Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet which attaches to the side of your adult bed. If you stick to the CSPC guidelines for infant sleeping spaces, it's safe.
These guidelines are similar to the crib bedding standards. Learn more about the guidelines here. The most important features to consider when choosing the best bedside sleeper are Safety as well as comfort and convenience.
Safety
Many new parents and expectant mothers have chosen to cosleep which is also known as bed-sharing, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants should sleep in the same room as their parents. The Academy notes that room-sharing is more secure than sleeping with an infant in the same bed because it decreases the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants (also known as SIDS). While the AAP disapproves of bed sharing but does recommend that co-sleeping be done on a separate sleep surface to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is why the development of the bedside cosleeper was so important for many families.
A bedside cosleeper is attached to a bed frame for adults. It is a crib like sleeper. The bedside cosleeper lets parents to easily monitor their child and gives them the ability to move around in a bed while keeping their baby close to them. The top cosleepers adhere to strict safety standards and are constructed using durable, high-quality materials. To ensure your child's safety, look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This proves that the product has been tested thoroughly and quality control.
The safety of a bedside cosleeper depends on several factors that include the way it is set up and connected to the parent's bed. It is important that the bedside cosleeper is secured to the mattress of the parent in a manner that prevents gaps and spaces where the infant may be trapped. This can pose the risk of suffocation. It is crucial that the attachment system of a bedside cosleeper be examined to determine if it is able to withstand the forces that might be imposed in the course of use, for example, a parent rolling onto and off of the sleeper or a 25-lb. The attachment system or corners on the bedside cosleeper must be tested against the horizontal force.
Cots For Tots for bedside cribs is based on to the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218) which includes specifications for the performance of closed openings. The standard's mandatory requirements address the danger of neck and head imprisonment by requiring that after the application, release a 50-lb. The standard also requires that after the release and application of 50 pounds. It is not permitted to create a gap greater than 1.0 in. Only read-only copies of the standard can be accessed at ASTM's electronic Reading Room.
Convenience
Many parents are reluctant to cosleep because they are afraid of the risk of suffocation, or SIDS, or because it's an act of "Ferberization", which forces children to be in a room by themselves. However, anthropologists have observed for a long time that many primates, mammals and people from other cultures sleep regularly. This is due to the fact that babies are soothed when they hear their mother's voice, and can also learn to self-soothe.
The top bedside sleepers have clever design that can be attached to the sides of any bed and swivels for ease of access to feedings in the middle of the night or diaper changes. Find a model with adjustable feet, which retract to accommodate different mattress sizes. It should also come with an ample storage area to store all of your baby's essentials.
Choose a bedside crib that will fit the standard crib bedding, so that it's safe to use as your child grows. Consider a model that is convertible and can be used as a play yard or a bassinet that is deeper. It will last for a long time.
Portability
A bedside sleeper with wheels or a lightweight base is more portable than one with a heavy wooden frame or base. The babybay bedside sleeping system, HALO bassiNest essencetia and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all movable. They have adjustable feet that retract to accommodate platform mattresses and legs that fold up so that they are in close proximity to the mattress; and 100% mesh sidewalls to allow ventilation without covering the baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is a popular option that adjusts in 1" increments to fit in most adult beds. It can also be used as an portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow for easy access to your baby so that you can comfort her, nurse her, or check on the baby during the night.
