Your Cosleepers Guide for No-Fuss Bed Sharing (Part 1)

Author Name: Heidi Holvoet, PhD

Are you convinced cosleepers? Or only accidentally have baby in with you? Either way let's have a look at some easy no-fuss ways to share the family bed in all safety and comfort.

Rearranging your own bedroom or use a bedside cosleeper, a snuggle nest or a co sleeping pad ... which one will be your best option?

A quick personal remark first, because many of you may recognize it. Like many young parents, we had not originally prepared for cosleeping. But we did so occasionally - after yet another night feed, loads of times ...

And it was really helpful (more sleep for all, and no trouble self soothing in own crib later on) but I must admit I wasn't really enjoying it.

It didn't feel safe and I wasn't sleeping comfortably ... if only I had known that there are solutions other than just put her down next to me and hope she doesn't get covered under my blanket ...

So that's what this cosleepers guide is about: to show you that there are easy options that make cosleeping safe, whether you do it consistently or just every now and then.

There are advantages in ease and practicality for each of the option. It all depends on your current situation and your personal preferences.

Price plays an important role too. While it is not always so, in this case the most comfortable solutions tend to be more expensive too.

Let me list and discuss from lower to higher price:

• NO COST Re-arrange your bedroom and bedding
• MID TO HIGH PRICE Cosleeping pad
• MID TO HIGH PRICE A bedside cosleeper

For each of the solutions, your main concern should be safety. So please, please always follow all cosleepers safety guidelines very strictly!

Rearrange your bedroom and bedding

This is the cheapest cosleepers solution. The idea is to cosleep-proof your bedroom. This means to make sure your little one can not fall out, has enough space and there is no risk for her to get stuck under the covers, or under you.

Some ideas to temporarily convert your bed to a family bed :

• Remove your bed base and put the mattress on the floor, if possible positioned against a wall.
• As in the picture, baby sleeps higher then you. You just slide upward when feeding.
• Avoid a gap between mattress and wall where she could get stuck (tightly stuff a blanket or towels if necessary). Or even safer, use a bed rail for this.
• Alternatively, put an extra mattress next to yours for your child: she'll have her own space and still be close to you for feeding and comfort.
• Wear a warm top yourself, and have her in a sleeping bag or wearable blanket . Then you can have your covers, well fixed, low so they cannot slide up and cover baby.