I have the pillow above her head and her head in line with the milk bar. That way, she can access food without me even needing to wake up! I'm usually facing her and she will be close to me. I use a blanket only over my back (I lay on my side) and the bottom part of my body. Her closeness keeps my chest area warm. She sleeps in a sleeping bag.
Thanks Kelly, Leasha and Jitterbug. Sounds like you latter 2 both do it slightly differently and I guess we've just gotta find the way that works safely for us. I might try altering my bedding and her positioning, since it's being smothered by the doona that I'm most scared of. There's no way hubby will give up the doona but maybe if I rug-up in my jarmies and just have a lighter blanket over me...?
Oh Kate I am so glad you wrote this thread. I co slept for the first time last night . All night I wanted to turn over, and was getting tired muscles from not being able to roll over! I kept DD1 at booby level, but couldn't quite get the bedding right and was slightly cold on my back and overheated on my chest, LOL. But, it was the best night sleep I have ever had!!!
Also, what do the expert cosleepers do when you need to go to the toilet?
I used to lie on my left side with my arm out and knees up with bub in the space between...so she had access to bbs and couldn't slip under the covers or wriggle under the pillow.
The other thing you could try is a side-car arrangement. I have a co-sleeper, which is right up against the bed. So bub is right next to me, but has her own space and blankets etc.
I loved the idea of co-sleeping and did it for 6 weeks, but in the end I found I slept better when she was in her own space.
This was (and still is every morning!) our experience:
- how close is baby to you - against your body or a few inches away? When she was tiny I would hold her facing me right beside myself. Now she is older when she comes into our bed she sleeps in the middle so is not against me unless she is bfing or wraps her arms around for a cuddle.
- do you always sleep facing them - if so, what if you want to roll over and face the other way? (I sleep on my side but tend to toss and turn quite a bit) Whe little, yes, on my arm, and I would just carry her over me if I turned over. I sleep very still though, so this wasn't a problem for me. Not now.
- what level is baby's face - level with your face, or closer to your chest. Where is your pillow positioned? When tiny, level with my chest, now up near my face. My pillow would be under my head and now she shares it with me.
- what kind of bedding do you have? How do you ensure that it doesn't cover baby's face? Not too much, we have a sheet and light quilt my MIL made in summer and a sheet and woollen doona in winter (fairly lightweight and not too thick). I never bothered about it covering her face as she can wriggle around next to me and when tiny was so snuggled into me it didn't matter.
- how do you make sure that baby doesn't roll out of bed? Sometimes she does (but she's three now)! But when tiny she would sleep between us, and I would hold her, so no problem there. I try to put her in the middle now, but she sneaks in without waking me most mornings. She sleeps in a toddler bed and has done so since 16 mths, so she seems to know what to do.
Thanks Anna and Jennifer. Really appreciate the detailed advice. I've read lots to verify that co-sleeping is safe, but when it came down to actually doing it... there were lots of little aspects I wasn't sure of. Bit like breastfeeding really. Never thought it would be quite so complicated!
Oscaroscar, I hope you had another good night of sleepy cuddles.
Still a bit nervous here and was so shattered last night that I just fell into bed without re-organising doona etc but fortunately bubs was unconscious when I put her into her cradle and remained that way for 5 hours! Keen to get the co-sleeping going though. I just have to get it organised so that I can feel confident and relaxed and actually manage to sleep.
Kat, good thread. I think you asked all the questions I had about co-sleeping as well! We've had a couple of early mornings snuggles in bed and as much as I would love to doze off I just can't let myself.
My DH works nights, so there would be plenty of room in our bed, but once he starts moving around a bit I would be worried about him falling out. I might try it this week and see if either of us manage to get any sleep.
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. All night I wanted to turn over, and was getting tired muscles from not being able to roll over! I kept DD1 at booby level, but couldn't quite get the bedding right and was slightly cold on my back and overheated on my chest, LOL. But, it was the best night sleep I have ever had!!!
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