I need co-sleeping tips

shadysladyWed98470 · August 2013

So I've never been a fan of co sleeping for a fear of smothering, suffocation, and LO not learning to sleep in his own bed. However these past few hours LO will not stay asleep in his bed. So for the first time I put him in bed with us. I didn't sleep well but LO slept pretty good for about 2 hrs. For those of you who co-sleep regularly, any advice on making it work? I'm scared to do it but if its the only way he will sleep then I just may have to....

ClandestineX · August 2013

Do you sleep light or heavy? I sleep with Connor's head below my arm.. like if I put my arm straight from my body.. he is right under that, close to me. he will sleep better if my other arm is under his knees or holding his feet down so he doesn't kick or feel like he is falling (Still has slight startle).

CanukMam · August 2013

ClandestineX said:

Do you sleep light or heavy? I sleep with Connor's head below my arm.. like if I put my arm straight from my body.. he is right under that, close to me. he will sleep better if my other arm is under his knees or holding his feet down so he doesn't kick or feel like he is falling (Still has slight startle).

ditto this, LO is usually nuzzled into my breast as I lay on my side with my arm out. I'm very aware of him and wake whenever he moves, but it he doesn't move enough that I sleep horribly.

shadysladyWed98470 · August 2013

I'm a pretty light sleeper and also had his head right under my arm, almost like near my armpit. I startled with every little noise he made just to make sure his airway was open. He likes to feel my skin so he gets real close, close enough to put his hand into the front of my shirt to feel my boob

But then I feel like I can't roll over and have to stay in that same position, cuz I wanna keep him in the middle and not on an edge

ClandestineX · August 2013

Might sound funny, maybe you can sleep on your other side by flipping your head and feet lol. I make sure he doesn't fall off the couch right now by cradling my arm around him, sometimes his head is on my arm (only when I am on the couch). Other than that, my bed is against a wall and I have always slept on the wall side.

When Connor is asleep, which is rare these days, he is pretty maneuverable and doesn't wake up unless moved a lot or a loud noise. I lay on one end of the couch, he is next to me... when I need to switch sides my head goes where my feet were and he stays on the outside of the couch. Couch is pretty low, but there is still a pillow on the floor. Can't wait to be in my bed again lol...

CanukMam · August 2013

I switch sides during the night and have LO close to the edge of the bed but I put my arm around him and wedge my hand between his back/side and the bed. This keeps him nice and secure. We've bed shared since day 1, in the beginning its scary and I didn't sleep well...partly because LO was so tiny that he had no head control and because I was afraid I would smother him but I am very confident now that I am very aware of where he is and also he is much stronger now.

CanukMam · August 2013

Being in one position for a long time sucks so much though....

fireflyz56 · August 2013

ClandestineX said:
Do you sleep light or heavy? I sleep with Connor's head below my arm.. like if I put my arm straight from my body.. he is right under that, close to me. he will sleep better if my other arm is under his knees or holding his feet down so he doesn't kick or feel like he is falling (Still has slight startle).

I stopped co-sleeping a couple weeks ago but this is exactly how I did it too, with DD right up against me and my arm along the other side of her so she could not move or roll. I am also a light sleeper... I would not try it if you feel you are a heavy sleeper.

cheesecakerunner · August 2013

I co sleep after MH goes to work since I get up about two hours later. I also did it for three nights in a hotel when the crib looked janky.

It helps me feel safe to be topless, have the sheets no higher than my waist, tuck LO under my arm ( like pps have mentioned) and lay in the middle of the bed with no pillows.

LO loves sleeping this way, so we still get to lounge in late on weekends for now!

elbou · August 2013

fireflyz56 said:

ClandestineX said:
Do you sleep light or heavy? I sleep with Connor's head below my arm.. like if I put my arm straight from my body.. he is right under that, close to me. he will sleep better if my other arm is under his knees or holding his feet down so he doesn't kick or feel like he is falling (Still has slight startle).
I stopped co-sleeping a couple weeks ago but this is exactly how I did it too, with DD right up against me and my arm along the other side of her so she could not move or roll. I am also a light sleeper... I would not try it if you feel you are a heavy sleeper.

It can still work even if you are a heavy sleeper. I was a very heavy sleeper before I had kids...to the point that my mom got worried I wouldn't hear the baby cry when I was expecting DD1, lol. While I still can sleep through thunderstorms, it's never while my kids are in bed with me.

I don't want to generalize here, but being a mom, and especially having my babies in bed with me, has made me a MUCH lighter sleeper. I haven't had any issues...not even a scare...with any of my 3 kids.

CanukMam · August 2013

Agreed, I sometimes won't hear other things but as soon as LO moves I am aware of it.

I just love bed sharing, its just priceless snuggled together with your LO

vindaloo · August 2013

Cosleeping on a couch is extremely dangerous and a big no-no. Please do a simple google search and you will find lots of info. An acquaintance lost their 3 month old when the father fell into a deep sleep while napping with him on the couch. So incredibly tragic. I cosleep with LO and coslept with my older son, just do your homework and do it safely.

teddib20 · August 2013

Grace0609 said:

This whole post makes me cringe. Couches, pillows, etc. There, I said it.

I kind of have to agree.

shadysladyWed98470 · August 2013

Yes I am actually a bit terrified to do it, but wrote this post bc I was to the point that I just needed some sleep and this was the only way he would sleep. Have only done it twice and was worried. Even after your tips I doubt I will do it again.

Mandmeesh · August 2013

This article is pretty interesting....

https://www.naturalchild.org/guest/tami_breazeale.html

CanukMam · August 2013

My mom was a single mom and had me young, it was just the two of us. We bed shared for years, I have some very fond memories of sleeping cuddled into my mom. To each their own, but I love the closeness we get sharing a bed as a family.

Good article

Mummbles · September 2013

It's funny how we've all hit this point of getting tired of sleeping in a stuck position at about 5 months. How do I transition to crib? I did this with my son 6 years ago and I can't remember if I waited longer or not. LO still nurses many times at night and almost uses me as her nook.

I always sleep on my side facing and usually nursing her, with her below my arm height as well but my shoulders are starting to hurt!

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