Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper attaches to your adult bed. It's safe as long as you adhere to the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleeping spaces.
These guidelines are similar to the crib bedding standards. Find out more about the guidelines here. When choosing a bedside sleeping device, safety, comfort, and ease of use are the primary factors to consider.
Safety
Many new parents and pregnant mothers have embraced cosleeping or bed-sharing, as per the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants should be in the same room as their parents. The Academy notes that room-sharing is safer than sleeping with a baby in the same bed because it lowers the chance of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants, or SIDS. The AAP doesn't recommend bed sharing but it does suggest that sleeping on separate sleeping surfaces is a good option to reduce the risk of SIDS. The development of the bedside crib was important for many families.
A bedside cosleeper can be described as a crib-like sleeper that is attached to an adult bed frame. The bedside cosleeper lets parents keep an eye on the baby and gives them the option of sleeping in their own bed. The best cosleepers are built with top-quality materials and adhere to strict safety standards. To ensure your child's safety be sure to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This is a sign of rigorous testing and quality control.
The safety of a bedside cosleeper depends on several factors, including how it is installed and attached to the parent's bed. It is essential that the bedside cosleeper is secured to the mattress of the parent in a way that eliminates gaps and spaces, where an infant could become trapped. This can pose an entrapment risk. It is crucial that the attachment system used for the bedside sleeper is tested in order to ensure that it can withstand forces that are imposed during use, such as the parent moving on and off the sleeper. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or to the corners of the bedside cosleeper.
The standard for bedside sleepers includes by reference the federal consumer product safety standard for bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218), which includes performance requirements for enclosed openings made of fabric. The standard's requirements for mandatory compliance deal with the risk of head and neck entrapment by requiring that, after the application and release 50 lbs. The standard also requires that following the release and application of a 50-lb. It is not allowed to create a gap larger than 1.0 in. ASTM's electronic Reading Room offers read-only versions of the standard.
Convenience
Many parents do not allow cosleeping because they fear the risk of suffocation, or SIDS, or because it is an "Ferberization" that forces children to sleep alone. Anthropologists have noted for years that many primates, mammals, and people from other cultures sleep often. This is because babies are soothed by hearing their mother's voice. They may also learn to soothe themselves.
The best bedside sleepers feature a clever design that attaches to the sides of any mattress and can swivel so that you can access it easily for feedings or diaper changes in the middle of the night. Choose one with feet that can be adjusted to retract to accommodate various mattress sizes, and a big storage compartment to store all of your baby's necessities.
Choose bedside cot 6 months plus which can fit in with the standard crib bedding to be used in a safe manner as your child grows. You may also want to look into a convertible model that could transform into a play yard or a deeper bassinet for a long time of use. It folds easily for travel.
Portability
Depending on the size of your bedroom a bedside cosleeper with wheels and/or a light base might be more convenient to move around your home than one with a heavy wood frame or large base. The babybay bedside sleeper HALO bassiNest essencetia, and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all movable. They have adjustable feet that retract to accommodate platforms and legs that fold up to allow maximum proximity to the mattress; 100 mesh sidewalls for airflow without covering baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach ClearVue is a great option. It adjusts in 1" increments and can be used as a bassinet or portable bed. It also swivels, allowing easy access to your baby so you can comfort and nurse her or check on her throughout the night.