Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper attaches to your adult bed. It's safe, so long as you comply with the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleeping spaces.
These guidelines are very similar to crib bedding standards. Learn more about the guidelines here. The most important aspects to take into consideration when selecting the best bedside sleeper are Safety Comfort, Convenience, and Safety.
Safety
In line with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants are in the same room as their parents cosleeping (a practice also referred to as bed-sharing) has become popular among many expecting and new parents. The Academy says that sharing a room with a baby is less risky than sleeping in the same bed with parents, as it reduces the chance of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). While the AAP does not recommend bed sharing however, it does recommend that sleeping with a partner be done on a separate sleeping surface to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is why the development of the bedside cosleeper was important to many families.
A bedside cosleeper is a crib-like sleeper that attaches to an adult bed frame. The bedside cosleeper lets parents keep an eye on their baby and allows the baby the ability to sleep in their own bed. The best cosleepers are built with top-quality materials and adhere to stringent safety standards. To ensure the safety of your child ensure that you look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This confirms rigorous testing and quality control.
The safety of a bedside sleeper depends on several factors, including the manner in which it is put up and secured to the parent's bed. It is crucial that the bedside cosleeper be secured to the mattress of the parent in a way that does not create gaps and spaces, in which an infant could become trapped. This could result in a suffocation risk. It is essential that the attachment system of a bedside crib 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 of the sleeper or a 25-lb. The attachment system or corners on the bedside cosleeper should be tested against an upward force.
The standard for bedside cribs incorporates, by reference, the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218) and performance requirements for fabric-sided closed openings. The standard's requirements for mandatory compliance address the danger of neck and head imprisonment by requiring that after application, and release 50 lbs. horizontal force near the attachment systems and corners of the bedside sleeping device, an opening greater than 1.0 in. It is not allowed to create a gap larger than 1.0 in. Only read-only copies of the standard can be found at ASTM's electronic Reading Room.
Convenience
Many parents have resisted cosleeping because of fears of suffocation, SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that forces children to sleep alone Anthropologists have long observed that most primates and mammals, as well as people who live in non-Western societies, have regularly coslept. bedside cots for newborns is because babies are soothed by hearing their mother's voice. They they also learn to self-soothe.
The best bedside sleepers feature a smart design that attaches to the side of any bed and pivots to allow easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings 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 all the baby's necessities.
Select a bedside sleeper that can fit in with standard crib bedding so that it can be used in a safe manner as your child grows. bedside cot 6 months plus might also consider a convertible model that could transform into a play area or a deeper bassinet for years of use, and folds up easily for transport.
Portability
Depending on the size of your bedroom a bedside sleeper with wheels and/or a light base might be more convenient to move around your home than one with an imposing wood frame or massive base. The babybay bedside sleeper, HALO bassiNest essencetia, and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all portable. This Web page have adjustable feet that retract to fit platform mattresses; legs that fold inwards to allow maximum proximity to the mattress; and 100% mesh sidewalls to allow ventilation without fabric covering baby's mouth or nose.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is another excellent option that can be adjusted in 1" increments to fit in most adult beds and can also serve as an portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow easy access to your baby so you can comfort and nurse her or check on her throughout the night.