co sleeping

[Shanti]

When we first started co-sleeping with DD (after she outgrew her hammock by our bedside around 11wks) we bought one of those little beds you can buy where she would lie in that, and was safe from one of us rolling on her but it took up most of the bed and DH and I were soooo uncomfortable!! So we quickly took that out and learnt to safely co-sleep with her, using my arm out etc.... at first I found it really uncomfortable and would always worry we'd roll on her but we worked it out eventually and got way more rest that way!!

Co-sleeping is so much safer for young babies if done correctly, than sleeping alone in a cot!! Don't worry about what your IL's think, it's YOUR family. None of their business (don't worry we copped it from our IL's for co-sleeping too and they even admitted they did a bit of that too!!! WTF?)

[Fleur]

You do whatever works for you Loula, because whatever that is (as long as it's safe), it can't be wrong. And don't let anyone tell you different.

You're doing a wonderful job xxxxx

:yeahthat: Well said

We looked at one of the safe sleeper thingys but decided against it (actually Dh was adamant that 'this one will sleep in her own bed!' - well, guess how that turned out )

For me I have found that I do not go into such a deep sleep when there is a little one in bed, but I get more rest overall. You just have that general awareness of them & where they are.

And I think everyone has covered the basics, the blanket thing can be a bit tricky but we usually slid down the bed a bit so she was level with our head & above the blankets.

As for your family, you can find a snappy comeback - I love telling people 'he/she won't be doing it when they are a teenager!' - or you can just smile and nod, OR you can not tell them anything - as a pp said, it's really no-one's business. That's not always easy when it's family. I have found though the more I let criticism just roll off me, the less I seem to get

[Loula]

I guess something I worry about is that DH is a smoker. He changes his top when he comes in from outside and washes his hands. But I have read it is dangerous for babies to co sleep with smokers?

DS is only sleeping on my side and as already said DH is moving rooms week days.

[onthefly]

Smoking is a risk facter for both co-sleeeping and SIDs.
Generally babies are safer sleeping with mum (I think it's the hormonal, instinct thing) so if you're a non-smoker that should be fine.
Mostly it's just common sense really and figuring out exactly how it works best for you - in regards to who sleeps where and how. Lots of people do it at one time or another simply because it really can be the best way to get sleep. It's not something you need to overthink - just do what works
People get funny ideas about these things and seem to think it's their business.

[Cherished]

hi hon, I just wanted to update you on what we are doing with our cosleeping bubs is 10 days old and we have tried a few different things. in the hospital we just held him either on our chest or he was laying on his side facing me. Since we got home we have had a night in the snuggly nest thingo, another night he was in the phil & teds coocoon and a few nights dh held him where bubs was on his side facing dh's chest and other night I held bubs chest to chest, when doing this we just had a cloth nappy rolled up in front and behind him just as a little bit of a buffer. What I think I like best though is him in between dh and I on his back but his head supported by one of those little head rest thingos that you can buy to put into a bouncer or a car seat which stops their head rolling too far either side. I feel like we are still really close to him, we can touch him, rest our hand on his chest and see his face etc but his has less chance of rolling into us iykwim

[Loveinamist]

We have co-slept since DS was about 3 days old. I wish we had started earlier! We started with DS sleeping on my chest and then bought a toddler bed rail so that i wouldn't worry about him falling out when we started putting him beside me.
As for the questions about where he sleeps I figure that noone asks me what DH and I do in the privacy of our bedroom so what gives them the right to ark about where or how DS sleeps!

[mum2be2010]

well my DD who's 8 weeks old i co sleep with she has been sleeping over 5hrs through the night, she usually gets very fussy during the evenings and wriggly does this mean she's overtired and cranky? wondering if i should take her to bed early evenings to try feed her to sleep? i'm also worried if i keep co sleeping with her will the transition to the cot become difficult in the coming weeks as id like to get her to sleep ina cot in the next few months any suggestions?

[Loula]

Hi we have been co sleeping in the evenings and not getting much sleep in the day unless on me. But yesterday I put DS in his big boy cot and he slept 40 min!! He hates the bassinet though.

Maybe you could try some day sleeps in the cot??