Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper attaches to your adult bed. If you stick to the CSPC guidelines for sleeping spaces for infants It's safe.
These guidelines are similar to the crib bedding standards. You can learn more about these guidelines here. The most important aspects to take into consideration when selecting the right bedside sleeper are Safety as well as comfort and convenience.
bedside crib vs cot
In line with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants sleep in the same room with their parents, cosleeping (a practice also referred to as bed-sharing) is becoming popular with many 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 risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). The AAP does not advocate bed-sharing however it does suggest that sleeping on separate sleeping surfaces is a great way to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is why the introduction of the bedside cosleeper became so crucial for many families.
A bedside sleeper is attached to a bed frame designed for adults. It is similar to a crib sleeper. The bedside cosleeper allows parents to keep an eye on their baby and allows them the freedom 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 bedside cosleeper depends on several factors that include how it is installed and attached to the parent's bed. If the bedside sleeper is not connected to the bed of the parent in a way that prevents the gaps and spaces where the infant can get trapped, it could be a suffocation hazard. It is important 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 the parent rolling on and off the sleeper, or a 25-lb. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or to the corners of the bedside cosleeper.
The voluntary standard for bedside cribs incorporates, as a reference, the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218), including specifications for the performance of closed openings. The standard's requirements for mandatory compliance address the danger of head and neck imprisonment by requiring that after application, and release a 50-lb. horizontal force near the attachment system and the corners of the bedside sleeping device, gaps greater than 1.0 in. It is not allowed to create a gap greater than 1.0 in. ASTM's electronic Reading Room offers read-only versions of the standard.
Convenience
While many parents have avoided cosleeping due to 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 those in non-Western societies, regularly co-slept. This is due to the fact that babies are soothed by hearing the voice of their mother, and may also learn to soothe themselves.
The best bedside sleepers come with clever design that can be attached to the sides of any bed and pivots to allow easy access for feedings during the night or diaper changes. Look for a model with feet that can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of mattresses. It should also come with a large storage area for everything your baby needs.
Choose a bedside crib that will fit standard crib bedding, so it will be safe to use as your child grows. You may also want to consider a convertible model that could transform into a play area or deeper bassinet to last for years of use, and folds up easily for travel.
Portability
A bedside cosleeper that has wheels or a lightweight base is much easier to move than one with a bulky wooden frame or base. The Babybay Bedside Sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper all have amazing portability features. bedside crib vs cot that retract to fit platform beds and the legs fold inward to ensure maximum proximity to the mattress; and sidewalls made of 100% mesh that allow for air circulation without material covering baby's nose or mouth.
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. bedside crib with changing table swivels, allowing the baby to be easily accessible to comfort, nurse or check on her throughout the night.