Co-Sleeping - any info/tips etc?

[mellymooks]

Hello, I'm expecting my first anyday now and I'm interested in co-sleeping. Originally we were going to have the baby in crib by our bed, but MW's have been talking so positively about co-sleeping that i would really like to know more.
Any personnal experiences please?
Any good websites/advice on guidelines etc

Thanks very much

[Amethyst86]

I found that co sleeping really worked for us. The first couple of months were really made bearable sleep wise because if DD would not settle I just brought her in with us and sometimes we managed 6 hours unbroken sleep. Did with with DS as well and they both have great sleep habits now. I did not do it religiously however, sometimes I just wanted the bed to myself but certainly when I knew that co sleeping would settle her then I brought her in with me.

I found instinctively that I knew she was there and somehow I remained in the same position all night. Usually quite stiff the next day. One thing I didn t feel comfortable with was putting her between DH and I. I knew I would know she was there out of instinct I suppose but I wasn t sure that he would so put her on my right side with a Tomy Bed Guard so she wouldnt roll over and fall out. They are great by the way. DS has it on his bed now that she is in her cot full time. They sell them in Argos. [[www.tomy.co.uk/products/

[Amethyst86]

Sorry pressed post message before I was ready. Here is the link here

[Amethyst86]

Also never did it DC were ill, even snuffles, do not drink so that was not really an issue for me but you shouldnt do it if you have been drinking or taking medication. Also be really careful of your baby getting overheated. Also I think if you smoke you maybe should not do it either. Am no expert, hopefully someone who knows more than me will be along soon.

[mylittleponey]

wear along sleeve front opening top so you can bf easily & the sleeves will keep your arms warm as the covers will be lower. I put a blanket or shawl for me & lo to sleep on - much cosier than the sheet & soaks up any milk.

[Amethyst86]

Apparently not supposed to when they or you are ill. I liked co sleeping but was a bit wary so I followed the guidelines religiously.

Psychobabble, great idea about the sleeping bag. Wish I had thought of that when DD was little. Often woke up with a jolt worried about covers. Will remember that if I have another (fingers crossed .

[mylittleponey]

why not when they're ill?

[Amethyst86]

Maybe more danger of them becoming over heated if they already have a temperature and you might not be so responsive if you are ill. Just looking for a link

[honey2theb]

My dd is 12 weeks, and though we intended her sleeping in a cot, she decided against it . we have a 3/4 sized bed in her room also, so we started of sleeping in the bed with dd next to us, but she wouldnt sleep for longer than half hour! I love her sleeping with us.
Didnt tell mw because i didnt think she'd approve, but a few family members have lectured me on it! except my mother who said i was exactly the same as a baby!

For about 5 weeks now she has slept until about 8am ( except a feed about 6am, but i just roll over to feed her! FAB! ) so we are not getting any sleepless nights which is good as dp is a postman

i dont drink, smoke etc, and if i did have even 1 drink i would sleep in the other room and dp would sleep with her.

i put her head a lot higher up the bed than me, iykwim, so if the blanket did go up, it would only go as far as my neck, whick would be lower than dd's face. did that make sense. Sleepng bag is a brill idea also.

good luck with your baby!! im enjoying it soooo much!! cant wait to have more! xxx

[MarsSelectionBoxLady]

Don't co-sleep if formula feeding
No pillows round the baby or duvet (they could get caught up and suffocate)
Don't co-sleep on the sofa
Don't co-sleep if drinking or smoking

Other than that... enjoy. Really helps with bfing (no getting out of your lovely warm bed at night) and can help you all get more sleep.

It's wonderful. Did it with all 5 of mine and when people tell you that you're making a rod for your own back and they'll never come out let me reassure me that my 5 don't co-sleep with me anymore (well DT2 comes in occasionally around 5am but makes no noise and is like a toasty hot water bottle).

[MarsSelectionBoxLady]

Oh and congratulations

[mellymooks]

Thank you for the info, does anyone know where I can get specific guidelines from?

[NoviceKnitter]

Hello, DD is 5 months and we started co-sleeping at about 2 weeks when it became apparent it was the only way any of us was going to get any sleep. We'd bought one of those cots that goes up to the side of the bed, but she wouldn't even sleep in that so it's become a glorified bedside table.

You can find the guidelines on the FSID website. www.fsid.org.uk/babycare.html but it's worth googling as there are some interesting other studies. I read somewhere (sorry can't remember where) that, if you follow the guidelines (don't co-sleep if been drinking, taking medication that could make you drowsy, etc) it actually reduces the risk of cot death because being close to mother's breathing helps babies own breathing rhythms to stay regular.

I have DD in a grobag on my side of the bed (with the empty cot as bed guard - the cat now sleeps there!) as I don't think fathers are as tuned in so I don't like her to sleep between us. I have her below the pillow and I only have the duvet over my legs but wear a thick cardi.

DD helps herself to the breast after the first feed, because I usually drop off so don't put things "away" so we do get a lot of leakage but oh well... I bought a couple of big cellular blankets but actually prefer my cardigan route.

DD cluster feeds in the evenings but once we've gone to bed she generally sleeps through with the odd snack that doesn't really wake us up. For the first three months she would sometimes sleep till 10am at weekends now she generally wakes between 7 and 8.30, which I reckon is very civilised.

It's just lovely waking up to your smiling baby next to you. We began on a needs must basis but I'm so glad. Only thing is we need a bigger bed! Good luck

[Mossy]

I co-sleep with my ds (now nearly eight months).

Tips:

Discuss it with your dh (perhaps print off some of the evidence for it being a Good Thing) beforehand. Reassure him that it won't be forever and that you will still have sex... just downstairs on the settee instead!

Strangely enough, my dh was dead against it at first and came round to it, not because of benefits to ds, but because I got more sleep, and he got a happier dw as a result! You could try a compromise; have cot with the side down at the side of the bed, fixed to the bed so it doesn't move away. WARNING: you may end up in the cot, with the baby in the bed.

Second the front opening top thing... although I didn't think of putting him in a sleeping bag on top of the covers, will have to try that!

Get a bigger bed (wish I'd done this). You can save lots of money by not buying an expensive buggy but instead get a cheap £20 one from Woollies and a really good sling.

HTH

[mylittleponey]

check out www.babyfriendly.org.uk/page.asp?page=115&category=3

[mellymooks]

Thanks for the links!

[NatalieJane]

Sorry to crash, but whilst we are on the subject, how do you go about getting out of co-sleeping, have always slept with ds2, but now I have stopped bf, would like to get our bed back, but no idea how to break the habit....

Thanks

[emmaagain]

Get a bed for the toddler the same height as the family bed (or forget beds entirely and just have the family mattress on the floor and get another one to go next to it)

Toddler goes to sleep on the small mattress, with parent next to them for company if wanted. If and when they need you in the night, they just shimmy across.

With their consent, the mattress can be moved gently away over time, into its own corner, and then eventually into another room, again with consent.

Just one way of doing it.

[NatalieJane]

Thanks but I haven't got enough room upstairs for doing anything like that.