Calling all co-sleepers could I have some advise please

[PolarMummy]

Ok I know this is going to sound really stupid but how exactly do you all co-sleep?

DS is almost 5 months old and doesn't sleep so I am thinking of trying co-sleeping. When you co-sleep can you sleep on your back and the baby sleep on your tummy or do they have to be flat on the bed between you and DH?

See so tired I have even said advise instead of advice in the thread title!!!

Our dcs would sleep between us on their backs. Occasionally I would fall asleep breastfeeding and they would be asleep on my chest.
Deciding to co sleep was the best thing we ever did. Enjoy.

I think the official advice is that baby should sleep in the middle, in a bag on top of duvet ( or with no duvet), no pillows.
FWIW dd slept without bag, under duvet with me for the first few months. She was latched on non-stop, so I was well aware of where she was- although she didn't move for first 6 or 7 months.
I'm a light sleeper, though.
Never put the baby between bed and a wall, as it could fall down and get trapped.

me and ds still co sleep at 2 years. he still wakes up all night though.

he slept on his back but often rolls into the crook of my arm so i cuddle him

You can sleep with baby on your chest, I used to sleep on my side, with DS on his side, latched on and/or cuddled into me.

In the middle is better than the edge if you haven't got anything to stop them falling out, but between you and a bed guard/sidecar cot is best because men don't have the same awareness that we do to stop them rolling on the baby in their sleep. Mothers tend to cradle the baby's body to stop fathers from rolling over onto them, but I was used to DS being between me and a sidecar cot so I felt very nervous when he was between us (ie when we stayed in a hotel once) and got no sleep at all. XP tended to roll on me and I was forever trying to shove him off so didn't feel safe with DS between us - obviously you know your own husband's sleeping patterns!

On top of duvet with growbag would probably be safe - I didn't do this because I was paranoid about overheating, because duvets tend to reflect body heat back. Also I found it easier to have DS actually latched on in my sleep, so I preferred blankets, that way I could adjust when it got really cold in the middle of the night, and for whether he had the duvet over his feet or not.

I love co-sleeping with tinies

First few nights home from hospital with ds he slept on my chest. Now we lie on our sides with him latched on from when he wakes at about 3am. He lies under the duvet but soon he will be big enough for his sleeping bag so I will try him on top.

Dp is, happily for all of us, in the spare room as he smokes which increases the risk of SIDS. I have the occasional drink but never after 11pm so that by the time I pu him into bed with me the alcohol is out of my system.

Thank you for all your replies, the reason I asked about him sleeping on top of me is because he has reflux and when I bring him into bed I prop myself up and he lies on me, I think it is the angle and being on his tummy he likes so not sure lying on his back will work, plus then he will prop vomit all over our bed so I will have it to change too!!

Get a waterproof mattress protector - best investment we made with co-sleeping I think - and put towels under where you are lying, which is easier to change than an entire sheet (Can also use incontinence/bedwetting/puppy pads if you would prefer something disposable)

I also got a load of flat cotton cloth nappies, like hospital sheets - not as big obviously! About the size of a muslin, from freecycle (so could probably pick some up cheaply) and a stack of prefolds (thicker) which never ended up being used as nappies but were invaluable to put underneath DS' head/my boobs to catch any sick, milk leaks or dribbles, and if he was sick on the bed then I knew the waterproof cover would stop it going through so would just stick a prefold over it, go back to sleep and change the sheets in the morning (or not ) I used to use one as a middle of the night changing mat as well and rested one up against my knees to catch any sudden wee fountains. They were great as much smaller than towels to wash all the time, and could put them on a hot wash if needed as they were just cotton. I use them now as oven gloves and emergency tea towels

Definitely involve your DH though. We are doing a lot of co-sleeping with DS at the moment and he loves to fall asleep with his back against DH's chest - and I love it because he doesn't want to latch on every half an hour so I actually get some sleep!

DS is 18 months though so a slightly different scenario to you.

Bertie thank you for the tips, I have some of the terry nappies you are talking about so could use them, I think its more position though of being on his tummy and slightly elevated that suits him so not sure that sleeping on his back will work as well.

Ali DH is more than happy to be involved and DS had been in bed with him as well but DH is a much heavier sleeper than I am. And while I would waken with the slightest movement from DS, DH wouldn't so I would be worried about him.