Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper can be described as a bassinet that connects to the side of your adult bed. If you stick to the CSPC guidelines for sleeping areas for infants, it's safe.
These guidelines are similar in many ways to crib bedding standards. Read more about the guidelines here. The most important factors to consider when choosing the best bedside sleeper are Safety, Comfort, and Convenience.
Safety
Many new parents and expecting mothers have embraced cosleeping or bed-sharing, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants sleep in the same bedroom as their parents. The Academy says that sharing a room with a baby is less risky than sleeping in the same bed as parents, as it reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). While the AAP discourages bed-sharing however, it does recommend that cosleeping be done on a separate sleeping surface to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is why the development of the bedside cosleeper became so important to many families.
A bedside cosleeper is a similar to a crib sleeper that attaches to an adult bed frame. The bedside cosleeper allows parents to easily keep an eye on their baby and allows them the ability to move around in a bed while keeping their baby close by. The best cosleepers have strict safety standards and are built with durable, high-quality components. To ensure the safety of your child, look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This confirms rigorous testing and quality control.
The safety of a crib is dependent on several aspects. This includes the way it's put in place and secured to the parent's mattress. If the bedside cosleeper is not connected to the parent's bed in a way that blocks the gaps and openings where an infant can become trapped, it could create the risk of suffocation. It is vital that the attachment system for the bedside sleeper is tested to ensure that it can withstand 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 cosleeper must be exposed to an upward force.
The voluntary standard for bedside sleeping cribs is based on to the federal consumer safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218) and performance requirements for fabric-sided closed openings. The mandatory requirements in the standard also address head and neck dangers through requiring that, following the application and release of 50-lb. The standard also stipulates that after the release and application of 50-lb. It is not permitted 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 for fear of suffocation, SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that requires children to be in a room by themselves, anthropologists have long noted that mammals and primates as well as those in non-Western societies, regularly coslept. This could be due to the fact that infants are comforted by the familiar voice of their mother and it can also help them practice self-soothing.
The top bedside sleepers have an innovative design that is attached to the sides of any bed and pivots to allow easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or diaper changes. Choose a model that has feet that can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of mattresses. It should also have an ample storage area to store all the baby's necessities.
Select a bedside sleeper that fits the standard crib bedding so that it can be used safely as your child grows. Consider a model that is convertible and can be used as a play area or a more substantial bassinet. It will last for a long time.
Portability
Depending on the size of your bedroom, a bedside cosleeper with wheels and/or a lightweight base could be easier to move around your home than one with an imposing wood frame or large base. bedside crib or cot , HALO bassiNest essencetia and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all portable. They come with adjustable feet that retract to fit platform mattresses and legs that fold inwards to allow maximum proximity to the mattress; and 100 mesh sidewalls for ventilation without covering the baby's mouth or nose.
The Arm's Reach ClearVue is another popular option that adjusts in 1" increments to fit most adult beds and can also serve as an portable bassinet. It also rotates, allowing for quick access to baby so that you can soothe and nurse her or check on her during the night.