The One Bedside Cosleeper Mistake Every Newbie Makes
Bedside Cosleeper
A bedside cosleeper is a bassinet that is attached to the side of your adult bed. It's safe, as long as you follow the CSPC safety guidelines for infant sleeping spaces.
These guidelines are similar to crib bedding standards. You can read more about these guidelines here. The most important factors to take into consideration when selecting the best bedside sleeper are Safety as well as comfort and convenience.
Safety
In accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that infants are in the same room as their parents cosleeping (a practice that is also known as bed-sharing) has gained popularity with a lot of new and expecting parents. The Academy says that sharing rooms is safer than sleeping with an infant in the same bed as it decreases the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy, or SIDS. The AAP doesn't recommend bed sharing but it does suggest that sleeping on an individual sleeping surface is a great 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 a crib like sleeper. The bedside cosleeper enables parents to keep an eye on their baby, and it gives parents the freedom of a bed while keeping their baby close to them. The most reliable cosleepers are made with top-quality materials and adhere to stringent safety standards. Be sure to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) stamp of approval, which demonstrates rigorous testing of the product and quality control to ensure your child's safety cosleeping experience.
The safety of a crib is dependent on several aspects. It is dependent on how it's installed and secured to the mattress of the parent. It is essential that the bedside sleeper be connected to the mattress of the parent in a way that does not create gaps and spaces where an infant could become trapped. This can pose an entrapment risk. It is crucial that the attachment system of a bedside sleeper be tested to verify it can withstand the forces that may be applied in the course of use, for example, a parent rolling onto and off the sleeper, or 25-pound. The attachment system, or the corners on the bedside cosleeper must be tested against the horizontal force.
The standard for bedside cribs incorporates, by reference, the federal consumer product safety standards for bassinets (16 CFR part 1218), including the requirements for performance for closed fabric openings. The standard's requirements for mandatory compliance deal with the risk of head and neck traps by requiring after the application and release 50 lbs. horizontal force in the vicinity of the attachment systems and at the corners of the bedside sleeping device, an opening greater 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
Many parents are reluctant to cosleep because they are afraid of being suffocated or SIDS or because it's an "Ferberization" which requires children to sleep alone. Anthropologists have noticed for a long time that many mammals, primates and people from non-Western cultures cosleep regularly. It could be because infants are calmed by the familiar voice of their mother, and it also helps to practice self-soothing.
The best bedside sleepers feature clever designs that are attached to the side of a mattress and swivels so you can easily reach it for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. Choose a model that has feet that can be adjusted to accommodate different mattress sizes. It should also have a large storage area for all the baby's necessities.
Choose a bedside crib that fits the standard crib bedding, so that it is safe to use as your child grows. Think about bedside crib travel that's convertible and can be used as a play yard, or a deeper bassinet. It can last for many years.
Portability
Depending on the size of your bedroom a bedside cosleeper with wheels and/or a light base could be easier to move around your home than one that has an imposing wood frame or substantial base. The babybay bedside sleeper, HALO bassiNest essencetia, as well as Snoo Smart Sleeper are all portable. They come with feet that can be adjusted that can be retracted to accommodate platform mattresses; legs that fold inward to provide maximum access to the mattress; 100 mesh sidewalls for airflow without covering baby's mouth or nose.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue is a top choice that adjusts in 1" increments to fit most adult beds. It can also function as a portable bassinet. It also swivels to allow easy access to your baby to help her relax, nurse her, or check on them during the night.