Co-sleeping: practical tips

[archersfan3]

I have been breastfeeding lying down at night to help with backache and last night we accidentally fell asleep while feeding. I don't want to co-sleep long term but I think temporary co-sleeping for part of the night may help to get us through a current unsettled phase so I just wanted some practical tips on doing it safely.
Baby and I (not DH) would be in a double bed which is against the wall at the head and one side. Baby is a sturdy 7 weeks with no health issues and I am not a smoker. I'm a pretty light sleeper generally though a bit heavier now with the sleep deprivation. I presume I need to remove the duvet but other queries I had:
-Do I need to remove all pillows (wouldn't be that comfortable for me) or just have them not near baby's head?

• I turn over to feed on each side so when feeding on one side the baby is between me and the 'free' edge of the bed. Obviously in a double bed there's still quite a bit of space and he's too young to roll but is there anything I can do to make absolutely sure he doesn't fall off? Can I put a rolled up blanket or something by the edge of the bed?

-If we fall asleep feeding baby is on his side not his back - is this ok? -What do they mean by 'don't co-sleep if very tired'??? Surely all parents of small babies are very tired?

Any advice appreciated - I'll probably be back in a few months asking how to get baby to sleep in his own bed! But I have a 3 year old as well so need to get as much sleep as I can.

I bedshared with my daughter until she was 2 and this is what we did. I would push your bed up against the wall (assuming there are no gaps, nothing baby could roll into) or get a mesh bed guard. I wouldn't use a towel or anything of that sort as could be a suffucation hazard. Personally, I slept with a duvet and pillow but I always kept my arm up and between baby and the pillow, so no chance of her sliding up and I kept the duvet below my waist. When she was really little I just dressed warmly and slept without a duvet, but just depends on what you feel comfortable with. I always felt very aware of where she was so never any concerns about her getting to the pillow or duvet. Yes, side sleeping is fine just make sure he really doesn't flop on his face. Mine always slept on her side though.

I've never heard this don't co-sleep when tired business, but there are a lot of warnings out to parents to not fall asleep with baby when overtired, but these aren't the same things. Planned, safe co-sleeping is safe. But falling asleep in bed or on the sofa with baby isn't. This is where all the risk comes in and why you hear people ranting about how unsafe it is to co-sleep. It IS unsafe to be so tired you pass out on top of your baby on the sofa or in bed when you've taken sleeping tablets. But it's not unsafe if you planned to do it in a safe co-sleeping space and you aren't just passing out from exhaustion on them. So as long as you make a safe space and aren't on any medications (or using alcohol, etc.), it's safe. Yes, everyone is over-tired at this age!

I cosleep with my 8mo old and did with my daughter too. As with anything, there are risks and you need to manage them and decide which ones are acceptable.

For me, I have a pillow, but I sleep right in the corner with my arm between the corner and DS. So not strictly within the guidelines but I feel I’ve done enough to manage it for me. I have a duvet up to my waist, tucked under me on the baby side and then layers on my top. DS is in a sleeping bag so no loose blankets. I also use foam wedges that fit under the sheet to stop them rolling off.

I love cosleeping! I feel so much more rested for not having to physically get up all night.

Look up the Isis cosleeping advice from Durham university.

My DD was rolling just before 12 weeks but many babies roll a lot earlier. We have put our mattress on the floor to prevent DD rolling out.

Thank you everyone, really useful to hear your advice and suggestions and yes I realise there are risks involved which I have to weigh up. I would ideally prefer a mattress on the floor but there isn't space - I don't want to be bedsharing longterm so don't want to get rid of bedframe in order to put mattress on the floor. Might be able to fit a single mattress next to a cot mattress, that might work.
The diagonal sleeping arrangement was a handy tip - that has meant baby is a lot further away from the 'free' side of the bed so I feel better about that now.