Bedside Cosleeper A bedside cosleeper attaches to your adult bed. It's safe as long as you follow the CSPC safety guidelines for sleeping spaces for infants. These guidelines are similar to the crib bedding standards. Find out more about the guidelines here. When selecting a bedside sleep device safety, 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 room as their parents cosleeping (a practice that is also known as bed-sharing) has become popular with many new and expecting parents. The Academy says that sharing rooms is safer than sleeping with an infant in the same bed because it lowers the chance of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants (also known as SIDS). While the AAP does not recommend bed sharing but does recommend that sleeping with a partner be done on a separate sleep surface to limit the risk of SIDS. This is why the introduction of the bedside cosleeper was so important to many families. A bedside sleeper is attached to a bed frame for adults. It's an equivalent of a crib-style sleeper. The bedside cosleeper helps parents monitor the baby and allows them the option of sleeping in their own bed. The best cosleepers are built with top-quality materials and meet strict safety standards. To ensure the safety of your child be sure to 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 aspects that include how it is installed and secured to the parent's bed. It is essential that the bedside cosleeper is secured to the mattress of the parent in a way that does not create gaps and spaces where an infant could become trapped. This could pose an entrapment risk. It is essential that the attachment system of a bedside cosleeper be tested to verify it can withstand the force that may be applied in the use of it, like the parent rolling on and off the sleeper, or a 25-lb. horizontal force applied to the attachment system or to the corners of the bedside cosleeper. The standard that is voluntary for bedside beds incorporates by reference the federal consumer product safety standard for bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218), which includes requirements for the performance of fabric-sided enclosed openings. The requirements that are mandatory in the standard also address head and neck dangers through requiring that after the application and release of a 50-lb. horizontal force in the vicinity of the attachment system and the corners of the bedside sleeper, gaps greater than 1.0 in. is not allowed to be created. ASTM's electronic Reading Room offers read-only versions of the standard. Convenience Many parents have resisted cosleeping because of fears of suffocation, SIDS or the Ferberization process that forces children to sleep on their own, anthropologists have long noted that the majority of mammals and primates, as well as people living in non-Western societies, frequently co-slept. 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 clever design that can be attached to the side of a bed and swivels for ease of access to feedings in the middle of the night or diaper changes. Look for one with feet that can be adjusted to retract to accommodate various mattress heights and a large storage compartment to store all of your baby's necessities. Choose a bedside sleeper that will fit standard crib bedding, so it will be safe to use as your child grows. You might also think about an adjustable model that can transform into a play area or a deeper bassinet for years of use, and folds easily for transport. Portability Depending on the size of your bedroom, a bedside cosleeper with wheels and/or a lightweight base could be more convenient to move around the house than one with frames made of wood or a substantial base. The babybay bedside sleeper HALO bassiNest essencetia, as well as Snoo Smart Sleeper are all movable. bedside cot for twins come with feet that can be adjusted that can be retracted to accommodate platforms; legs that fold inwards to allow maximum proximity to the mattress; and 100 mesh sidewalls that allow ventilation without fabric covering baby's mouth or nose. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is a excellent option that can be adjusted in 1 increments to fit in most adult beds and can also be used as an portable bassinet. It also swivels, allowing the baby to be easily accessible to comfort your baby, nurse or monitor her during the night.
