co-sleeping, your opinions.............

[*CLAIREBEAR*]

hello!
baby is 13 days old today,he sleeps for hours during the day and does not feed as often,but on a night he is awake all the time unless he is being held or falls asleep having a feed which is usually every 1 1/2 to 2 hours,as soon as he is put in his moses basket he gets upset.
during the night i feed him laid down in bed next to me,i just get so so tired and worry i will fall asleep.
i've read a few posts on here about co sleeping,is this safe?
i darent try it as im worried it is not safe,does anyone do this,if so how do you make it safe as i need some sleep!

 

[NickyB]

Quite a few members seem to do of and there are somethings you can do to make it safe.
Firstly, neither of you should co-sleep after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, make sure Adam can't roll off the bed or wedge himself between a wall and the bed. He'll need to sleep on top of your covers in a grobag or under his own blankets. That's all I can remember.

 

[jennifer1981]

We coslept with LO. I had hin my side of the bed (as apposed to the middle) as im a light sleeper and both me and OH were worried incase he knocked him in his sleep etc.

I always put a pillow at the side of him so he couldn't fall to the side of the bed, he slept in a grow bag (not under the duvet as they can over heat). We did this from when he was about 3 weeks old as he wasn't settling well in his moses basket and it was easier to see to him if he was next to me. I also liked the closeness feeling as well.

We have only just moved him into his own room and i found it really hard at first but alls good now

 

[kadesmummy]

I understand your pain.. lol, i'm the same, get 3 hours a night if am lucky

i don't trust myself to cosleep to be honest, just hoping to god it gets better than this lol

x

 

[herbalhippie]

We co slept with LO from the word go... mainly because he got really upset if we put him in his own cot (lol, we even bought a special co-sleeping cot that attaches to the bed, but he doesnt like it... yet....) the first few nights I was really worried about it, but since it was the only way we were going to get any sleep it was the only option! LO sleeps on my side of the bed in a gro bag, occasionally in the middle, but its hard to arrange the blankets like that... the co sleeping bed is on my side of the bed so if he rolled off he'd only roll into his own bed... but you can get special bolsters i think that attach to the bed to prevent rolling too. oh... if you are into "gadgets" you can get a hammoc(sp?) type thing for babies that supposedly mimics being in the womb. Cant remember the website but i'm sure you can google it!
I think the guide lines are basically what NickyB said, neither of you should be drinking / drugged up / have smoked... and you shouldnt be more than normally tired... lol... I wonder what the level of "normal tired" for new mums is though...!

 

[beanie]

Read "Three in a bed" by Deborah Jackson, it is the co-sleepers bible. Co-sleeping is safe, you are breastfeeding and naturally have an awareness of your baby. Overlaying is incredibly rare, and as long as you are not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication there is no reason you will pose a risk your child. Also as long as neither of you smoke - as this gets breathed onto baby. Make sure pillows are away from your baby and that they aren't able to snuggle down into the duvet (I do use the duvet with C but I have co-slept for the last 3 and a bit years and feel confident in doing so). I love co-sleeping, wouldn't have it any other way and only wish I knew it sooner as I wouldn't have wasted my money on a cot.

 

[*CLAIREBEAR*]

thanks everyone,i feel the set up of my bed and moses basket would be safe to co-sleep,i would have him on the edge side of the bed,lucilky the moses basket i can put directly next to the bed,there is no gap at all,the moses basket is slightly higher then the bed,so he could not roll off the bed,or into his basket.
should i put him in his gro bag?
how do i keep warm if i don't use a quilt?
sorry for all the questions!


ps! i dont smoke,or do drugs! but i am tired!

 

[chickadee1976]

.

 

[charlotte_]

i did when zach was first born, it was the only thing that would get us some sleep, and if it works, it works.

 

[Potbelijo]

We just bought this: Snuggle Nest

I really like the idea of co-sleeping but I am a little bit worried. I like this as it will give Pixie a special place in the bed. It also fits in the cot so it might make the move from bed to cot a little less stressful.

 

[keli]

I've co-slept since Cooper was born and we still do now. I always put pillows next to him if he's on the edge side so he doesn't roll off. I say trust your instincts. Co-sleepings always felt natural and i've never been worried about his safety, infact i was always felt he was alot safer next to me in them early months as i believe my breathing cues him to. I don't think i'd have survived them early days if we didn't co-sleep