Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet which attaches to the side of your adult bed. It's safe, so long as you comply with 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 aspects to take into consideration.
Safety
Many new parents and expecting mothers have adopted cosleeping or bed-sharing, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants sleep in the same bedroom as their parents. The Academy notes that room-sharing is more secure than sleeping with a baby in the same bed since it decreases the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy, or SIDS. While the AAP discourages bed-sharing however, it does recommend that co-sleeping be done on a separate sleep surface to limit the risk of SIDS. This is why the introduction of the bedside cosleeper was so crucial for many families.
A bedside cosleeper is a crib-like sleeper that can be attached to an adult bed frame. The bedside cosleeper lets parents keep an eye on their baby and gives them the freedom to sleep in their own bed. The best cosleepers have strict safety standards and are constructed with durable, high-quality components. To ensure your child's safety ensure that you look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This confirms rigorous testing and quality control.
The safety of a crib is dependent on several aspects. This includes how it's installed 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 spaces in which an infant could be trapped, it could be a suffocation hazard. It is important that the attachment system of a bedside sleeper be tested to ensure that it is able to withstand the forces that may be applied in the course of use, for example, parents rolling onto and off the sleeper, or a 25-lb. The attachment system or corners of the bedside sleeper should be tested against an upward force.
The standard for bedside cribs incorporates, as a reference, the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218), including specifications for the performance of closed openings. The requirements that are mandatory in the standard also address head and neck dangers of entrapment by requiring that after the application and release of a 50-lb. horizontal force at the attachment systems and corners of the bedside sleeper, an opening larger than 1.0 in. cannot be created. Read-only copies of the standard can be accessed at ASTM's online Reading Room.
Convenience
While many parents have avoided cosleeping because of fears of suffocation SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that requires children to sleep alone Anthropologists have long observed that most primates and mammals and people living in non-Western societies, frequently cosleep. This is because babies are soothed when they hear their mother's voice. They they also learn to self-soothe.
The best bedside sleepers feature an innovative design that is attached to the sides of any mattress and pivots so that you can access it easily for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. Choose one with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate various mattress sizes, and a big storage space for all of your baby's necessities.
Pick a bedside crib that is compatible with standard crib bedding so that it can be used safely as your child grows. You might also look into an adjustable model that can transform into a play area or a deeper bassinet for years of use, and folds up easily for travel.
small bedside cot that has wheels or a lightweight base is easier to move than one that has a heavy wooden frame or a substantial base. The babybay bedside sleeper HALO bassiNest essencetia, and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all movable. They come with adjustable feet that retract to fit platform mattresses and legs that fold up so that they are in close proximity to the mattress; 100% mesh sidewalls to allow ventilation without covering the baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is another excellent option that can be adjusted in 1" increments to fit in most adult beds. It can also function as a portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow for quick access to baby so you can comfort and nurse her or check on her at night.