Cosleepers Guide for No-Fuss Bed Sharing (Part 2)
Author Name: Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Continued from Part 1 of the Cosleepers Guide . Find out how to successfully use an in-bed mini sleeper, a cosleeper pad or the all-rounder bedside cosleeper.
- NO COST Re-arrange your bedroom and bedding (in part 1 )
- MID TO HIGH PRICE Cosleeping pad
-
MID
TO HIGH PRICE
A bedside
cosleeper
WARNING!
Do
not
use a
sleep
positioner wedge
of any kind. These are often delivered with
'nests' mini
cosleepers (which I also recommend against). Such a sleep positioner or wedge is supposed to keep an
infant
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 bed side.
So use your sleeper as is, without the positioner. See the
CPSC report
for full
details.
Cosleeping pad
A cosleeping pad or bumper will
keep
your baby from falling out of your
bed
.
It is easy to use and very comfortable. Simply place it on your bed, it
usually sticks under your fitted sheet or on top. Your body weight
keeps it in place.
No worries about baby getting stuck - there are no gaps at all.
A good option for this type of cosleepers is the
Humanity
Family Bed Co Sleeping Pad
(as in the
picture).
As always remember to observe all cosleeping
safety guidelines
very carefully.
Regardless of the arrangement you have, there should be
no risk of getting stuck, being obstructed from breathing or
becoming too hot.
A cosleeper bedside crib
I honestly can't recommend anything more than a true cosleeper
crib. It is a full-fledged crib where your baby sleeps in all safety
and comfort.
She has her own space which is a major help in learning to
sleeping independently.
But the crib is attached to your bedside so you practically
cosleep: your child is near for feeding, comfort and reassurance (and
lots of sleep!).
This helps
reinforce confidence building in a reassured environment which is an
equally important prerequisite for independent sleep later on.
You also both
have all the space you need to sleep safely and comfortably.
The Arm's
Reach Co-Sleeper in the
picture is a good choice for many reasons - see my
dedicated
Arm's Reach cosleepers review
.
But there
are different brands offering similar models.
Most models can be converted and serve as a
standalone
crib and as a
play pen
, sometimes a bench.
This keeps you flexible once you want to move your little one to her
own room.
And you save on those items then, which makes
up for a good part of the price tag now.
Article Author: Heidi Holvoet, PhD - Founder, senior sleep consultant
Heidi Holvoet, PhD, is the founder of the Baby Sleep Advice website and movement, an award-winning author, baby & toddler sleep consultant with 15+ years experience as well as a certified lactation counselor.
Over the years, Heidi has received several awards inluding a Mom's Choice Award (MCA) and National Parenting Awards (NAPPA) for her Baby Sleep Advice website, programs and books. Also, Baby Sleep Advice was awarded "Most Trusted Infant's Sleep Solutions Company 2023" in the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2023.
Heidi continually conducts personal research and participates in continued education and in that way stays up to date with current scientific and pyschosocial infant care.
She is also a member of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants of which she was one of the earliest contributors. She obtained her PhD degree in physics at the University of Ghent in Belgium.
Heidi is passionate about helping babies and their parents sleep more and better, with her trademark approach that has been proven and praised time and again by parents worldwide to be effective and truly no-tears. Respect for you as a parent and your baby, is at the heart of Heidi's warm and kind support. Her approach always keeps in mind a baby's needs and abilities at any given age, is based on pediatric science and the most up to date knowledge in infant care and sleep science.
As well as the award-winning baby sleep programs, Heidi offers popular 1:1 consults and easy-access 30-minute SOS Sleep sessions.
A bedside crib : without a doubt the best cosleeping solution

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