Also known as a co-sleeper, the bedside crib attaches to the side of an adult bed. Resembling a standard crib with one of the side rails removed, the open side is placed next to the adult bed, with the bedside mattress and adult bed mattress at the same level.
It allows your baby to remain close to you at night without actually being in your bed. You can easily reach your baby during the night for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, comforting and bonding, without disturbing the warmth and security of your baby's bed.
Convenience for Mom
1. No ice-cold feet on cold winter nights! There's nothing worse than padding down the hall to replace baby's pacifier (which takes about five seconds) then lying awake for the next 30 minutes waiting for your feet to warm up!
2. You can breastfeed or bottle-feed during the night without getting up - bliss! (In order to bottle feed without getting up you will need an electric bottle warmer.)
3. If your baby is restless, you can simply reach over and comfort him, or replace his pacifier. Research shows that babies who are responded to quickly, and whose needs are met timeously, are more secure and are likely to cry less often.
4. You and Dad will enjoy more rest because you can reach baby from bed, and Dad will be happier, because he won't be living with a hopelessly sleep-deprived wife!
5. Recuperation after childbirth is quicker and easier if you can attend to your baby without getting up. This is particularly important after a Caesarean section birth.
6. Some of these cribs come with rolling casters and being relatively small, allow you to move your sleeping baby to a convenient place for you to watch him or her.
Bouncy Baby Bonuses
7. Baby gets the benefit of nighttime closeness with Mom. This provides your baby with the security he or she needs during the early months of emotional development.
8. Babies of working moms can catch up on mom's touch during the night, thereby maintaining a strong emotional bond.
Health Highlights
9. Research has shown that co-sleeping (with baby in a crib beside the bed) is associated with SIDS prevention. Note that this does not apply to babies sleeping in the parents' bed, which has been associated with an increased SIDS risk.
10. There is no risk of a parent rolling onto the baby during sleep. A common fear among parents who sleep with baby in their bed.
11. Organic baby crib mattresses and bedding are available in the bedside size. These are highly recommended, as synthetic mattresses have been associated with an increased SIDS risk.
Practical Pluses
12. The bassinet feature can double up as a changing table. This has the benefit of saving you money, as well as, allowing you to stay in bed while you change baby.
13. The bedside crib doubles as a portable crib, saving you more money. (And dad's really starting to like this idea!)
14. The bedside crib converts to a play yard when your baby outgrows the bassinet feature, dare I say it, saving you even more money! (And dad's sold!)
15. Co-sleepers are available in a range of styles and colors to fit with your bedroom decor.
The only downside is that this is a temporary crib. The Arms Reach Co-sleeper, the most popular brand of co-sleeper has a weight limit of 30lbs. The play yard, however, can be used until 50lbs. When your baby reaches 30lbs in weight, he or she will have to be moved to a permanent crib, probably in the baby nursery.
Nevertheless, if co-sleeping appeals to you, a bedside crib is well worth the money. No one can put a price on the special bond you will form with your baby during those first few months of life, and if a bedside crib enables you to bond at night too, even better!
Author Helen Burroughs is stay at home mom to three precious little girls. Visit her website below for more information on small baby beds such as bassinets, moses baskets and cradles, and advice on how to create a beautiful baby nursery.