Couple of bedsharing questions...

[AK89]

I've been bedsharing with my DD for about a month or so now.. I'm loving it! But the past couple of nights I've noticed a few things that have worried me a tiny bit and I just wanted to check they're normal...

I've been dressing her as I would if she was in her cot, largely because she's in there on her own for the first couple of hours. The room is a good temperature: not too hot, not too cold. I've been using the Gro guidelines as to how many layers to use with what tog sleeping bag. Sometimes I take a layer off when I get to bed, but not in the last week or so 'cause it's gone colder again. I sleep in my dressing gown, without the duvet on. She sleeps at chest level, so kinda just a couple of inches away from my pillows.

The past couple of nights I've noticed her head has got quite hot and sweaty.. Like to the point where there's a bit of a wet patch on the sheet... Is this something I should be worrying about? Is she getting too hot?

Also, up until recently I'd been sleeping quite lightly, which meant I don't sleep as well, but also that I wake up at the slightest noise/movement which means I wasn't worried about rolling over onto her, squashing part of her, etc. But the last 2 nights I've got into quite a deep sleep and at some point or another I've woken up and had that thing where for a second or two you're looking around you to see what's going on! I always have a moment of panic and check baby's OK and still breathing! Is this normal??? Is it just 'cause I'm getting used to it?? I'm enjoying getting better sleep but I'm a bit concerned!

 

[alex_22]

My lo is such a sweaty baby if I put hats on her cause it's cold outside when I get back and take it off the thing is usually dripping in sweat, if I cuddle her in to sleep after half an hour or so my arm is soaking wet, some babies are just pretty sweaty as long as your room is a nice temp and you dress her acaccording to that I'd say it's ok

Sleeping I think after a month of doing it it's maybe that your body is just used to it now so your more relaxed

 

[Literati_Love]

I think if her head is sweaty I would dress her more lightly. I wouldn't be overly concerned or anything but overheating can definitely be a problem so I would at least dress her as lightly as possible.

As for the sleeping more deeply, you are probably getting more used to sleeping with her. I would make sure you are getting ENOUGH rest so you aren't overly tired and sleeping too deeply at night. Also obviously be careful not to have alcohol or anything that would make you sleepy before bed (which I'm sure you already know). Other than that I wouldn't be too worried.

 

[AK89]

Thanks ladies! That's what I thought.. It's only happened once or twice that I've woken up and kinda panicked cos I've been in a deep sleep. I'm never overly tired so it can't be that.. think it must just be that I'm getting used to it like you both said!

Yeah I think I might start taking her sleeping bag off or just unzipping it when I come to bed.. Don't want her overheating :/

 

[SarahBear]

Sounds like your baby is to hot and that you need to adjust a bit. As for the other part, do you mean you're falling into the kind of deep sleep that can happen when you're not getting enough sleep? If you are too tired, you can't properly respond to your baby and that is unsafe.

 

[Googiepie]

It sounds like she is a bit too warm. Could it be body heat too? My little one gets really hot if she cuddles up to me. I know your Mia is only 6 months.

I've has those panic moments too. It went away with time once I got more comfortable and used to bedsharing. Mia is now 18 months and I haven't had those moments in a while. I'm more worried about her rolling over onto me as she moves so much, lol just kidding!

 

[babe2ooo]

My lo gets really sweaty to. Sometimes when I'm bfing her and her head is on my arm skin to skin she sweats loads. Even when she was lying next to me in bed today awake she was sweating some babies can be hot babies. My ds was to when he was a baby

 

[AK89]

Sounds like your baby is to hot and that you need to adjust a bit. As for the other part, do you mean you're falling into the kind of deep sleep that can happen when you're not getting enough sleep? If you are too tired, you can't properly respond to your baby and that is unsafe.

Nooo I just mean I'm falling into an actual proper sleep, as opposed to a super light one which is how I have been sleeping up til recently.. I'm by no means sleep deprived (thanks to cosleeping!) I think it is just that I'm getting used to it

Yeah.. but I don't wanna take off a layer cos then she'd be in fewer layers than me!

 

[minties]

Thomas was always a sweaty baby and was practicality naked for the first few months of his life. He still sweats every night in bed despite it being almost winter here.

I still bed share with my daughter and have the odd night where I wake up with that bewildered panic feeling. I think "where is the baby?!" and it takes me a minute to orientate my brain.

 

[MindUtopia]

Like others have said, yes, sounds like she is just too hot. Are you monitoring the temperature of your room? I would get a thermometer and just check what the temp is over several nights when you come to bed and when you get up in the morning. More than likely, your room is just hotter than you think (doesn't necessarily have to do with bedsharing per se), so you just need to take off a layer now that it's getting warmer.

And yes, totally normal to have those panicked moments. It doesn't mean anything is wrong. Probably just your body changing to sleeping more soundly now. I still have them sometimes and my daughter is 2 (and we still bedshare). If I'm away for work somewhere and I wake up without her, I also panic and wonder where she is...until I realise I'm in a hotel and she's home in bed with daddy! Totally normal.

Glad to hear you're loving bedsharing. It's been a lovely experience for us.

 

[RaspberryK]

Definitely lose some layers, instead of the sleeping bag I would use cellular blankets and remove when you go to bed. When we co-sleep I have the duvet to my waist and have a large cellular overmy top have and baby.
She only wears one light layer too, either a poppered vest/bodysuit or a thin sleepsuit/babygrow.
Have a feel of the back of babys neck or on tummy to check body temperature and don't worry if hands are cold or limbs are cooler.
xx

 

[SarahBear]

Well in that case, enjoy your sleep!