Bedside Cosleeper

A bedside cosleeper is attached to your adult bed. It’s safe as long as you comply with the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleeping spaces.

These guidelines are similar to crib bedding standards. You can read more about these guidelines here. The most important aspects to take into consideration when selecting a bedside sleeper are: Safety, Comfort, and Convenience.

Safety

Many new parents and pregnant mothers have adopted cosleeping or bed-sharing, as per the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants be in the same room as their parents. The Academy says that sharing a room with a baby is more secure than sleeping in the same bed as a parent because it reduces the chance of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). While the AAP disapproves of bed sharing but does recommend that cosleeping be done on a separate sleeping surface to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is why the development of the bedside cosleeper was so crucial for many families.

A bedside cosleeper attaches to a bed frame designed for adults. It is a crib like sleeper. The bedside cosleeper allows parents to easily monitor their baby, and it gives them the freedom of sleeping in a bed while keeping their baby close by. The most reliable cosleepers are made with high-quality materials and meet strict safety standards. To ensure your child’s safety, look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This proves that the product has been tested thoroughly and quality control.

The safety of a cosleeper is dependent on several factors. This includes how it’s set up and secured to the parent’s mattress. If the bedside cosleeper isn’t connected to the bed of the parent in a way that prevents the gaps and openings where an infant could be trapped, it could be a suffocation hazard. It is essential that the attachment system of a bedside cosleeper be examined to determine if it can withstand the force that might be imposed in use, such as the parent rolling on and off the sleeper, or a 25-lb. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or to the corners of the bedside cosleeper.

The standard for bedside sleeping cribs is based on to the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218) and specifications for the performance of closed openings. The requirements that are mandatory in the standard also address neck and head dangers through requiring that, following the application and release of 50 lbs. The standard also requires that following the application and release of 50 pounds. bedside crib travel is not allowed to create a gap that is greater than 1.0 in. ASTM’s electronic Reading Room offers read-only versions of the standard.

Convenience

Many parents have resisted cosleeping due to fear of suffocation SIDS or the “Ferberization” process that requires children to sleep alone Anthropologists have long observed that most primates and mammals as well as those who live in non-Western societies, have regularly cosleep. This is because babies are soothed by hearing their mother’s voice, and may also learn to soothe themselves.

The top bedside sleepers have a clever design that attaches on the side of any mattress and pivots so that you can easily access it for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. Choose one with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate various mattress sizes, and a big storage compartment to store all of your baby’s necessities.

Choose a bedside sleeper which can fit in with standard crib bedding so that it can be used in a safe manner as your child grows. You might also consider a convertible model that could transform into a play area or deeper bassinet for years of use, and folds up easily for transport.

Portability

Depending on the dimensions of your bedroom, a bedside sleeping system with wheels and/or a lightweight base may be easier to move around your home than one that has frames made of wood or a substantial base. The babybay bedside sleeper HALO bassiNest essencetia and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all portable. They come with feet that can be adjusted that can be retracted to accommodate platforms and legs that fold up to provide maximum access to the mattress; and 100 mesh sidewalls that allow ventilation without covering the baby’s nose or mouth.

The Arm’s Reach ClearVue is an excellent option. It adjusts in 1″ increments and can be used as a bassinet or portable bed. It also swivels to allow easy access to your baby to help her relax, nurse her, or monitor them during the night.