I have been reading up on Safe Co-Sleeping. I'm not particularly worried about the safety factor. I know it can actually be safer than 'solo-sleeping'! It's DF that's concerned. But he's very happy to read the books I have and inform himself properly!
I definitely think this is the go for me, I slept so soundly last night just imagining having my Baby right next to me while I sleep. This is the first time I have slept so well in weeks! Now if I am sleeping better just thinking about co-sleeping....how much better is it going to be when I actually am co-sleeping! I can't wait.
Im just still researching different bolster/rail/roll-off preventers besides pillows!
I've co-slept with DD since day 1 - completely unplanned lol. I'm probably in a bit of a different situation to you in that my DH snores like a freight train, so most nights I end up in the spare bed (I'm a light sleeper, he's a dead to the world sleeper). When DD came along, we sort of just commandeered the spare bed as 'our' bed.
When she was little, the bed was so big I wasn't worried about her rolling off - especially before she could roll. The bed was against the wall and I bought some really firm pillows to put between the matress and wall so as there was no 'gap'.
Once DD started being able to move about, we plopped the mattress on the floor and put softer pillows all around the edge, so if she did roll of, she hit pillows first before floor. Course now she just speed crawls off LOL.
But of course, both of those don't help you... hrm.
A snuggle bed might be an option, so long as your bed is big enough. I bought one originally because I too was worried about the safety side of it, but it took up a lot of room between me and DH. On my own with DD it wasn't too bad, but it did make me feel 'separated' from her. And as you mentioned, doesn't do well with the feeding...
Hrm, I'm no real help am I...
Do you have something firm you can place against your side of the bed? IE a big chest of draws? You could put the back of the chest near the bed to create a fake wall. Course, you'd have to shove DH out the way any time you wanted out hehe. BTW, my DH wasn't comfortable with DD in between us either when we did it a couple of times (it's amazing what 'new mummy' can do to help you sleep through snoring!).
In regards to sleeping better - I sleep so much better beside DD than if I don't. In fact, I actually find it hard to fall asleep without her beside me, and the second I lie down with her - bam, out like a light.
Hi Haydies.
Im glad co-sleeping works with you. I think I might invest in a side barrier that attaches to our bed. That way, I can still put Baby's bassinet right up next to me on my side to start the night off...then when Baby wakes for the first feed, I can bring him/her into bed with me and we can stay that way for the rest of the night, with the barrier to prevent falls.
I will do some 'looking around' while we are out and about tomorrow and see what kind of barriers are out there and what might be suitable for my purposes.
Still need to prove to DF that it is safe....but I really think my minds made up....going back reading my posts it sure seems like it anyway! LOL.
Thanks for all the info ladies....if an yone else has any tips or info they would like to share, I will be eternally grateful.
If your DF is worried about rolling on bubs you could ask him to think about when the last time he fell out of bed was or the last time he rolled on the cat (if you have a bed hogging cat like mine). The same senses that stop you from rolling out of bed will stop you from rolling on your baby. Amazingly enough all our senses except smell still work while we're asleep and although we're not conscious of it we can make descions in our sleep that safeguard ourselves and others.
Also if you sleep in the recovery position it's very difficult to roll.
Kel, we've been co-sleeping since our DD was born (apart from the odd night where she went in cot). It was unplanned. My DP also had same worries but it worked well and he doesn't mind now. It's so lovely waking up beside our DD. It has worked well for us as we can get sleep also. There was nothing worse than both of us being sleep deprived to the point of exhaustion.
Every bub is different though. Do what works for you
Another update:
Told DF I would like to try having bassinnet right up next to me, I'll take Baby out and BF in bed, then put Baby back into basinnet once asleep. In the morning when he gets up and goes to work, I will take Baby into bed with me and have a 'sleep in' of sorts.
If this doesn't work, then I will try leaving Baby in bed with us overnight.
He is happy with this 'trial' so I am happy too.
My DP was really against having our DD in bed with us. But after he met her, he changed his tune. She is definately Daddy's girl and he is open to so much more now. He also said he would never change a poo nappy, and he does them all the time now! Good luck
Last edited by ~Belinda~; August 12th, 2008 at 09:00 PM.
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