I have posted this elsewhere - but got no replies so trying in this forum.
I didn't plan to co-sleep with my DS, but ended up doing so because he hated the moses and cot and so at 6 weeks I took him into my bed and we both slept so much better and he breastfeed more easily. There was no trouble, btw, transitioning him to a toddler bed aged 2, he was up for it with no complaints.
This time, I plan to co-sleep because it worked so well last time, though probably not immediately given I will be abit knocked out by the c-section drugs and am still abit wary of sleeping with an absolute newborn (but we'll see).
As it's not going to be 'accidental' this time I have read up on the subject alot more and the only thing that really concerns me now is potential unsuitability of the adult mattress in my family bed ( I am single). It is a cheapy open spring mattress and according to some US articles most (if not all mattresses that are not organic cotton and non-treated) mattresses are treated with fire-proofing and anti-mould chemicals that can emit toxicity.
Also i have read that you cannot solve this problem by putting a mattress topper on top of the mattress, because the baby can overheat? Though I do know people who lay the baby on a duvet to co-sleep which you would think was similar.
As far as I can see, there is no research on the toxicity of a mattress causing SIDS but just anecdotal comments on it potentially causing allergies in the baby or respiratory problems (bad enough).
I am not sure what to do now as I cannot afford a double organic cotton mattress for my bed and there doesn't seem to be a really good alternative because putting plastic sheets etc under the bedsheet on the mattress could be just as bad.
Have other co-sleepers worried about this or any tips?