Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is attached to your adult bed. It's safe as long as you comply with the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleeping spaces.
These guidelines are similar to the crib bedding standards. Read more about the guidelines here. The most important features to consider when selecting the best bedside sleeper are Safety, Comfort, and Convenience.
Safety
Many new parents and expectant mothers have embraced cosleeping which is also known as bed-sharing, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants be in the same room as their parents. The Academy says that sharing a room with a baby is more secure 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 sleep surface to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is why the development of the bedside cosleeper was important for many families.
A bedside sleeper is attached to a bed frame designed for adults. It's a crib like sleeper. The bedside cosleeper lets parents monitor the baby and allows them the freedom to sleep in their own bed. The most reliable cosleepers are made with high-quality materials and meet strict safety standards. To ensure the safety of your child ensure that you look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association stamp of approval. This confirms rigorous testing and quality control.
The safety of a cosleeper is contingent on a variety of factors. baby bedside sleeper includes how it's installed and secured onto the mattress of the parent. It is important that the bedside cosleeper is secured to the mattress of the parent in a way that eliminates gaps and spaces, in which an infant could be trapped. This could pose an entrapment risk. It is essential that the attachment system used for the bedside sleeper be tested to ensure that it is able to withstand any forces that are imposed to it during use, like the parent moving on and off the sleeper. The attachment system, or the corners on the bedside cosleeper must be subjected to the horizontal force.
The standard that is voluntary for bedside sleepers includes by reference the federal consumer safety standard for products such as bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218) that includes performance requirements for enclosed openings made of fabric. The standard's mandatory requirements also tackle the issue of neck and head entrapment by requiring that, after the application and release the 50-lb. baby bedside cot states that after the application and release of a 50-lb. 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 are afraid of being suffocated or SIDS, or because it is an act of "Ferberization" that forces children to sleep on their own. However, anthropologists have noted for years that many mammals, primates and people from other cultures sleep frequently. This may be because infants are soothed by the familiar voice of their mother, and it also helps them learn to self-soothe.
The best bedside sleepers feature an innovative design that is attached on the side of any mattress and pivots so that you can easily access it for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. Find one with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate different mattress heights and a large storage compartment to store all of your baby's necessities.
Choose a bedside crib that is compatible with standard crib bedding, so it will be safe to use as your child grows. Consider a model that is convertible and can be used as a play yard, or a deeper bassinet. It will last for a long time.
Portability
A bedside cosleeper that has wheels or a base that is lightweight is easier to move than one that has a heavy wooden frame or base. The babybay Bedside sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper all have great portability features: adjustable feet that retract to fit platform beds and legs fold inwards to ensure maximum proximity to the mattress and sidewalls made of 100% mesh that allow for ventilation without any fabric covering the baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach ClearVue is a great choice. It adjusts in 1" increments and can be used as a bassinet or a portable bed. It also swivels to allow easy access to your baby so that you can soothe and nurse her or check on her at night.