Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet which connects to the side of your adult bed. It's safe, so long as you comply with the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleep spaces.
These guidelines are similar in many ways to crib bedding standards. Find out more about the guidelines here. When selecting a bedside sleep device safety, comfort, and convenience are the most important aspects to take into consideration.
Safety
In keeping with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants are in the same room with their parents, cosleeping (a method that is sometimes referred to as bed-sharing) has become popular with a lot of new and expecting parents. The Academy says that sharing a room with a baby is safer than sleeping in the same bed with parents because it lowers the chance of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). While the AAP does not recommend bed sharing but does recommend that sleeping with a partner be done on a separate sleeping surface to limit the risk of SIDS. This is why the introduction of the bedside cosleeper was so important to many families.
A bedside cosleeper attaches to a bed frame that is suitable for adults. It's similar to a crib sleeper. The bedside cosleeper lets parents keep an eye on their baby and gives the baby the ability to sleep in their own bed. The top cosleepers are constructed with top-quality materials and meet strict safety standards. To ensure bedside crib or cot of your child be sure to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This confirms rigorous testing and quality control.
The safety of a bedside cosleeper depends on several factors such as the manner in which it is put up and attached to the parent's bed. It is important that the bedside cosleeper is attached to the parent's mattress in a way that eliminates gaps and spaces, in which an infant could become trapped. This could pose an entrapment risk. It is essential that the attachment system of the bedside sleeper be tested in order to ensure that it can withstand forces that are applied during use, such as the parent rolling on and off the sleeper. The attachment system or corners on the bedside cosleeper must be exposed to an upward force.
The voluntary standard for bedside sleepers includes by reference the federal consumer safety standard for bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218), which includes requirements for performance for fabric-sided enclosed openings. The requirements that are mandatory in the standard also address head and neck dangers through insisting that following the application and release of 50 lbs. The standard also states that following the application and release of 50-lb. It is not permitted to create a gap that is greater than 1.0 in. Only read-only copies of the standard can be found at ASTM's online Reading Room.
Convenience
Many parents have resisted cosleeping due to fear of suffocation, SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that makes children to sleep alone, anthropologists have long noted that the majority of mammals and primates, as well as people in non-Western societies, regularly cosleep. This may be because infants are calmed by the familiar voice of their mother and it may also help them practice self-soothing.
bedside co sleeper come with clever design that can be attached to the sides of any bed and swivels for easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or diaper changes. Find one with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate different mattress sizes and a huge storage space for all of your baby's needs.
Select a bedside sleeper that is compatible with the standard crib bedding so that it can be used in a safe manner as your child grows. You might also consider a convertible model that could transform into a play yard or a deeper bassinet for years of use, and folds up easily for transport.
Portability
Based on the size of your bedroom a bedside sleeping system with wheels and/or a light base could be more convenient to move around your home than one that has an imposing wood frame or massive base. The babybay Bedside sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper all have great portability features: adjustable feet retract to accommodate platforms and legs fold inwards to ensure maximum proximity to the mattress; and 100% mesh sidewalls that allow for air circulation without fabric covering the baby's mouth or nose.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is another top choice that adjusts in 1" increments to fit most adult beds and can also serve as a portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow easy access to your baby to comfort your baby, nurse or monitor her at night.