swaddling and co-sleeping are not recommended but I was wondering what experiences others have had as I would like to swaddle Phoenix is s/he likes it.

Any advice/hints?

[BrightSparkles]

I do it with Miss S. I'm always really aware that shes there though. I don't sleep heavily. I find she sleeps better that way.

[Arcadia]

The negative on swaddling and cosleeping is that it reduces bubs ability to alert you if they need, it is also less important when mum is right there to cuddle them. But their arms are so jerky at first and movement is involuntary, so I did swaddle dd and cosleep in the early weeks. Seriously you're so hyper aware if them in the bed and swaddling stops their arms waking them up. I also swaddled for each feed because her arms would get in the way.

We stopped swaddling by 12 weeks.

[meow]

I didn't realise you weren't "supposed" to do both! We swaddled our son- he much prefered to sleep like that and it painful weaning him off it months and months later when we was so active he was waking himself by unwrapping. We swaddled him and put him up between our pillows (spread wide apart from each other). So we couldn't have rolled on him and he wasn't under our doona either.

[Marnikat]

We are the opposite here. I don't swaddle Phoebe when she is in with us as she gets too hot. Poor little bubba is sweating when we unwrap her. But if they aren't too hot I can't see the harm in swaddling and co-sleeping.

[MummaSue]

Hey Dusty!
I co-sleep at the moment and swaddle little miss. I stopped swaddling her right after we got home from the hospital as she seemed to hate it but I have since found that she sleeps MUCH better wrapped and now when I wrap her she seems to know that it's sleepy time!! She still has really strong startle reflex and gives herself an awful fright sometimes if she's not wrapped so I swaddle her all the time for naps and during the night.
Do what works for you, because inevitably you'll do what is safe anyway.
Hugs
sue xxx