A Cosleeper Keeps Your Baby Close And Safe

I cannot imagine a better solution than a cosleeper or bedside crib (sidecar crib), to sleep with baby close to you.  It gives you the advantages of cosleeping plus the extra safety and independence of a crib. Not to mention the space and comfort for baby, you and your partner. 

Why it's so good

How it works: a co-sleeper looks like a classic baby bassinet, where one side is dropped, and shifted to your bedside. That means you have your baby within reach for feeding or comforting at night. But she is also in a safe space, her own space.

The main co sleeping benefits are:

• Baby sleeps better: just like all of us, a baby sleeps better she feels safe and secure. 

• Baby is safer: in those first months, your presence when baby sleeps is a top protector in the battle against SIDS, or cot death. 

• Parents sleep better: many parents find they sleep better with baby near.

• No-fuss night feedings: whether breast feeding or bottle feeding there is much less fuss to get the feeding done. That means you can both stay in a 'dozing' state, which makes it easier to go back to sleep afterwards.

A sidecar crib makes cosleeping much more practical for most parents: 

• The main added benefit is crib safety: many parents hesitate about cosleeping because of suffocation danger and the alleged risk of SIDS. With a cosleeper, baby is in her own safe place, with no risk of a parent rolling on top of her there, in line with the co-sleeping safety guidelines. Or the risk of baby rolling off the bed.

• Baby learns to sleep in her crib: many parents avoid cosleeping because they fear baby will never learn to sleep alone. The bedside crib avoids this.

• Baby is comfortable: as snug as lying next to mom or dad is, many babies sleep restlessly when truly cosleeping. Being in their co-sleeper gives them all the comfort and space to sleep deeply.

• Mom and dad are comfortable: no struggling for your space in bed or curling up to the side: you each have enough space to sleep well.

• Fits in small bedrooms: if you have limited space in your bedroom, the cosleeper takes much less space than a standalone crib.

• Well suited for twins too! A good size cosleeper (like the Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper Sleigh Bed) is ample And safe for two babies.

Choosing your co-sleeper

Extra's to look out for when buying a cosleeper:

• A good bedside bassinet is (easily!) convertible to a regular crib, play pen or play yard

• Make sure it is adjustable to your bed height and mattress size, possibly with leg extensions

• A built-in storage compartment can be very handy to keep not only baby, but also diapers, wipes and the likes at hand.

• If you'll be on the move often, consider a travel version (like the Arm's Reach Mini Convertible)

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