sleeping arrangements for a newborn

there definately are specific products like wedges. My babies both slept better propped on their sides (they were both reflux babies) I used rolled up towels too when they were small! (cheaper alternative) however once they started moving around more, then I removed the towels and left them to it.
IN regards to wraps, I found natural fibre cotton in a 'stretchy' fabric good, and get a LARGE peice of fabric/wrap so it's more difficult for them to get out of. I did use a 'swaddleme' type wrap or miracle blanket at one stage an dthat was good for a while too... then we moved into the Peke Moe.
I think it will be personal choice as to what wrap/swaddle works best for you.... I found a REALLY tight swaddle, over one side and tucked in under one arm, then folded the other side over really tight and wrapped right underneath and back over as much as possible worked best!!!!
all the best to you and congratulations on your new baby!!! :)

Yep we used a wedge when Spencer was very small, but after a couple of months he was too strong for it and could turn back onto his back, never went onto his tummy though. We then bought a safety sleep which he stayed in until 11 months. The wedge is great if you just want to side sleep for a little while to help with head shape and the safety sleep is great for keeping baby in one spot. Spencer would wriggle to the top of his bassinet and get stuck which is why we got the safety sleep.
I would ask your midwife to show you how to wrap again so that baby can't get out, or look for a baby cacoon, its like a sock that goes over their whole body so it can't come unwrapped.

Wrapping with a large wrap definately helps,but theres heaps of different ways to wrap and if you do it right the baby should be pretty snug and not able to just wriggle out.
We always slept Maddi on her back wrapped but placed her head to face alternante sides.
We eventually got her a safe-t-sleep after a month and it had been really, keeps her nice and snug (we still wrapped her and had her arms strapped in the safety sleep.

Congratulations by the way!!!

With the safe t sleep, does anyone know if it can be used for side sleeping (either side) as well as back sleeping?

I dont see why not. Thats how we have been sleeping Maddi the last week with her being unwell. I just make sure shes right in the middle and tucked in tight or she just rolls to back.

I used the safety sleep and managed to put her on her side , (both ) and on her back

congratulations ! hope it all went well

Thanks everyone. I;ll look at getting the safe-t-sleep.

DJ - we named her Ava Elizabeth and she was born on Saturday morning at 3.38am. At the moment she refuses the cot, prefering to sleep in our room in her bouncer! But hopefully in the next few weeks we can get her into the cot.

I side slept Mercedes in the Safety Sleep for a while to rotate her coz she had a bit of a flat spot on her head. We never used a wedge or anything like that, the towels seem kinda unneccessary to me. I do have the cot propped up on phone books at one end tho.

I've also just bought 2 Miracle blankets from The Sleep Store and I'm still getting the hang of them but they seem to keep lil miss in way better than flt wraps. I used flat wraps with the older three but the safety sleep helped keep them secure whereas lil miss is in a hammock with no safety sleep.

I don't know, I personally wouldn't.

We have used a wedge and a safety sleep. I didn't like the safety sleep for a young bubba as undoing the velcro was sooo loud and gave Daniel hellish frights that ended in a lot of screams. We found that the wedge was great and made him feel snug and safe.

She might not like the cot because cots are so open. When we transitioned Daniel into a cot we put sheets up on the sides to make it like a big basinette and just pinned and tied them down so they wouldn't fall off onto him and it worked great!

Yep, the hammock is great. I debated getting one when preg but decided against it as my other three all went straight into cots but when reflux reared it's ugly head again I went and got one and it's been a Godsend. For the most part she self settles, but when she is unsettled I just have to bounce it a little and she crashes out.