Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is attached to your adult bed. As bedside co sleeper as you adhere to the CSPC guidelines for sleeping spaces for infants, it's safe.
These guidelines are similar in many ways to crib bedding standards. Learn more about the guidelines here. When selecting a bedside sleeping device safety, comfort, and convenience are the most important factors to consider.
Safety
Many new parents and pregnant mothers have embraced cosleeping which is also known as bed-sharing, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants be in the same room as their parents. The Academy notes that room-sharing is safer than sleeping with an infant in the same bed because it decreases the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants, or SIDS. While the AAP does not recommend bed sharing however, it does recommend that cosleeping be done on a separate sleeping surface to limit the risk of SIDS. This is why the introduction of the bedside cosleeper was important for many families.
A bedside cosleeper can be described as a crib-like sleeper that can be attached to an adult bed frame. The bedside cosleeper allows parents to keep an eye on the baby and gives the baby the ability to sleep in their own bed. The best cosleepers are built with high-quality materials and adhere to strict safety standards. Check for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) stamp of approval, which confirms rigorous product testing and quality controls, to ensure your child's safety cosleeping experience.
The safety of a bedside sleeper is contingent on a variety of factors such as the way it is set up and attached to the parent's bed. It is crucial that the bedside cosleeper be attached to the parent's mattress in a way that eliminates gaps and spaces where the infant may be trapped. This can pose a suffocation risk. It is essential that the attachment system of the bedside sleeper be examined to make sure that it can withstand any forces that are imposed to it during use, like the parent rolling on and off the sleeper. The attachment system or the corners of the bedside sleeper should be tested against a horizontal force.
The standard for bedside sleeping cribs is based on, the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218), including the requirements for performance for closed fabric openings. The standard's mandatory requirements tackle the issue of head and neck imprisonment by requiring that after the application and release the 50-lb. horizontal force near the attachment systems and at the corners of the bedside sleeping device, an opening that is greater than 1.0 in. must not be created. Only read-only copies of the standard can be obtained from ASTM's electronic Reading Room.
Convenience
Many parents avoid cosleeping because they are afraid of being suffocated or SIDS or because it is an act of "Ferberization" that forces children to sleep alone. However, anthropologists have noted for years that many mammals, primates and people from other cultures sleep frequently. This is because babies are soothed when they hear their mother's voice, and can also learn to self-soothe.
The best bedside sleepers have a clever design that attaches to the side of a mattress and can swivel so that you can access it easily for feedings or diaper changes during the middle of the night. Look for one with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate different mattress sizes and a huge storage compartment for all the necessities for your baby.
Choose a bedside crib that is compatible with standard crib bedding, so 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 more substantial bassinet. It will last for many years.
Portability
Based on the size of your bedroom, a bedside sleeper with wheels and/or a light base might be easier to move around the house than one that has frames made of wood or a massive 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 and the legs fold inward to give the most comfortable closeness to the mattress and sidewalls made of 100% mesh that let airflow without fabric covering baby's mouth or nose.
The Arm's Reach ClearVue is an excellent option. It adjusts in 1" increments and can be used as a bassinet or portable bed. It also pivots to allow for easy access to your baby so that you can soothe her, feed her, or monitor them during the night.