Co-Sleeping Question

[GiveMeVegemite]

Hi,
I have a 10 day old baby who only likes to sleep on me.

For the past 9 nights I have been putting him in a crib nexto our bed, but he will wake every 2.5 hours for milk and then take at least at hour to settle back in his crib, even though it is only arms length away from me. So I am getting about 30/45 mins broken sleep before feeding again...

He will only fall asleep on me during the day, even though I have tried the carseat, crib, swing etc so I guess he would expect the same at night and as he is so young I don't mind co sleeping, but want to do it safely.

I have done plenty of research, but I can't find whether I can let him sleep on my arm during the night. So with his head on my arm, cuddled into me, lying flat, with his own blanket. Is this safe?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

My dd used to like to sleep just under my arm, sort of snuggled up with my breasts. I don't think there is any reason not to have them on the arm though.

I cradle my child in my arms and have done since she was a newborn. Just what you find comfortable

DD coslept for a long time and got the first 4 months I slept sideways

Posted too soon.

I slept sideways and she fitted on the crook of my arm facing me.
She also fed on demand and did dream feeds.

Make sure you research all the safety advice; no duvets/covers; make sure baby is not too hot etc

TBH i wouldn't let him sleep on your arm at that age, it could lead to his head being to close to his chest and obstruct his airway.

I've coslept with both if mine, still am with 5m DD and it is lovely. I lie on my side with my lower arm outstretched so i can't possibly roll forward onto dd. She then lies on her back or side (she rolls onto her side and has from birth) just under my arm and within touching distance of my breast. She latches on with minimal help from me and i often just go back to sleep. Brilliant!

I would recommend dressing them in at least 1 less layer to cosleep. You provide a lot of heat. So in dd's room at 18 degrees she'll be in vest, sleepsuit and 2.5tog bag, or the same but a 1 tog bag if cosleeping. We do the first half of the night apart now.

Warm clothes for me that unbutton down the front and duvet like a triangle covering my back and legs only.

There are other safe cosleeping rules too of course.

Oh and i always put a folded muslin under dds head to catch the mini sickups so i don't have to change the sheet every day!

HTH

Thanks so much for the advice. I won't put him on my arm then and just see how he goes nexto me. He seems to inch closer and closer to me so I do get worried that he will bury his face in my chest, but I guess he can turn his head the other way too. I'll give it a go tonight and see if I get any sleep!

The tiredness is crippling but it sounds like my dd, and it does pass in time. I remember being so tired I was hallucinating.
You will get there in time

Just a note of warning:
Letting your child sleep on you is lovely at first but six to nine months on does real damage to your back! I had hefty osteo bills after doing just that. And sleeping with your arm around your child at night can also aggravate any carpal tunnel that may be developing (from breastfeeding a very heavy DS).
That said, I think I do miss co-sleeping with the children. I would always recommend it - especially if breastfeeding. I still love it when they come back into my bed at night

Mine slept on my arm. Much like PoppyAmex, I did what felt natural.

If you don't find it's for you vegemite, then there are half way houses of using a sleepyhead guard (see reviews) or a cosleeper cot (ikea apparently do a standard cheap cot that has lots of level options so can be used as a cheap version of a cosleeper).

The advantage of either of these is you can feed while they are in them, wait til asleep and then shuffle away.

Really hope you get some sleep tonight.

Thanks ladies. I do have a co sleeper cot, but apparently it's not close enough! Haha.

I tried out the hot water bottle last night. He slept happily in his cot for 3 hours until the next feed and then realised he had been fooled! But honestly while he was sleeping in his cot I was missing him sleeping nexto me, so didn't mind when he wanted to cosleep after the next feed. I didn't put him on my arm, just under my arm and he slept for another 3 hours and then another 4 hours between feeds and has been settled and sleeping all morning. I have a very happy baby and I got a lot more sleep so I will see how I go tonight :)