Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside sleeper is attached to your adult bed. It's safe, so long as you comply with the CSPC safety guidelines for sleeping spaces for infants.
These guidelines are similar in many ways to crib bedding standards. Learn more about the guidelines here. The most important features to consider when selecting the right bedside sleeper are Safety, Comfort, and Convenience.
Safety
In keeping with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants are in the same room as their parents cosleeping (a practice that is also known as bed-sharing) has become popular with many new and expecting parents. The Academy says that sharing rooms is safer than sleeping with a baby in the same bed since it lowers the chance of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy, or SIDS. The AAP doesn't recommend bed sharing however it does recommend that co-sleeping on a separate sleeping surface is a good option to lower the risk of SIDS. The creation of the bedside crib was important for a lot of families.
A bedside sleeper is attached to a bed frame designed for adults. bedside crib vs cot is a crib like sleeper. The bedside cosleeper helps parents monitor the baby, and also gives them the freedom to sleep in their own bed. The most reliable cosleepers are made using high-quality materials and adhere to stringent safety standards. To ensure your child's safety be sure to 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 bedside sleeper depends on several aspects that include the way it is set up and secured to the parent's bed. It is important that the bedside sleeper be attached to the parent's mattress in a way that eliminates gaps and spaces where the infant may be trapped. This could pose a suffocation risk. It is crucial that the attachment system of a bedside cosleeper be tested to ensure that it can withstand the forces that might be imposed in the use of it, like parents rolling onto and off the sleeper, or a 25-lb. The attachment system or the corners on the bedside cosleeper must be exposed to an upward force.
The voluntary standard for bedside sleepers incorporates by reference to the federal consumer safety standard for products such as bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218) that includes requirements for performance for enclosed openings with a fabric-side. The requirements that are mandatory in the standard also address neck and head entrapment hazards by insisting that following the application and release of 50 lbs. horizontal force near the attachment systems and corners of the bedside sleeping device, gaps larger than 1.0 in. cannot be created. ASTM's electronic Reading Room offers read-only versions of the standard.
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 mammals and primates, as well as people living in non-Western societies, frequently cosleep. It could be because infants are calmed by the familiar voice of their mother, and it also helps to practice self-soothing.
The best bedside sleepers feature clever design that can be attached to the side of any bed and can be swiveled for ease of access to feedings in the middle of the night or diaper changes. Choose a model that has feet that can be adjusted to accommodate various mattress sizes. It should also have an ample storage area to store all the baby's necessities.
Select a bedside sleeper that will fit standard crib bedding, so it's safe to use as your child grows. Consider a model that is convertible and can be used as a play yard or a more substantial bassinet. It will last for a long time.
Portability
Based on the size of your bedroom a bedside sleeper with wheels and/or a light base might be easier to move around the house than one with a heavy wood frame or substantial base. The babybay bedside sleeping system, HALO bassiNest essencetia, as well as Snoo Smart Sleeper are all movable. They come with adjustable feet that can be retracted to accommodate platform mattresses; legs that fold inwards to allow maximum proximity to the mattress; 100% mesh sidewalls to allow ventilation without covering the baby's mouth or nose.
The Arm's Reach ClearVue is another excellent option that can be adjusted in 1" increments to fit most adult beds and can also function as a portable bassinet. It also pivots to allow for easy access to your baby so that you can soothe her, feed her, or monitor them during the night.