Sleeping Methods for Newborns

We used the Kiddapotamus swaddler with the velcro tabs that he couldn't get out of. I felt this was safer than the blanket eventually getting loose in the night. When he was a couple of months old, he would resist getting wrapped up, but he slept so much better and longer once he was swaddled. We learned that sometimes, as a parent, you have to go with what you know will be best for him in the long term (the night's sleep) rather than what he wants at the moment (not to get swaddled). Under the swaddler, we just had him in a very lightweight sleeper or gown. This really depends on the temperature you keep your house. You don't want them to freeze, but one of the SIDS recommendations is to make sure they don't get overheated. As for sleeping arrangements, we used a bassinet next to our bed for about the first six months, starting when we brought him home from the hospital. I did this because I wanted him close, but knew I would never sleep if he was in the bed with us. I would be too worried about blankets, my pillow, etc. Anyway, then we put his crib at the foot of our bed until he was twelve months old, then finally moved him into his own room. Keeping him in our room was mostly for our convenience (and because I really didn't want to let him go!) because we found that we could get him to go back to sleep during the night by immediately "shushing" him. We never had to get out of bed and he never really had a chance to fully wake up. This was, of course, well after he was regularly sleeping through the night and did not need to eat or anything. The funny thing is, we probably should have moved him into his own room a lot sooner because once we did, he started sleeping an hour longer! We had probably been waking HIM up as we stirred in the wee hours of the morning! Anyway, congratulations as you embark on this wonderful journey!

I would highly recommend the HALO brand of sleep sacks-- www.halosleep.com. There is even one that is a swaddle for newborns. Because it's a sack, they can't wiggle out of it or get tangled up. My son was a wiggler at that age and the newborn HALO sleep sack swaddle was the only thing he couldn't get out of (swaddling him in a blanket never worked, he'd get himself out of it). We put our son in a bassinet from day one and then moved him to his crib at around 10 weeks when he outgrew it...but whether to cosleep or not, I think that's more of a personal choice and depends on what is going to work best for your lifestyle.

Congrats on your newborn. I have a newborn too. Sometimes I use the halo sleepsack. I also use the swaddler too, but my baby doesn't need it much. Some babies need to be swaddled, like my daughter. I have an Arms reach co-sleeper. My baby starts out in there and then he winds up in our bed. I co-slept with my daughter until she was a year old. I breastfed my babies and I work. So co-sleeping really works for us. I had a bassinet for my dd, but she grew out of it way too quick. I dress him in pajamas with footies or socks underneath. I make sure he's not too warm.

I have 3 kids and only 1 of them liked to be swaddled. I put them to bed in fuzzy sleepers. I was paranoid about SIDS. So no blankets, no heater. not all kids need the swaddling.

I use the sleep sacks for my three month old! They can't take them off and they seem to keep my little guy pretty warm, but not TOO warm.

They have them at Babies R Us.

-M

I know it's not recommended, but I co-sleep right from the start. They make special "bassinet" type beds for co-sleeping. They also make a "crib" that comes right up to the edge of your bed. I found that co-sleeping was the only way I got any sleep. I tried a crib, but I was up every 20 minutes to check on them. Plus, if your breast-feeding, it's so much much easy when they're right next to you. I will warn you, once they're in your bed it can be difficult to get them out. My son didn't sleep in his own bed until he was 2 1/2, he's now 3 1/2. And my daughter is 15 months and still sleeps with us.

As for clothing I suggest a sleeper when it's cold. If he seems chilly to you try putting a hat on him.

Kiddopotamus makes a swaddler that has velcro to help hold it in place. We used these until my son was four or five months old. When he got a little older and stronger, he would pull his arms out, but the bottom half would stay in place along with the velcro "wings," so I didn't have to worry about the excess causing some sort of suffocation hazard. Swaddling in blankets never worked for us either. As your previous responder said, co-sleeping is a very personal decision. Our exclusively breast-fed son was put to bed in a crib in his own room from day one. It's my understanding that if you want to co-sleep, though, it's best to start with one of those attachable co-sleepers so he's within arms reach, but not in danger from getting rolled over on. Good luck and congratulations!