5 Clarifications Regarding Bedside Cosleeper
Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet which attaches to the side of your adult bed. It's safe, so long as you adhere to the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleeping spaces.
These guidelines are similar to crib bedding standards. Read more about the guidelines here. The most important aspects to consider when selecting the best bedside sleeper are Safety as well as comfort and convenience.
Safety
Many new parents and expecting mothers have adopted cosleeping, also known as bed-sharing, in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants should sleep in the same bedroom as their parents. The Academy states that room-sharing is more secure than sleeping with an infant in the same bed because it decreases the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants (also known as SIDS). The AAP does not recommend bed-sharing however it does suggest that co-sleeping on separate sleeping surfaces is a good way to decrease the risk of SIDS. This is why the development of the bedside cosleeper was so important for many families.
A bedside cosleeper is attached to a bed frame that is suitable for adults. It is similar to a crib sleeper. The bedside cosleeper allows parents to monitor their little one, and it gives parents the freedom of an adult bed while keeping their child close by. The most reliable cosleepers are made with high-quality materials and adhere to strict safety standards. Check for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) stamp of approval, which confirms rigorous testing of the product and quality controls, to ensure your child's secure cosleeping experience.
The security of a cosleeper for the bed depends on several factors that include the manner in which it is put up and connected to the parent's bed. It is essential that the bedside sleeper be secured to the mattress of the parent in a way that eliminates gaps and spaces, in which an infant could become trapped. This could result in an entrapment risk. It is essential that the attachment system of a bedside cosleeper be tested to verify it is able to withstand the forces that might be imposed in the use of it, like parents rolling onto and off of the sleeper or a 25-lb. The attachment system, or the corners on the bedside cosleeper should be exposed to a horizontal force.
The voluntary standard for bedside beds incorporates by reference the federal consumer safety standard for bassinets and cradles (16 CFR part 1218) that includes requirements for the performance of enclosed openings with a fabric-side. The standard's requirements for mandatory compliance tackle the issue of neck and head entrapment by requiring that, after application, and release 50 lbs. horizontal force in the vicinity of the attachment system and the corners of the bedside sleeper a gap larger than 1.0 in. It is not allowed to create a gap larger than 1.0 in. 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 makes children to be in a room by themselves Anthropologists have noted that most primates and mammals and people in non-Western societies, regularly co-slept. This is due to the fact that babies are soothed by hearing their mother's voice. They can also learn to self-soothe.
The top bedside sleepers have an innovative design that is attached to the side of a mattress and pivots so that you can easily reach it for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. Choose a model that has feet that can be adjusted to accommodate various mattress sizes. It should also include a large storage area for all the baby's necessities.
Choose a bedside sleeper that fits the standard crib bedding, so that 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 can last for many years.
Portability
A bedside sleeper with wheels or a base that is lightweight is more portable than one with a heavy wooden frame or base. The babybay Bedside sleeper, HALO BassiNest Essentia and Snoo Smart Sleeper are all equipped with great portability features: adjustable feet retract to accommodate platform beds and legs fold inwards to give the most comfortable closeness to the mattress and a sides made of 100% mesh to let airflow without fabric covering baby's nose or mouth.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is another excellent option that can be adjusted in 1" increments to fit most adult beds and can also function as a portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow for easy access to your baby so that you can help her relax, nurse her, or monitor the baby during the night.