Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet which attaches to the side of your adult bed. If you stick to the CSPC guidelines for infant sleeping spaces, it's safe.
These guidelines are similar to crib bedding standards. You can learn more about these guidelines here. The most important features to consider when choosing the right bedside sleeper are Safety as well as comfort and convenience.
Safety
Many new parents and pregnant mothers have embraced cosleeping, also known as bed-sharing, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants should be in the same room as their parents. The Academy says that sharing a room with a baby is less risky than sleeping in the same bed as a parent because it reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). The AAP doesn't recommend bed sharing however, it does suggest that co-sleeping on a separate sleeping surface is a great way to reduce the risk of SIDS. The development of the bedside crib was essential for a number of families.
A bedside cosleeper is a crib-like sleeper that can be attached to an adult bed frame. baby bedside crib helps parents keep an eye on their baby and gives the baby the ability to sleep in their own bed. The best cosleepers are built with top-quality materials and meet strict safety standards. To ensure your child's safety be sure to 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 dependent on several aspects. It is dependent on how it's set up and secured onto the parent's mattress. It is crucial that the bedside sleeper be connected to the mattress of the parent in a way that eliminates gaps and spaces where an infant could be trapped. This could pose an entrapment risk. It is essential that the attachment system of a bedside cosleeper be tested to ensure that it is able to withstand the forces that might be imposed in the course of use, for example, the parent rolling on and off of the sleeper or 25-pound. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or to the corners of the bedside cosleeper.
The standard for bedside sleeping cribs incorporates, by reference, the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218) which includes specifications for the performance of closed openings. The requirements that are mandatory in the standard also address neck and head entrapment hazards by requiring that, following the application and release of 50 lbs. horizontal force at the attachment systems and corners of the bedside sleeping device, a gap greater than 1.0 in. cannot be created. Read-only copies of the standard can be obtained from ASTM's electronic Reading Room.
Convenience
Many parents have resisted cosleeping due to fear of suffocation, SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that makes children to sleep on their own Anthropologists have long observed that most primates and mammals and people living in non-Western societies, frequently co-slept. This is due to the fact that babies are soothed when they hear their mother's voice. They may also learn to soothe themselves.
The best bedside sleepers have an innovative design that is attached to the side of a mattress and can swivel so that you can easily reach it for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. Find a model with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate different mattress sizes. It should also include ample storage space for all of your baby's essentials.
Pick a bedside crib that fits the standard crib bedding so that it can be used safely as your child grows. Look for a model that is convertible and can be used as a play yard or a bassinet that is deeper. It will last for many years.
Portability
Depending on the size of your bedroom, a bedside cosleeper with wheels and/or a lightweight base may be easier to move around your home than one with frames made of wood or a large base. The babybay Bedside Sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all equipped with excellent portability features. Adjustable feet that retract to accommodate platforms and the legs fold inward to give the most comfortable closeness to the mattress and a sidewalls made of 100% mesh that let airflow without fabric covering baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is a top choice that adjusts in 1" increments to fit most adult beds and can also be used as an portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow easy access to your baby to comfort, nurse or check on her throughout the night.