Attachment Parenting

How to safely bed share?

Hello, I am new here so quick introduction. I have a 4 week old son and he is breastfed with a bottle of pumped milk here and there. Since he eats every two hours it would be a lot easier to bed share and nurse than to be continuously getting out of bed and trying to get to sleep in his bassinet. He wakes after 10 minutes
So my question is how can I safely bed share and how do you nurse sidelying?

Re: How to safely bed share?

  • Hi! I have a 4 month old and we have always co slept as he didn't like his bassinet either. I have the head of my bed up against the wall no headboard and he was very wiggly and I worries about him scrunching up also I only used a sheet and folded the comforter halfway down the bed. I didn't start doing side lying until he was strong enough to throw his head back because I was scared of falling asleep while he ate. But now I lay on my side, and he lays on his back but when he was smaller we did belly to belly. I put a firm foam pillow on the other side of him to rest my top arm on. Basically I would recommend experimenting with both of your positioning till you find what works. Also watch for good latching since its a new position. I saw online putting a pool noodle under the fitted sheet can act as a barrier so baby can't roll out of bed. Good luck!
  • Oh also sometimes I can lay on my side and cradle him in my bottom arm and he nurses like that
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  • Hi, I've been bedsharing with my 4 mnth old since she was about 2 weeks because she also refused to sleep anywhere else. I really love it, though! To safely bedshare, you should be nursing your LO and they should only be next to you, not inbetween you and your SO. You should also only use a blanket up to your waist, no higher than their waist when next to you. I use a swaddle with her arms out or sleep sack on my LO... Try to avoid pillows. I keep one up high and kind of tucked back, though. Tight fitting sheets... A lot of people put their mattress on the floor if their LO is a roller... Eh, those are the major callouts. Oh, no drugs or alcohol, obviously. I also read that if you do it to do it full time, not just some nights here or there... There may be other call outs that I've forgotten, but I would encourage you to go to Dr. Sears website on attachment parenting. He has some great resources on there!
  • Thanks for all the tips!
  • Our bed is directly on the floor, no headboard. We have a few pillows, but our blanket it lightweight.

    She sleeps curled up on her side next to me and I sleep on my side with my arm over her. We start out with her on her back, but she rolls over so her face is close to my breast.  I've found that I'm very attuned to her movements and needs, and I always wake up a little bit for her dream feeds. Since we started putting her directly in bed with us, she essentially sleeps 11-7 every night with 2 dream feeds. She latches on very well naturally now, but at first I had help her a little bit. Bed sharing and breastfeeding have been amazing for my sanity this first month.

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