Most questions I get from parents expecting their second child is “how to get the first child out of the bed before child #2 arrives”. It sounds like you are happy to keep your older child in the bed which tells me that he probably is a great sleeper, and doesn’t bother you too much through the night (which is why you and dad were able make baby #2!). Do keep in mind that baby #2 will take a lot of your attention at night and you will lose a lot of sleep. Losing extra sleep because of TWO young ones in the bed is a recipe for a tired, burned-out mother. Only you know if you’re ready for this. If you are, then let’s answer your question: how to safely have two kids in the bed:

Make sure you have a large bed. Nobody likes to feel like a sardine, so a king-size bed is a must. You might need even more room, so a twin mattress next to your bed will help. This twin mattress can eventually serve as your older child’s bed.
Mom stays between infant and everyone else. What we say about mom sleeping between infant and dad also goes for an older sibling. I would suggest that new baby sleeps between mom and a guardrail, then there is dad, then there is older sibling on the twin mattress next to your bed. You can push the two beds close so it seems like one big bed, but you can also slowly separate the two beds as older sibling slowly graduates to his own room.
An alternative to sleeping with baby in your bed is the Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper®. This crib-like bed fits safely and snuggly adjacent to parent's bed. The co-sleeper® arrangement gives parents and baby their own separate sleeping spaces yet, keeps baby within arm's reach for easy nighttime care. To learn more about the Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® Bassinet visit www.armsreach.com.
Be sure to also follow our other “safe sleeping tips,” click here to read the article.