Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet that connects 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 learn more about these guidelines here. When choosing a bedside sleeping device security, comfort and ease of use are the primary aspects to take into consideration.
Safety
In keeping with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants sleep in the same bed with their parents, cosleeping (a practice that is also known as bed-sharing) is becoming popular with many new and expecting parents. The Academy states that room-sharing with a baby is less risky than sleeping in the same bed as a parent because it reduces the chance of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS). While the AAP discourages bed-sharing but does recommend that sleeping with a partner be done on a separate sleep surface to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is why the development of the bedside cosleeper was important to many families.
A bedside cosleeper is a similar to a crib sleeper that attaches to an adult bed frame. The bedside cosleeper lets parents to monitor their child and gives them the freedom of a bed while keeping their baby close to them. The best cosleepers have strict safety standards and are built using durable, high-quality materials. To ensure your child's safety ensure that you 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 how it's installed and secured to the parent's mattress. It is important that the bedside sleeper be attached to the parent's mattress in a manner that prevents gaps and spaces, in which the infant may be trapped. This could pose an entrapment risk. It is important that the attachment system of a bedside crib be tested to ensure that it is able to withstand the forces that may be applied in the course of use, for example, parents rolling onto and off of the sleeper or 25-pound. The attachment system or the corners on the bedside cosleeper should be subjected to a horizontal force.
The standard that is voluntary for bedside sleepers includes by reference the federal consumer safety standard for bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218) and includes performance requirements for enclosed openings made of fabric. The mandatory requirements in the standard also address head and neck dangers of entrapment by requiring that, following the application and release of 50-lb. The standard also states that after the release and application of 50-lb. must not be created. ASTM's electronic Reading Room offers read-only versions of the standard.
Convenience
While many parents have avoided cosleeping because of fears of suffocation SIDS or the "Ferberization" process that requires children to sleep on their own Anthropologists have long observed that mammals and primates, as well as people living in non-Western societies, frequently co-slept. This is because babies are soothed when they hear the voice of their mother, and may also learn to soothe themselves.
The top bedside sleepers have a smart design that attaches to the side of a bed and pivots to allow ease of access to feedings in the middle of the night or diaper changes. Look for one with adjustable feet that retract to accommodate different mattress heights and a large storage compartment to store all of your baby's needs.
Choose a bedside sleeper which fits standard crib bedding to be used safely as your child grows. Look for bedside crib or cot that is convertible and can be used as a play area, or a deeper bassinet. It will last for many years.
Portability
Based on the dimensions of your bedroom, a bedside cosleeper with wheels and/or a lightweight base might be easier to move around the house than one that has frames made of wood or a substantial base. The babybay Bedside sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper all have excellent portability features. Adjustable feet retract to accommodate platform beds and the legs fold inward to give the most comfortable closeness to the mattress and a 100% mesh sidewalls that allow for ventilation without any material covering baby's mouth or nose.
The Arm's Reach ClearVue is a great option. It adjusts in 1" increments and can be used as a bassinet or a portable bed. It also pivots to give you quick access to the baby to soothe her, feed her, or monitor the baby during the night.