Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper can be described as a bassinet that attaches to the side of your adult bed. As long as you adhere to the CSPC guidelines for sleeping areas for infants, it's safe.
These guidelines are similar to crib bedding standards. Find out more about the guidelines here. The most important features to consider when choosing the right bedside sleeper are Safety Comfort, Convenience, and Safety.
Safety
Many new parents and expectant mothers have adopted cosleeping which is also known as bed-sharing, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants should be in the same room as their parents. The Academy states 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). 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. The creation of the bedside crib was essential for a number of families.
A bedside cosleeper attaches to a bed frame for adults. It is similar to a crib sleeper. The bedside cosleeper enables parents to easily keep an eye on their little one, and it gives parents the freedom of a bed while keeping their baby close by. The most reliable cosleepers meet strict safety standards and are built with sturdy, high-quality materials. Be sure to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) stamp of approval, which confirms strict product testing and quality controls, to ensure your child's safety cosleeping experience.
The safety of a cosleeper is contingent on a variety of factors. This includes the way it's put in place and secured onto the mattress of the parent. If the bedside cosleeper is not connected to the parent's bed in a way that prevents the gaps and spaces where an infant can become trapped, it could be a suffocation hazard. It is vital that the attachment system for the bedside sleeper be tested to ensure that it can withstand any forces that are applied during use, for example the parent rolling on and off the sleeper. The attachment system, or the corners on the bedside cot for twins cosleeper must be tested against a horizontal force.
The voluntary standard for bedside cot mattress sleeping cribs incorporates, as a reference, the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218) and the requirements for performance for closed fabric 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. horizontal force at the attachment systems and at the corners of the bedside sleeping device, gaps greater than 1.0 in. It is not allowed to create a gap that is greater than 1.0 in. The standard is not available for reading. can be obtained from ASTM's electronic Reading Room.
Convenience
While many parents have avoided cosleeping because of fears of suffocation, SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that forces children to be in a room by themselves Anthropologists have noted that most primates and mammals and people living in non-Western societies, frequently cosleep. It could be because infants are calmed by the familiar voice of their mother and it may also help them practice self-soothing.
The best bedside sleepers have an innovative design that is attached on the side of any mattress and can swivel so that you can access it easily for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. Find a model with feet that can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of mattresses. It should also have ample storage space for everything your baby needs.
Choose a bedside sleeper that fits standard crib bedding, so it's safe to use as your child grows. You might also think about an adjustable model that can transform into a play yard or a deeper bassinet for years of use, and folds up easily to travel.
Portability
Depending on the size of your bedroom, a bedside cot used sleeper with wheels and/or a lightweight base could be easier to move around your home than one with an imposing wood frame or substantial base. The babybay twin bedside cot sleeper HALO bassiNest essencetia, and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all portable. They have adjustable feet that retract to fit platform mattresses and 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 ClearVue is an excellent choice. It adjusts in 1" increments and can be used as a bassinet or a portable bed. It also swivels to allow quick access to the baby to soothe her, feed her, or monitor the baby during the night.