Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet which attaches to the side of your adult bed. It's safe, as long as you adhere to the CSPC safety guidelines for sleeping spaces for infants.
These guidelines are similar in many ways to crib bedding standards. You can read more about these guidelines here. When choosing a bedside sleeping device safety, comfort, and ease of use are the primary factors to consider.
Safety
Many new parents and pregnant mothers have embraced cosleeping or bed-sharing, in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants sleep in the same room as their parents. The Academy states that room-sharing with a baby is less risky than sleeping in the same bed with parents, as it reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). While the AAP does not recommend bed sharing, it does recommend that co-sleeping be done on a separate sleep surface to limit the risk of SIDS. This is why the introduction of the bedside cosleeper was important to many families.
A bedside cosleeper is a similar to a crib sleeper that is attached to an adult bed frame. bedside cot used helps parents keep an eye on the baby and allows them the option of sleeping in their own bed. The top cosleepers are constructed using high-quality materials and adhere to stringent safety standards. To ensure your child's safety ensure that you 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 sleeper is contingent on a variety of factors that include how it is installed and connected to the parent's bed. It is important that the bedside cosleeper is attached to the parent's mattress in a way that does not create gaps and spaces, where an infant could be trapped. This could result in the risk of suffocation. It is vital that the attachment system used for a bedside sleeper be tested to ensure that it can withstand forces that are imposed during use, such as the parent moving on and off the sleeper. The attachment system or the corners on the bedside cosleeper should be exposed to a horizontal force.
The standard for bedside cribs incorporates, by reference to the federal consumer product safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218), including the requirements for performance for closed fabric openings. The standard's mandatory requirements also deal with the risk of head and neck imprisonment by requiring that after the application and release the 50-lb. horizontal force at the attachment systems and at the corners of the bedside sleeper a gap greater than 1.0 in. It is not allowed to create a gap that is greater than 1.0 in. Read-only copies of the standard can be obtained from ASTM's electronic Reading Room.
Convenience
Many parents avoid cosleeping because they fear suffocation or SIDS, or because it is a "Ferberization", which forces children to sleep alone. Anthropologists have noticed for a long time that many mammals, primates, and people from non-Western cultures cosleep regularly. This may be because infants are soothed by the familiar voice of their mother, and it may also help to practice self-soothing.
The top bedside sleepers have 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. Look for a model with adjustable feet, which retract to accommodate various mattress sizes. It should also include ample storage space for all of your baby's essentials.
Select a bedside sleeper that is compatible with the standard crib bedding to be used safely as your child grows. You may also want to look into an adjustable model that can transform into a play yard or a more deep bassinet for years of use, and folds up easily for transport.
Portability
Depending on the size of your bedroom a bedside sleeper with wheels and/or a light base might be easier to move around the house than one with frames made of wood or a massive base. The babybay bedside sleeping system, HALO bassiNest essencetia and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all portable. They have adjustable feet that retract to accommodate platforms and legs that fold up so that they are in close proximity to the mattress; 100 mesh sidewalls for ventilation without covering the baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is another top choice that adjusts in 1" increments to fit in most adult beds. It can also serve as a portable bassinet. It also swivels to give you easy access to your baby to comfort her, nurse her, or check on them during the night.