Bedside Cosleeper

A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet that is attached to the side of your adult bed. As long as you adhere to the CSPC guidelines for sleeping areas for infants It's safe.

These guidelines are similar to crib bedding standards. You can read more about these guidelines here. The most important factors to take into consideration when selecting a bedside sleeper are: Safety as well as comfort and convenience.

Safety

In keeping 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) has become popular with many new and expecting parents. The Academy says that sharing rooms is more secure than sleeping with babies in the same bed since it reduces instances of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy or SIDS. While the AAP disapproves of bed sharing, it does recommend that cosleeping be done on a separate sleeping surface to minimize the risk of SIDS. This is the reason why the creation of the bedside cosleeper became so crucial for many families.

A bedside cosleeper is attached to a bed frame designed for adults. It is an equivalent of a crib-style sleeper. The bedside cot crib cosleeper lets parents to easily keep an eye on their baby, and it gives them the freedom of an adult bed while keeping their child close to them. The most reliable cosleepers are made using high-quality materials and meet 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 cosleeper is contingent on a variety of factors. It is dependent on how it's set up and secured to the parent's mattress. If the bedside cosleeper is not 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 create a suffocation hazard. It is crucial that the attachment system of a bedside sleeper be tested to verify it can withstand the force that may be applied in use, such as the parent rolling on and off of the sleeper or 25-pound. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or corners of the bedside cosleeper.

The standard for bedside beds incorporates by reference to the federal consumer product safety standard for bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218) that includes requirements for performance for fabric-sided enclosed openings. The mandatory requirements of the standard also address neck and head dangers of entrapment by insisting that following the application and release of a 50-lb. horizontal force at the attachment systems and corners of the bedside sleeper, a gap larger than 1.0 in. 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

While many parents have avoided cosleeping for fear of suffocation SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that forces children to be in a room by themselves Anthropologists have long observed that mammals and primates, as well as people living in non-Western societies, frequently co-slept. This is because babies are soothed by hearing their mother's voice, and they also learn to self-soothe.

The best bedside sleepers have an innovative design that is attached on the side of any mattress and can swivel so that you can easily access it to change diapers or feeds in the middle of the night. Look for a model with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate different mattress sizes. It should also come with a large storage area for all of your baby's essentials.

Select a bedside sleeper that fits standard crib bedding so that it can be used safely as your child grows. Consider a model that is convertible and can be used as a play area, or a deeper bassinet. It will last for many years.

Portability

Based on the dimensions of your bedroom, a cheap bedside cot cosleeper with wheels and/or a light base may be more convenient to move around the house than one that has an imposing wood frame or substantial base. The Babybay Bedside Sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all equipped with excellent portability features. Adjustable feet retract to accommodate platforms; legs fold inward to ensure maximum proximity to the mattress and 100% mesh sidewalls that allow for ventilation without any fabric covering the baby bedside cot'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 serve as an portable bassinet. It also pivots to give you quick access to the baby to soothe her, feed her, or monitor them during the night.