Co-sleeping with a toddler & newborn

[AngelDog]

I'm planning on it. DS will be nearly 3 when DC2 arrives.

I know the baby isn't supposed to sleep next to the toddler, but how do you manage to alternate sides when feeding? I'm guessing I may not be that good at staying awake when I'm feeding the baby on the same side as DS.

Our co-sleeping arrangement is 2 single mattresses on the floor. DS has one and DC2 and I will share the other.

Hells Bells.

Is there a DH or partner in the picture? Where will he go? My bro has ended up sleeping in the spare room for years as he can't sleep well enough to be awake at work the next day with his 5 and 8 year old kids in the bed with his DW. Obv. no baby no 3 on the horizon there.

He sleeps in the spare room (and did before we had DS) because his body clock has an early-early setting and mine has a late-late setting, and he's had problems with insomnia for years. We have always disturbed each other at night, and our relationship is much better when we're not both grumpy from lack of sleep. :)

It's a shame, but after 4 years of me being unable to get to sleep, and him having to move into another room half-way through the night every night (and then usually being unable to get back to sleep), we gave up and just had separate rooms. We've been married 11 years now and it works really well for us. He also likes the fact that he's never had to deal with DS's night wakings.

I dont have the toddler in bed with us, but regardless, baby is always on the same side of me (the inside of the bed) and feeds fine from either boob. You just have to lean a bit further forward if it's the higher boob, to reach his mouth, if you see what i mean. Have a go lying on your side with a doll there and see if you can get both nipples to it's mouth (not at the same time obviously, haha), you'll see what i mean hopefully.

Could you buy a big double or king mattress, it would seem a bit safer than two singles?