Cosleepers Guide

Use this Cosleepers Guide to find out how you can share the family bed with your baby in all safety and comfort. Rearrange your own bedroom or use a cosleeper bedside crib, a snuggle nest or a co sleeping pad ...


There is one personal baby-thing I sometimes regret: we did not cosleep. Yes, we did end up with baby in our bed after yet another night feeding. But that's not the same.

It's not official and I wasn't really enjoying it: it didn't feel safe and I wasn't sleeping comfortably ... if only I had known that there are solutions other than just take baby in bed and hope she doesn't get covered under my blanket ...

So that's what this cosleepers guide is about: to show you that there are options that make cosleeping a snap. Sadly, the most comfortable ones are also more expensive. So let me list from low to higher price:

• NO COST Re-arrange your bed and bedding

• LOW COST In-bed mini crib (type Snuggle Nest)

• MID TO HIGH PRICE Cosleeping pad

• MID TO HIGH PRICE A cosleeper bedside crib (still my number one favourite!)

Rearrange your bed and bedding

This is the cheapest solution. The idea is to cosleep-proof your bedroom. This means to make sure your baby can not fall out, has enough space and there is no risk for her to get stuck under the covers, or under you. But please, please follow all co-sleeping safety guidelines very strictly!

Some ideas to temporarily convert your bed to a family bed:

• Remove your bed base and put the mattress on the floor, if possible have a wall on baby's side. 

• As in the picture, baby sleeps higher then you. You just slide upward when feeding.

• Avoid a gap between mattress and wall where baby could get stuck (tightly stuff a blanket or towels if necessary). Or even safer, use a bed rail for this, such as the Safety 1st Bed Rail

• Put an extra mattress next to yours for baby: she'll have her own space and still be close to you for feeding and comfort

• Wear a warm top, and have baby in a sleeping bag or wearable blanket. Then you can have your covers, well fixed, low so they cannot slide up and cover baby.

In-bed mini crib

Baby Delight Snuggle Nest

To create an own space for your baby in your bed, you could try a mini in-bed crib. A good sleeper will have a firm sleeping pad and sturdy rigid walls. You place it between your pillows, which must prevent you or your covers from rolling over onto your baby.

In any case, also when using a sleeper like this: follow all cosleeping safety rules very strictly!

Some parents also use it in a full-size crib, just to give a newborn baby a more snug feeling in the first weeks.

Good examples are Baby Delight Snuggle Nest and the The First Years Close and Secure Sleeper.

WARNING! Do not use a baby sleep positioner (the thick 'rolls' you see in the picture) delivered with many of these mini cosleepers! A sleep positioner or wedge is supposed to keep baby in the correct position (on the back).

But babies have suffocated after having rolled over anyway and getting stuck between the positioner or wedge and the crib side. Use your sleeper as is, without them. See the CPSC report for full details.

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Cosleeping pad

A cosleeping pad or bumper will keep your baby from falling out of your bed. It is easy to use, simply place it on your bed, it usually sticks under your fitted sheet or on top. Your body weight keeps it in place.

Two top options for these cosleepers are the Humanity Family Bed Co Sleeping Pad (as in the picture) and Tres Tria Co-sleeping Solution (organic cotton and all-natural material make this a very safe top option, but pricey of course :( ...).

As always, please (please!) stick to all cosleeping safety guidelines very carefully.

A cosleeper bedside crib

Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper

I cannot recommend anything better than a true cosleeper crib. It is a full-fledged crib where your baby sleeps in all safety and comfort.

But it is attached to your bedside so you practically cosleep: baby is near for feeding, comfort and reassurance. You both have all the space you need to sleep safely and comfortably.

The Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper in the picture is one example I review separately - see the dedicated Arm's Reach review.

But there are different brands offering similar models. In the UK, look for NScessity BabyBay and Bednest Co-Sleeping crib.

Most models also serve as a standalone crib and as a play pen, sometimes a bench.

This keeps you flexible once you want to move baby to her own room. And you save on those items, which makes up for a lot!

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