Bedside Cosleeper

A bedside sleeper is attached to your adult bed. It's safe, as long as you comply with the CSPC safety guidelines for sleeping spaces for infants.

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


Safety

In accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants sleep in the same bed as their parents cosleeping (a practice also referred to as bed-sharing) is becoming popular with many new and expecting parents. The Academy states that room-sharing is safer than sleeping with an infant in the same bed since it lowers the chance of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy, or SIDS. The AAP does not recommend bed-sharing however, it does suggest that co-sleeping on an individual sleeping surface is a good way to decrease the risk of SIDS. The development of the bedside crib was crucial for many families.

A bedside cosleeper attaches to a bed frame for adults. It's an equivalent of a crib-style sleeper. The bedside cosleeper allows parents to easily monitor their child, and it gives them the freedom of sleeping in a bed while keeping their baby close to them. The top cosleepers are constructed with high-quality materials and adhere to stringent safety standards. Be sure to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) stamp of approval, which demonstrates rigorous product testing and quality control, to ensure your child's safe cosleeping experience.

The safety of a bedside sleeper depends on several aspects, including the manner in which it is put up and attached to the parent's bed. It is crucial that the bedside cosleeper is attached to the parent's mattress in a manner that prevents gaps and spaces, where the infant may be trapped. This could result in an entrapment risk. It is important that the attachment system of a bedside sleeper be examined to determine if it is able to withstand the forces that may be applied in the use of it, like a parent rolling onto and off of the sleeper or a 25-lb. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or the corners of the bedside cosleeper.

The standard that is voluntary for bedside sleepers incorporates by reference the federal consumer product safety standard for bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218), which includes requirements for performance for enclosed openings made of fabric. The mandatory requirements of the standard also address head and neck entrapment hazards by requiring that, following the application and release of a 50-lb. bedside cot crib requires that after 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 are afraid of suffocation or SIDS, or because it's an act of "Ferberization" that forces children to sleep on their own. However, anthropologists have noticed for a long time that a lot of mammals, primates and people from non-Western cultures sleep often. This could be due to the fact that infants are soothed by the familiar voice of their mother, and it also helps them learn to self-soothe.

The best bedside sleepers feature an innovative design that is attached to the sides of any mattress and can swivel so that you can access it easily for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. Find a model with feet that can be adjusted to accommodate different mattress sizes. It should also include a large storage area for everything your baby needs.

Choose a bedside sleeper that fits the standard crib bedding, so that it's safe to use as your child grows. Think about a model that's convertible and can be used as a play area, or a deeper bassinet. It will last for a long time.

Portability

A bedside sleeper with wheels or a base that is lightweight is easier to move than one with a bulky wooden frame or base. The babybay bedside sleeper, HALO bassiNest essencetia, as well as Snoo Smart Sleeper are all movable. They come with feet that can be adjusted that retract to accommodate platforms; legs that fold inwards so that they are in close proximity to the mattress; 100 mesh sidewalls for ventilation without fabric covering baby's mouth or nose.

The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is another popular option that adjusts in 1" increments to fit in most adult beds and can also function as a portable bassinet. It also pivots to allow quick access to the baby to soothe her, feed her, or check on the baby during the night.