Co-sleeping people - how do you keep warm?

[mistermagpie]

This may be a stupid question... I never co-slept with my first two children but my new baby is a nightmare sleeper and will only really sleep in a sling or being held. Clearly this doesn't work at night so she is basically awake all night. I am at the end of my rope so might try bringing her in with me, which I have a couple of times but only when I am actually not asleep.

My question is, I think she is not supposed to have covers or anything but what do you put your baby in to co-sleep? Also if she's in with me then I can't really have covers either can I? But it's January and I'm a cold person anyway!

So, can anyone give me any tips or describe what you actually do when you co-sleep?

For info, she is not breastfed so feeding lying down isn't necessary for us in case that makes a difference.

When mine were small (under 3 months), I just wore layers (a jumper, two layers on the bottom). Once they are a bit older and more robust, I always slept with a duvet. I’ve bedshared from birth with both of mine (1st one til 3.5 and 2nd one to just before 2) and I’m quite conscious of where they are and where I am. Duvet always under my arm and baby above. The duvet/pillow getting near them has never been an issue.

Mine was in a gro bag, out of the duvet, and I had a duvet.

I always put them in the middle, we had separate covers so had space for baby and thier blanket. I’m a light sleeper anyway so when ever baby moved I felt it.

I put them in a sleeping bag with no pillow and covers, I have covers from waist down then wear a bfing tank top, warm pyjama top and an old woolen bolero thing that looks ugly but keeps my arms warm! This is good guidance that I've followed with mine cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/

If she is old enough for a sleeping bag, put her in that. If you have a DP, send him to the spare room or sofa, and then make his side of the bed baby friendly (ie no pillow or duvet just an expanse of sheet).

Then you have pillow and a single duvet on your side.

Cosleeping can be a lifesaver but don’t compromise your own comfort if you can help it!

I put mine in a baby sleeping bag and then myself wore fleecy pyjamas and a dressing gown then folded the duvet in half so that my feet and legs could be covered kind of up to my mid thighs.

I put the baby in a baby sleeping bag then they lay on of the duvet - no pillows for anyone

I always put mine on the outside side of the bed so I had the duvet over me as high as my lower chest and then tucked in underneath me so the baby couldn't get under it, long sleeved pyjamas on top and no bottoms because I hate having hot legs, then DH would cuddle up behind me if I was cold and needed some extra warmth. I slept facing the baby with my arm around and made sure the floor beside the bed was clear with a pillow for a soft landing if they did happen to roll out (which none of them did as babies but all did when they were a bit older)

One of the safer co-sleeping guidelines is you're meant to be BFing. Co-sleeping isn't advised for bottle fed babies IIRC.

Have you considered a 3 sided crib that you can put right next to the bed? We had one of these and it was great.

Well that's all good advice thank you! But now I'm wondering if I shouldn't because I'm not breastfeeding? Do bottle feeding people really not co-sleep? I genuinely didn't know this.

Bottlefeeding does not make co-sleeping more dangerous and it is not only for breastfed babies. Anyone with a baby can co-sleep if they want to so long as they make the bed safe (e.g., firm mattress, no loose covers or pillows, etc.). There is some excellent advice on the Lullaby Trust website.

The only times you should not co-sleep are if:

• Either you or your partner smokes (even if you do not smoke in the bedroom)
• Either you or your partner has drunk alcohol or taken drugs (including medications that may make you drowsy)
• You are extremely tired
• Your baby was born premature (37 weeks or less)
• Your baby was born at a low weight (2.5kg or 5½ lbs or less)
• Never sleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby, this can increase the risk of SIDS by 50 times

Lullaby Trust guidance

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/

Co-sleeping is more convenient when breastfeeding, especially when going through periods of cluster-feeding or nursing for comfort but it is not essential. You can bottle feed your baby and still co-sleep.

I co slept to the point where my 8yo is still in the bed with me! I bottle fed.

I used to put her in a grobag at the top of the bed, then I would shuffle down so I was lower down on the bed so I could pull the duvet up but it was nowhere near her.

My DD would be in a sleeping bag, no pillows on the bed and I would shuffle down and have my head by her chest, so if I did pull up the duvet It wouldn't cover her.

warm jumper on me, duvet wrapped around my legs, baby in grow bag.

I used double bed size cellular blankets

I used to wear a onesie and I bought an adult sized cellular blanket. I also had one of those sleepy head pods that she went in. Bad times it was...

I bottle fed and coslept, also put baby in sleeping bag and I had duvet. Baby was up higher by my head and I'd shuffle down the bed a bit so the duvet wasn't near the baby.