Co-Sleeping : Bedding

[ChairmumMiaow]

We've been co-sleeping with our DS almost since birth (now 4.5 weeks). He sleeps in the middle of the bed (i.e. below arm level to avoid our pillows - which I couldn't do without) either between us, or between me and a bed guard on a small towel on top of the duvet with his own blankets. I have a blanket to cover my arms etc to make sure the duvet stays low and won't get bunched up around him.

It seems to work well, and he's already managing to settle himself to sleep - I've made a point of putting him down awake at least some of the time, but I'm always looking for better ways of doing things.

I've read various things that recommend using a sheet and blanket to lower the risk of smothering etc (I guess as they're more breathable).

How do other people 'do' co-sleeping in terms of bedding and baby placement?

you could use a sleeping bag? You know the exact tog and he wont get caught up in anything...

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with my dd she would sleep on my side of the bed, she was a summer baby so less of an issue with bedding.
If I was very tired I used to sleep with my head at her tummy level. and she slept under her own sheets until she moved on to a sleeping bag.
at all other times I followed the suggestions of Deborah Jackson 'three in a bed'

will try and find a link, have you read the book?

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I do as pelafina - dd is a snuggler so keeps my boobs warm, an unbuttoned pyjama top deals with the rest

dh and I have seperate single duvets which helps a lot.

Thanks for all the advice. After all that, DS decided that he'd sleep quite happily in his moses basket when I decided to give it a try again, so he'll probably stay in that most of the time. I wasn't having much success breastfeeding lying down, so it doesn't make much difference so long as he's happy.

sfxmum: I have reserved that "three in a bed" book from the library though, as I doubt we'll keep in the moses basket all the time as we like having him in with us.

pelafina : we bought one of those cots, but at the time he didn't like it any better than the basket so we sent it back. I suspect he'd be fine in it now though.

I'm now itching to go out and do something as I've had 4 good nights of sleep in a row (each one better than the one before!) and am bursting with energy!

you see when you co-sleep with your boobs hanging out so baby can help themselves, don't you leak everywhere and end up with a soaking bed? I have to wear a bra to hold breast pads in. My baby sleeps in her crib next to us though and we're not very good at feeding lying down. I think my boobs are too big, she would be smothered

FWIW, ds didn't get the hang of feeding lying down til he was about 4m. Now he's a pro!

When he came in bed with us when it was cold, I would put my dressing gown on to keep my top warm. Now dh and I are using separate quilts.

Ds used to wear a sleeping bag but I found this made him hot as he was always snuggling up. Eventually I just started keeping a small flannel sheet which I put over him. (I am baffled as to why dh wears a winter-weight quilt, often doubled over, I wear a summer-weight one, often hanging half-off me, and ds goes under a sheet - and we're all warm enough! But it works for us.)