Bedside Cosleeper


A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet which connects to the side of your adult bed. If you stick to the CSPC guidelines for sleeping spaces for infants, it's safe.

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

Safety

Many new parents and pregnant mothers have embraced cosleeping, also known as 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 rooms is more secure 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 co-sleeping on an individual sleeping surface is a good option to decrease the risk of SIDS. This is the reason why the creation of the bedside cosleeper was crucial for many families.

A bedside cosleeper is attached to a bed frame for adults. It's an equivalent of a crib-style sleeper. The bedside cosleeper allows parents to monitor their child, and it gives them the ability to move around in an adult bed while keeping their child close by. The best cosleepers are built using high-quality materials and adhere to strict safety standards. To ensure your child's safety ensure that you look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This is a sign of rigorous testing and quality control.

The safety of a crib is dependent on several factors. This includes the way it's put in place 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 can become trapped, it could be a suffocation hazard. It is crucial that the attachment system of the bedside sleeper is tested in order to ensure that it is able to withstand any forces that are applied during use, for example the parent rolling on and off the sleeper. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or to the corners of the bedside cosleeper.

The voluntary standard for bedside cribs incorporates, by reference to the federal consumer product safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218) and specifications for the performance of closed openings. The mandatory requirements in the standard also address neck and head dangers of entrapment by requiring that, following the application and release of 50-lb. horizontal force at the attachment system and the corners of the bedside sleeper gaps larger than 1.0 in. is not allowed to be created. Only read- bedside crib and travel cot of the standard can be accessed at ASTM's electronic Reading Room.

Convenience

Many parents do not allow cosleeping because they fear the risk of suffocation, or SIDS or because it's an act of "Ferberization", which forces children to sleep on their own. Anthropologists have noted for years that many primates, mammals, and people from non-Western cultures cosleep regularly. This could be due to the fact that infants are comforted by the familiar voice of their mother, and it may also help them learn to self-soothe.

The best bedside sleepers feature an innovative design that is attached to the sides of any bed and pivots to allow easy access for feedings during the night or diaper changes. Look for a model with feet that can be adjusted to accommodate various mattress sizes. It should also have a large storage area for everything your baby needs.

Select a bedside sleeper that will fit standard crib bedding, so it's safe to use as your child grows. You might also look into a convertible model that can transform into a play yard or deeper bassinet for years of use, and folds up easily for travel.

Portability

Based on the size of your bedroom, a bedside cosleeper with wheels and/or a lightweight base could be more convenient to move around your home than one that has a heavy wood frame or substantial base. The Babybay Bedside Sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper all come with amazing portability features. The adjustable feet that retract to fit platform beds; legs fold inward for maximum closeness to the mattress and a sidewalls made of 100% mesh that allow for ventilation without any material covering baby's nose or mouth.

The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is another top choice that adjusts in 1" increments to fit in most adult beds. It can also serve as a portable bassinet. It also rotates, allowing easy access to your baby so you can comfort your baby, nurse or monitor her at night.