co sleeping positions

[Katekoom]

I hadn't intended to co sleep but have found myself doing it now and then. I know the rules re. Drink etc but which positions are safest? We usually drift off with me on my side and her nestled into the crook of my arm, facing me, face to boob (feeding) i worry that she could suffocate! People seem a bit shocked when i talk about co sleeping, so i feel terribly guilty and selfish for doing it. What positions do you use?

How old is DD?

When my DD was smaller, I removed all pillows, just had a single duvet over me, & used a bed guard.

DD is bigger now, but Im still mindful of her not getting to hot, I still have the bed guard on, I BF but she goes back to laying on the other side once shes fed.

When my youngest dd was a day old, I carefully placed her a couple of feet away from me in bed and fell asleep. I woke up sometime later to find she'd done a 'newborn shuffle' all the way back to my boob anyway

With all of mine, I've slept on my side facing them, with one arm tucked under my pillow to keep it clear of their head, my other arm pinning the duvet away from their face, with my hand touching them and they have slept either on their back or facing me, usually within inches of me.

I started to sleep with them between the wall and I, after dd2 nearly fell out of bed. It was the oddest thing - I woke the split second she would have fallen and shot my hand out under her. It all happened so quickly that my eyes didn't open until she was caught, perched on my hand, hovering the beds height above the floor, perfectly safe and still fast asleep!

Now, I sleep wherever I can fit, on the odd occassions when we camp together in my room (4dc!).

The position you describe is perfect. Breastfeeding mothers tend to instinctively adopt this position when they sleep with their babies and it helps keep them safe. There is really good information about safe cosleeping (and babies and sleep in general) at isisonline.org.uk