Co-sleeping with a 3yrd old, newborn and DH....how?

[1+1=5]

i'm 23 weeks pregnant and i'm starting to worry about whats going to happen when this little one arrives. currently DS sleeps with us (we put him in his own bed at night but he joins us around 2am, soemtimes earlier) and i persoanlly don't mind at all. it actually calms me and i sleep better.
my worry is that with the new baby there is going to be no room and that he will be waking up my 3yr old with the nightly wakes. DS will only sleep with me so he knows when i get up. i would prefer it if DH took the spare bed and left me with the kids but he would be shattered if i asked him that, not mention refuse it!
has anyone co-slept with a newborn and a toddler??? how do you find the room in your bed?? how does this even work?

[little mermaid]

I am not really a full bottle on the whole cosleeping thing but maybe it might be safer just putting the new baby in a bassinet in your room. As I would be very worried having a new born and a 3yr old in the same bed.

[1+1=5]

I am not really a full bottle on the whole cosleeping thing but maybe it might be safer just putting the new baby in a bassinet in your room. As I would be very worried having a new born and a 3yr old in the same bed.

DS will co sleep with us because thats what we've done so far and it wouldn't be fair on him to change that, especially when a new baby comes. the new baby will have a basinette to sleep in but from experience, its a lot easier to feed and get some sleep when they are there with you. DH works and i will doing my honours year at uni so i will need all the sleep i can get. otherwise it wouldn't be an issue. i'm one of those people who CANNOT function without sleep and we all sleep well when we're together. i'm hoping the newborn will like his basinette.
Princess niamh, thats a great suggestion. i think my DS's cot's side does come off. i'll have a look at it.

[maad]

Hi Owen's Mum

I used to co-sleep my twins and three/four in the bed didn't work well for us they both now sleep in their cots. Most nights! Any way the side cot thing sounds great for you so you can keep them all in bed together. I must admit I do miss them sometimes but we all sleep much better in our own beds.
Good luck with the new baby and your Honours.

Anne

[Shanaynay]

Hi Owen's Mum,

My DH and I co-sleep with a 3 month old and a 3.5 yr old (and niether DH nor I are small :o )
Although our 2.5yr old only comes in part way thru the nite like yours, so it is much easier, as falling asleep all squished up is MUCH harder than just staying asleep squished up.
Its ot too bad, u'd be suprised how comfortable we are most of the time. But 3m bub sleeps on the edge, with me next to her (my arm is around her - no danger of falling out), as I am a tad worried my 3yr old would squish her. :)

[jas]

we all co slept for the 1st few weeks.....it was really hard!!! then dd out of the blue said "no mum i want to sleep in my bed" and she has by her choice since, i thinks its good as she came to the desicion on her own

[jas]

i just want to add she was rewarded with a shopping spree at target after 5 nights in a row and she seemed to think it was a fair deal and kept doing it!!

[the_queen]

I say side-car too. My DS had a side-car next to me.

(My situation is a bit weird at the moment, husband and I have just split up) When I had DD in with me, and DS in the side-car, that works perfectly. The husband wouldn't let DD co-sleep with us :( (that's not the reason I left him btw :p) but when he was out for the night (which was often) DD would sleep on his side of the bed.

But now, DD is on a mattress on my bedroom floor and DS is in with me (cot is still at husband's house). When I get the cot back, I will side-car it and DD can get back in bed with me (if she wants - she's a bit older and only co-sleeps when she needs extra cuddles for some reason)

[1+1=5]

Thanks to everyone who answered here. its reasuring to hear other parents co-sleep too and that you cna manage with two. i think co-sleeping is a beautiful thing and my DS just loves it and so do i.