i think this is where I should post this? If not just point me in the right direction!

My family absolutely flipped out on me for co-sleeping. Like when my Grandma would come in my room and see I was co-sleeping she would actually take Brayden away from me. They all say how I'm putting his life at risk and one of these times something's going to happen. Because of the studies saying it increases the chance of SIDS.
But I LOVE co-sleeping! And I know of lots of people that do it as well.. I used to lay him on my chest on his belly and put my hand on his back and not once did he fall off me, did I even move while I was sleeping or any of that. I also would put my arm out and put his head like where my elbow is. I didn't put blankets on him (if I did it was just on his legs) I didn't put him on any pillows or anything and he was between me and the wall.
So I guess my question issss:
Is it dangerous for me to co-sleep with my baby? If so what do you do to make it safer?

I personally wouldn't cosleep in the way you are...meaning with him on your chest or head laying on your arm. But I do cosleep and absolutely love it, plan to with this baby as well. I sleep on my side, arm tucked under my head and then baby laying flat on the bed under where my arm lays...so about even with my chest. I feel it's safer than having them on your chest because it is possible they could slide off and then with his head on your arm it's possible depending on if he scooted down he could be in a position that could restrict his breathing. So personally I would lay a different way. BUT if you are comfortable and you want to cosleep def keep doing it, don't let them get to you. I got a lot of crap for it too, mostly people saying it would make my life harder (all of my kids have transitioned out of my bed with NO problems) but also the safety aspect. I think it's safer to cosleep than crib sleep and there are studies that agree with that, take a look on www.askdrsears.com for some that I know of off the top of my head

And if someone came in and took my baby because they felt I was doing something unsafe...they'd be lucky they didn't get knocked out lol. I'm very aware of everything going on and someone coming in and moving him would have got a reaction out of me quick. I would put my foot down about that, it's your baby and you are the one to make decisions...I wouldn't put up with that at all...that would make me more mad than anything they said about it.

Cosleping REDUCES the risk of sids done safely.
Print some info off for them (although whether they read it and take it in may be another matter).
It regulates babies breathing and temperature. The sound and feel of mummy breathing 'reminds' the baby to breathe, (which is where the sids risk is reduced, as sids is the baby 'forgetting' to breathe).
Areyou breastfeeding? Studies have shown the breastfeeding mums tend to curl under and around their baby, STOPPING you from rolling on him (I am not sure about bottle feeding, so nobody jump on me).

In countries like China, where most of the population co-sleep, their SIDS rates are virtually zero.

Arm yourself with this info and tell your family.
If this doesnt work, ban them from coming in your bedroom! They shouldnt just be barging in there anyway.

I used to co-sleep the same way that Beth described- baby flat on back with me curled around- since I think it's supposed to be safest. Now I tend to sleep more like you do, letting her use my arm as a pillow if she wants since she's older.

The Dr Sears site is great Almost all the same info that's in his books If your grandma thinks it's a bit shady since the info is coming off the internet- trek on down to the library for a copy of Dr. Sears' Nighttime Parenting book. It's a great read and filled with all the info you need to convince Grandma. I also like the articles on this site:
http://www.suite101.com/attachment-parenting

This is a link to the little leaflet they distribute in hospital here before they discharge you about safe co-sleeping
http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/pdfs/...bedleaflet.pdf
It's not the most detailed, but it does show a pic of how to curl around the baby

hth

I used to sleep with LO on my chest too, it's the only way he'd sleep! Now though he's next to me on the bed, with my arm up above his head, and his head next to my boob (like mommyof3co descried much better ). Duvet down only up to my waist.

As long as you do it properly it decreases SIDS as others have said. Tell your grandma to get up to date and print off some facts for her!!!

As flubdub said, in china where almost every mother co sleeps SIDS is so rare I don't think they even have a name for it!

X x x