[tiggywinkle]

I'm pregnant with my second child. With DD1, she slept in a seperate room from birth and I would go through to feed her and sit up in feeding chair, reading my iPhone.

With this baby, I plan to share a room with him/ her until at least 6 months, and so I can feed in bed if I like. What's the best and safest way to do this? Can the baby stay in a co-sleeper, and I roll over and pop a boob in when she wakes? (Does this count as 'own sleep space' according to SIDS?) Should I try the cot as a side car (or am I at risk of catching a nipple in the gap between?) I'm assuming that sitting up in bed isn't safe as I'd be most likely to accidentally nod off while holding the baby in this position.

Any advice is appreciated - I've checked SIDS guidelines etc but I'm not too sure. TIA.

[Felix101]

I just had DS in a bassinet next to the bed, and I'd sit up and feed in bed. I never nodded off I also kept myself occupied on my phone.
Alternatively could you fit the feeding chair from your first in your room? If your worried about falling asleep in bed getting up and moving to the chair could help?

[tamjk]

I never quite got the hang of nursing while lying down with my first two and my third flat refuses that position!

I lean back against the headboard of my bed and nurse in a sitting position, this might not work if you don't have a padded or sleigh style headboard.

[lucky 2]

The link below shows how to try lying down and bfing, it might help-
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/tut-layingdown.htm
I always got up to bfeed in dd's room even though she slept in our room as I found it hard to bfeed lying down (I would have preferred it for more rest).
I had a set up on a couch and then put her back to bed in our room after the feed.
All the best.

[elegie]

When DS was tiny he wouldn't feed lying down - I just held him sitting up in bed (with some pillows to keep me comfy). We didn't have room for a co-sleeper at the time so sometimes he stayed in bed with us if I was too tired to put him back in his cot.

[ubermum]

I had a co-sleeper, but it has sides so that you can't roll on the baby. You can't feed them in it. I sat up in bed, fed, changed and put her back down. Now that she is bigger, we co-sleep and feed.

[Boombox]

I don't think you'll find any recommendations on co sleeping and feeding from SIDS as there probably isn't any research done on it to guide them.

I personally had the cot next to the bed, sat up to feed and change, then back in the cot to sleep. Or if they wouldn't settle they'd be positioned in the bed with some room around them. Feeding in a side lying position would be way to easy to nod off and potentially roll forward and smother the baby- it would seem that way to me anyway.

Those cots with removable sides that act like an extension of the parents bed look good.

[tiggywinkle]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'm planning to stay off the iPhone for night feeds if I can, as I tend to read rubbish and then my brain starts racing and I can't get back to sleep.

I know I'm guaranteed to stay awake though if I stay on the phone and I don't want to risk dropping off... hmm, might need to start using the Kindle app.

I seem to remember reading lots of positive things from cosleepers about how they just roll over and pop a boob in - looked like a great way to get more sleep! Perhaps they are talking about older children though, where the bed-sharing arrangements are more relaxed.

This post has been edited by tiggywinkle: 08/01/2013, 10:26 AM

[Bluenomi]

I sat up in bed but found my back didn't like it. I ended up in a chair which was so much better.

Niether DD or I like feeding lying down

[sophiasmum]

I've never fed lying down, always sitting up in bed. I watched tv to stave off boredom.