Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet that connects to the side of your adult bed. It's safe as long as you follow the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleeping spaces.
These guidelines are similar in many ways to crib bedding standards. Find out more about the guidelines here. When selecting a bedside sleeping device security, comfort and convenience are the main aspects to take into consideration.
Safety
In line with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants are in the same room with their parents cosleeping (a practice that is also known as bed-sharing) is becoming popular among many expecting and new parents. The Academy notes that room-sharing is more secure than sleeping with a baby in the same bed because it reduces instances of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (also known as SIDS). While the AAP does not recommend bed sharing however, it does recommend that sleeping with a partner be done on a separate sleep surface to minimize the risk of SIDS. This is the reason why the creation of the bedside cosleeper became so important to many families.
A bedside sleeper is attached to a bed frame for adults. It's similar to a crib sleeper. The bedside cosleeper lets parents to easily keep an eye on their baby, and it gives them the ability to move around in an adult bed while keeping their child close to them. The top cosleepers are constructed with top-quality materials and meet strict safety standards. To ensure your child's safety, 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. If the bedside sleeper is not attached to the parent's bed in a way that prevents the gaps and openings where an infant could be trapped, it could pose an hazard of suffocation. It is crucial that the attachment system for a bedside sleeper be tested in order to ensure that it can withstand any forces that may be applied during use, for example the parent moving on and off the sleeper. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or corners of the bedside cosleeper.
The standard for bedside beds incorporates by reference to the federal consumer safety standard for products such as bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218) and includes performance requirements for enclosed openings with a fabric-side. The requirements that are mandatory in the standard also address neck and head dangers through requiring that after the application and release of 50-lb. horizontal force at the attachment systems and corners of the bedside crib or cot sleeper a gap larger than 1.0 in. It is not permitted to create a gap that is greater than 1.0 in. ASTM's electronic Reading Room offers read-only versions of the standard.
Convenience
Many parents do not allow cosleeping because they fear being suffocated or SIDS, or because it is an "Ferberization" that forces children to sleep alone. However, anthropologists have observed for a long time that many primates, mammals, and people from non-Western cultures cosleep regularly. It could be because infants are comforted by the familiar voice of their mother, and it can also help to practice self-soothing.
The top bedside sleepers have a smart design that attaches to the sides of any bed and can be swiveled for ease of access to feedings in the middle of the night or diaper changes. Find a model with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate various mattress sizes. It should also have an ample storage area to store all of your baby's essentials.
Choose a bedside crib that is compatible with standard crib bedding, so it is safe to use as your child grows. Look for a model that is convertible and can be used as a play area, or a deeper bassinet. It can last for many years.
Portability
A bedside cosleeper with wheels or a lightweight base is more portable than one that has a heavy wooden bedside cot frame or a substantial base. The babybay bedside crib to cot sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper all have amazing portability features. The adjustable feet retract to accommodate platform beds and the legs fold inward to give the most comfortable closeness to the mattress and a 100% mesh sidewalls that allow for ventilation without any material covering baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is a popular option that adjusts in 1" increments to fit most adult beds and can also be used as an portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow for quick access to the baby so that you can soothe her, feed her, or monitor them during the night.