Co-sleeping question...

[VintageNancy]

We're thinking of switching to co-sleeping as DD (5 months) sleeps much better with us (as demonstrated with 8 hours straight sleep last night while on holiday).

But I'm confused about how to handle bedtime. She's tired & ready for bed by about 7.30 but that's too early for me! Should I put her in her cot until I go to bed and then move her? Or wait until her first waking? Or try to move her bedtime later?

I used to put dd/DS in their cot & then move them once they woke for a feed.

We just put her in our bed when she goes to sleep at 7 and then join her later. we have a video monitor so can keep an eye on her while we are still up.

I used to get DD to sleep in our bed and then move her into the cot once asleep. Half the time she'd wake up though, so gradually I started leaving her in our bed. We have a guard rail and she's never rolled out before. Now she's older, I have taught her how to get down by herself so I just leave her in our bed.

Thanks all. Will definitely get a guard rail & hadn't thought of a camera, good idea.

Sorry to hijack OP, but when you say guard rail - do you just use a guard rail like the type you'd use on an older child's bed to prevent them falling out?

I wondered if these would be any better
www.magicbumpers.com/
because of reducing the risk of entrapment. Also I want to put something at the head of the bed too as am concerned my headboard isn't safe. But wonder if they'd take up too much room in our (already tight for space with a baby in it) double bed? Anyone used them?

It depends on the baby a bit I think. Dd2 didn't roll over (after the first time when she showed us she could ) until a year old and would lie still until we came upstairs to get her. Now she rolls and sits up as soon as she wakes so I feed her to sleep, let her get into a deep sleep (about an hour, then move her to her cot until she stirs for milk. Then she's in for the night and we have a guard rail. But if you had an enthusiastic mover you'd need a different plan!

Hi
I used to switch sides and have a single quilt that was easy to move around. Now I'm more confident I just lay on one side and tilt my body further, he now rolls over to sleep on his side so I know I won't roll on him.
He's 1 now so I've relaxed a lot more.
We have a bed like yours and I got a double bed rail by Summer on eBay.
The bars weren't an issue he had nothing to push on.

Oh poo I just replied to the wrong thread