Admin babybay, Author at babybay

How to Co-Sleep With Your Newborn Baby (As Safely as Possible)

Posted on September 19, 2023September 12, 2023 by Admin babybay

Experts agree: sleeping close to your baby during the first year of their life helps keep your newborn safe and comforted as they attune themselves to the many sensorial and physical curiosities they’ll encounter as they grow. But how does co-sleeping (and the question: How do I co-sleep safely?) fit into that?

(Stick with us — because we’re about to break down how to co-sleep safely!)

During the first months of your baby’s life, they’re not the only ones adjusting to new experiences.

As a new mom or dad, you’re getting used to your little one sleeping beside you. Getting familiar with the soothing flutter of their eyes. And the way they gently coo when they fall asleep.

You’re also getting used to the feeling of having a little baby within arm’s reach all through the night: which offers just as much comfort as it does challenges for new parents.

So let’s talk about how to co-sleep through safe co-sleeping: One of the best ways to soak up more hours of rest each night. While also giving your baby all the psychological and physical support they need to grow big and strong.

Co-Sleeping Positions: The Safe and the Less Safe

There are many ways to co-sleep, each as unique as the family that practices them.

However, not all co-sleeping techniques put the same emphasis on safety.

Though bed-sharing and co-sleeping are often seen as interchangeable, big safety differences separate them.

Well-designed bedside co-sleepers and other similar safe sleep tools make it easy for you to get a full night of stress-free rest. How? They follow recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (or AAP) by helping you easily keep your baby close during the first months of their life.

But depending on the company who lovingly crafts them, they also come back by some of the strictest safety certifications (including highly-regarded ones like ASTM International or TÜV Rheinland).

Unlike with a practice like bed-sharing, these safe sleep tool give your baby a firm, built-for-them space to sleep. One that keeps them close to your made-for-adults mattress, without you having to worry about them getting wrapped in the too-soft bedding that doesn’t properly support them yet.

Why Does the Difference Between C0-Sleeping and Bed-Sharing Matter?

When bed-sharing with a newborn, all it takes is one wrong wiggle for baby to end up tangled in too-soft bedding or covered by pillows or blankets that they can’t quite crawl out from yet.

Luckily, safe sleep tools like baby co-sleepers fit flush against your own bed (keeping you right beside your baby all through the night!) and give your newborn baby a secure space to sleep comfortably.

Bedside co-sleepers will give you with all the benefits that co-sleeping has to offer—like better bonding between you and baby, supported development for baby’s body and mind, and a better rest for all — without the concerns about safety.

Which is what we like to call a perfect co-sleep scenario.

Keep Your Newborn Baby Comfortable While Co-Sleeping

Not all co-sleepers are created equal.

Think of it like this: when adults walk into a mattress store, they have a list of preferences that could be a mile long.

Not too soft, not too firm, built for back pain, hypoallergenic, all foam, no latex, pillow-top…

It often takes a few hours in the store and a few dozen tested-out mattresses to find the meant-to-be one that works for you.

Just because your newborn hasn’t quite mastered the syllables they need to clue you into what they find comfiest doesn’t mean they don’t have an opinion.

That’s why it’s important to find a bedside co-sleeper specifically designed and customized with your baby in mind.

The babybay co-sleeper is designed in a half-moon shape to mimic the protective feeling of being cradled in a hug and constructed from all-natural materials that are friendly both to the earth and to baby’s body.

(Yep, most co-sleepers and cribs are made with toxic chemicals, glues, and finishes that can put baby’s healthy development at risk.)

babybay co-sleepers are also easily customizable with three size options and accessories like hypoallergenic mattresses, mattress covers, canopies, and 100% cotton jersey sheets that take all of the guesswork out of maximizing baby’s coziness and comfort.

Keep Yourself Comfortable While Co-Sleeping

We’re parents too, so we get it: as soon as baby comes, their comfort becomes priority #1.

But it can be difficult to keep your baby comfortable if you’re not feeling well or well-rested yourself.

That’s why making time for some self-care during the early months of baby’s life is an important part of learning how to co-sleep with your newborn.

Being well-rested allows you to put more attention and energy into making sure that baby has everything they need to sleep through the night soundly.

It’s also easier to enjoy and appreciate all the special moments you share with baby—like those oh-so-sweet moments when you’re lying next to baby’s bedside co-sleeper and watching them fall slowly into dreamland—when you aren’t desperately devoting all your energy to simply keeping your eyes open.

Thankfully, baby co-sleeper crib like the babybay can help you get better, longer, and more restful sleep than traditional cribs or other (and less safe) co-sleeping methods.

With baby so close by, nighttime nursing becomes a breeze (rather than a must-do that sucks up many valuable minutes of sleep time).

By sleeping so close to baby, you’ll also be able to be more aware of (and responsive toward!) any concerns that baby has through the night.

That means less time spent in high-energy adrenaline mode trying to discover how to help, and more time spent identifying and caring for baby’s needs the fast and peaceful way.

Because here’s the truth: your baby is growing bigger every day

Sooner than you would believe, they’ll be ready to move out of their bedside co-sleeper into a crib or room all their own.

Instead of spending these early moments in baby’s life worrying about how to co-sleep with your newborn baby, let the babybay co-sleeper help set your mind at ease so you can spend less time stressing and more time appreciating every moment—waking and sleeping!—with your newborn.

Is Co-Sleeping Bad? Let’s Talk About It

Posted on September 12, 2023September 12, 2023 by Admin babybay

Is co-sleeping bad? There’s a lot of conversation about co-sleeping out there. Whether you’re welcoming your first baby to the world or have a family of 5 or 6 already, you’ve probably heard about co-sleeping. And maybe even popped “about co-sleeping” into Google a time or two.

So why all the hype about co-sleeping? Co-sleeping has long been the preferred (and safe, as long as you choose the right method!) way for families around the world to assure that their babies are getting nurturing rest. Before there were beds or mattresses or even cribs, families would gather close together and nestle into a state of happy sleep while lying within arm’s reach.

When the earliest cribs starting coming onto the scene around the 1600s, the hype for co-sleeping didn’t die down. But within the co-sleeping conversation, there’s one important thing to note. Co-sleeping with the help of a safe sleep tool like a bedside co-sleeper is not the same thing as bed-sharing (which is better understood as the practice of inviting your baby to share your own mattress).

That’s why asking “Is co-sleeping bad?” is too simple. But we’re about to set the co-sleeping record straight on all that…

We’re about to break down:

The back-to-the-basics details about what co-sleeping is and how it became the most common method of sleep around the world
The benefits that co-sleeping families enjoy, as well as the way families get more rest just by sleeping close to their little one
How co-sleeping has looked throughout history, and why that matters for sleep deprived parents trying to get more rest now
Where things really stand in this whole “Is c0-sleeping bad?” question, and what co-sleeping families wish more people talked about

The Best Place to Start Is at the Beginning: What is Co-Sleeping?

Co-sleeping is often the catch-all term used to describe the nurturing experience of sleeping with your baby within arm’s reach.

Though the word “co-sleeping” often brings up images of parent and baby sleeping together in the same bed and sharing the same sleep space, the truth is that there are many ways to co-sleep, and each nighttime routine will look a little different for every family.

In recent years, tools like bedside co-sleepers have made it safe, easy, and stress-free to soak in all the benefits of co-sleeping by giving babies a made-just-for-them place to rest their head and get quality sleep through the night.

These methods aren’t only proven-safe through experience, they’re also backed by some of the strictest safety certification standards on the market, with organizations like ASTM International, TÜV Rheinland, and Confidence in Textiles giving bedside co-sleepers like babybay a full stamp of approval.

And though sleeping in separate bedrooms has become the norm in the Western world (which is the leading thing that causes some parents to wonder whether alternatives like co-sleeping are really the best way to go), that doesn’t mean it’s not the preferred bonding-promoting and safety-assuring method of rest across much of the globe.

In fact, studies (like one famously conducted by anthropologist John Whiting) have found that almost 70% of children living around the world sleep in the company of others. (Take a moment to really let those numbers sink in— 70%!)

Benefits of Co-Sleeping: A Quick But Thorough Overview

Through the act of co-sleeping, you and your baby are able to bond and become close-as-can-be during both your waking and sleeping hours. (Hard to believe, but our sleeping hours account for a third of our day — which is why it’s so important to make them count!)

Your baby also benefits from a boosted immune system and better-supported development for their body and mind, which not only benefits their waking hours but leads to more restful time spent in dreamland as well.

Co-sleeping also makes nighttime nursing a breeze by keeping your baby easily within arm’s reach, so that you don’t have to take walks back and forth across the room or repeatedly over crib bars to give your child what they need.

At the end of the day, it shouldn’t really be surprising that there are numerous benefits of co-sleeping. Human biology naturally encourages child and parent to seek contact during the night.

And while you might think that it’s simply love for your child that has you craving a quick hug, kiss, or loving touch during all hours of the day and night (love is definitely part of it, we promise!), that mutual craving for contact is also just built into our physiology.

While that need for nighttime contact through the night isn’t much-talked about in the United States, it’s something that many other cultures around the world understand well.

In Japan, for instance, the most common sleeping position is referred to as kawa no ji (represented by the character for river: 川). The two longer lines in that character represent the parents, while the shorter one represents the child sleeping between — showcasing the close proximity and sleep-together care that goes into nighttime sleep setups.

But in America and other Western cultures, history has set a trend of separating parents and babies during the night.

That’s not because separating parents and babies is better — we’ve just gotten so used to sleeping separately that it’s hard to imagine that another way of sleeping could be more beneficial.

Co-Sleeping Throughout History: Why the Question “What Is Co-Sleeping” Only Started Needing to Be Asked Recently

The Western world’s interest in sleeping separately can partly be traced back to the 19th century, when it became fashionable to show your wealth by building houses with extra bedrooms and filling those extra bedrooms with plush mattresses and beautiful cribs.

Though collecting mattresses is no longer the in-trend fashion statement it used to be, most families in the Western world continue to encourage their children to sleep in separate rooms.

And while there’s nothing wrong with preferring for your child to sleep in a space separate from yours, over time this became seen as the standard way to sleep in the Western world — which quickly made all other sleeping methods seem like unideal alternatives (even if they did, in fact, actually come with a whole host of rest-giving and mind-balancing benefits).

So Let’s Sum It All Up: Is Co-Sleeping Bad?

When co-sleeping is practiced safely, it delivers a bounty of benefits while helping you feel closer to your child (emotionally and physically!) all night long.

But just like you have to make decisions with safety in mind when preparing a nursery or separate room for your child to sleep in, you need to make safety a priority when deciding the co-sleeping method that works for your family.

But if you aren’t sure where to start, start here: bedside infant co-sleepers make safe co-sleeping easy as can be by gifting baby with a safe, secure, and supported space to sleep by your side.

Your baby gets to drift off into sweet dreams with you within arm’s reach, while you get to enjoy the worry-free rest that comes from knowing you can quickly and easily respond to any nighttime feeding call that comes throughout the night.

And while there may be other ways of co-sleeping out there, there’s only one safe co-sleeping method we can recommend.

With the right bedside sleeper by your side, you’ll never have to wonder Is co-sleeping bad? again. You’ll be able to confidently drift toward dreamland, knowing your baby is safe, happy, and soaking in all the benefits that co-sleeping has to offer.

When Is It Safe to Co-Sleep with My Baby?

Posted on September 7, 2023September 8, 2023 by Admin babybay

For parents who are just beginning to explore co-sleeping, one of the most commonly asked questions is: When is it safe to co-sleep?

We get why that question is the first one that comes to mind. Because once you start to hear about all the co-sleeping benefits you can expect to enjoy, co-sleeping becomes one of those “so….when can I start?!” kind of things.

(Among the best co-sleeping benefits to expect? Better rest for the whole family. As well as reduced stress and more support as your baby works on growing big and strong.)

But asking about the “when” of co-sleeping isn’t always the best place to start.

Because figuring out the timeline of your co-sleeping journey is a natural step in the process. But asking about the “how” of safe co-sleeping is an important part of keeping your baby safe and happy. While having full peace of mind from Day 1.

How to Co-Sleep Safely: Why The “How” Matters

“Co-sleeping” is commonly used as a catch-all phrase to describe the practice of sleeping in the same room as your child. However, it’s important to understand that there are many different ways that parents choose to co-sleep: with some offering far more peace of mind than others.

Though “bed-sharing” is often considered a type of co-sleeping, there are actually significant differences between the two practices.

When bed-sharing, you invite your child to share space on your own mattress. This means making room for them to get comfy surrounded by the sheets, comforters, and pillows that you prefer.

When co-sleeping, you sleep easily in arm’s reach of your child. While offering them a made-just-for-them sleeping space that offers the firm support that their growing body needs.

Actual bed-sharing can lead to sleepless nights full of wondering and worry about whether your child will roll over and get trapped in too-soft bedding. Or worry about whether they’ll feel unsupported by your too-soft mattress during the night. But co-sleeping offers big benefits while whisking those worries away.

What’s the Deal with Bedside Co-Sleepers?

A co-sleeping solution like the babybay bedside co-sleeper gives your child a safe co-sleeping bed that attaches securely to your own. While allowing both you and your baby to rest easy in a sleeping space that fully supports your unique needs.

And though there are other ways to co-sleep safely that go beyond using a safe co-sleeping bed, one thing remains true…

When it comes to the question When is it safe to co-sleep?, parents who have a co-sleeper bed for their child feel confident that their little one is getting safe and sound nights of co-sleeping rest. Because they know their baby is sleeping the night away in a space that has been perfectly engineered to support their growing body with love. With nothing that’s too-soft or too-warm getting in the way.

The best part? They’ll feel that confidence not just some nights: but from the first moment their beautiful baby is brought home.

When Is It Safe to Co-Sleep with a Bedside Co-Sleeper?

The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the benefits of sharing a room with your baby during at least the first six months of their life. But ideally, they say, you’ll room-share through the first year.

You can start sleeping beside your baby in a safe co-sleeper bed from the first moment they get home.

In fact, not only can you sleep with your baby in a co-sleeper bed from the first moment — that’s how many parents love doing it!

Why do so many parents love starting their baby’s life by sleeping snug in a bedside co-sleeper bed?

Partly because it’s one of the easiest ways to get better sleep — while your baby gets better sleep too.

But also because it gives you a sense of peace of mind that your baby is sleeping safe and secure from the first day of their life. Which can feel like the ultimate comfort to parents like you.

Bedside sleepers like the babybay are specially engineered and built with care to offer your baby a co-sleeping bed that is a safe space for them to catch some Zs. While still letting them remain close by your side all night long.

And while other sleeping practices—like bed-sharing—can leave you tossing and turning with worries and “what if” thoughts all night long, bedside co-sleepers take all the guesswork and concerns away.

With the babybay bedside co-sleeper, you’ll be be close enough to support baby’s healthy development and care for their every need, while giving your baby the firm, supportive mattress and just-for-them space they need to sleep secure and sound.

Which is the perfect recipe for sound sleep every night of the week.

Why Do Experts Recommend Sleeping Beside Your Baby?

Not only does sharing a space make you more responsive to your baby’s needs (as well as a host of other benefits!), but it lets you function as a kind of “jump start” to support your baby’s healthy development.

As anthropologist James J. McKenna found, when parents and baby sleep close by, they naturally start to regulate their sleep state, oxygen levels, temperature, breathing patterns, heart rate, and brain waves to match.

So by sleeping close to your baby during their first months of life, you positively support their still-developing biological and physiological systems in big ways. (Which is key to helping them grow healthy and strong!)

By co-sleeping with baby from the first moment they come home, you’re able to put these “jump start” effects from the get-go. Which is important considering how much of your baby’s energy during the first months of their life is focused on learning and exploring the new world they’ve just come into.

Deciding When to Co-Sleep: The Big Takeaway

If there’s one big takeaway to leave with, it’s this: the answer to the question When is it safe to co-sleep? depends on how you co-sleep.

Every family’s needs and priorities are different, and ultimately only you know where your child is in their development and what that means for your co-sleeping journey.

However, there’s one co-sleeping truth that’s not up for debate: once you’re ready to start co-sleeping, a bedside co-sleeper crib specially engineered to support your baby’s needs takes all the guesswork and worry out of how to co-sleep.

So when you’re ready to start co-sleeping, babybay will be here to help you and baby spend every night sleeping sweet-dream sound.

What Makes a Co Sleeper Safe (And What Should I Look For When Buying?)

Posted on August 24, 2023August 23, 2023 by Admin babybay

When it comes to making a co sleeper safe, not every option on the market puts an equal emphasis on meeting—and then exceeding!—crib safety standards.

That’s why choosing a bedside co sleeper isn’t as simple as looking online, seeking out your favorite colors, and choosing something that will perfectly match your bedroom decor.

We’re about to break down everything you need to know about sleeping with a bedside co sleeper—including the need-to-know secrets behind why they’re a sleep option that so many parents love!—and show you how to choose the one that’s safest for your little one.

What is Safe Co Sleeping & What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Co Sleeper?

Co sleeping has long been the most favored sleep practice in the world.

And for good reason! Unlike other, riskier sleep practices like bed sharing (which references the act of inviting your baby into your bed for the night), safe co sleeping gives your little one a comfy, made-just-for-them bed of their own that happens to be right by your side.

Bed sharing is often associated with risks that don’t come from safe co sleeping. That’s because the super-soft mattresses and bedding sets that most parents prefer aren’t designed to support your baby in the way they need.

And while sleeping with these super-soft comfort items can put your baby at risk of rolling over or being covered during the night, safe co sleeping options will make sure your baby has a secure and nurturing place to rest while giving you the comfort of being close to them all night long.

Why Not All Bedside Co Sleepers Are Created Equal

When it comes to buying a bedside co sleeper, there are two important things to consider: design and manufacturing care.

When it comes to design, you want to look for one that fits securely by your bedside without any gaps between your mattress and your baby’s sleep space (because gaps = spaces where your baby can easily become trapped).

You’ll also want to find one that is thoughtfully designed to provide your baby comfort in more ways than one. The babybay co sleeper, for instance, is engineered in the nurturing shape of a hug.

This shape helps your little one catch Zs in comfort while still being supported by the necessary safety that comes from having a co sleeper that fits tightly against the bed.

But design isn’t the only thing that matters. Just because you’ve chosen a thoughtfully engineered design doesn’t mean that all aspects of your chosen co sleeper have been built with care.

That’s why the manufacturing of your chosen co sleeper is just as important as the design that defines it.

Baby Safety Standards and How to Ensure True Safety While Co Sleeping

Not every crib manufacturer is as concerned about your baby’s safety as you are.

Many baby cribs are made with the kind of toxic glues, chemicals, and other harmful materials that can be unsafe for your little one.

In fact, a team of researchers discovered that the foam padding you find in many baby mattresses release significant amounts of VOCs (or volatile organic compounds) that are potentially harmful to your baby.

Most shocking of all, these researchers found that new crib mattresses release almost 4 times the amount of VOCs released by old crib mattresses, and that your baby’s body heat can even up the emissions released.

These emissions also happen to be strongest in the area of the crib mattress where your baby breathes, making it near-impossible for them to fully avoid exposure.

Of the 30 VOCs these researchers identified in the crib mattresses they tested—including formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and acetone—many can also be found in other parts of your baby’s crib as well.

From cheap plywoods to coated toxic glues, not all crib manufacturers are committed to totally avoiding VOCs—and ensuring your baby has safe co sleeping nights with no concerns on the mind!

So Then What’s the Best Bedside Co Sleeper?

Babybay co sleepers have been long-loved by parents looking to give their little ones safe nights of sleep with all of the co sleeping benefits and none of the risks.

They pride themselves on being a non-toxic, eco-friendly, and all-natural way for your little one to get rest, with a thoughtfully engineered frame that is made from 100% ethically sourced beechwood.

Whether you’re just beginning your co sleeping journey or have enjoyed this practice of sleeping with a child before, baby’s bedside co sleepers offer you and your little one sound nights of sleep, with a co sleeper safe option that gives full peace of mind.

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How to Easily Transition Your Baby from Co-Sleeping to Crib

Posted on August 5, 2023August 16, 2023 by Admin babybay

Here’s a scenario that all co-sleeping families are familiar with: You’ve loved waking up with your little one every morning. Giving them a snuggle as the sun shines through your bedroom window. Watching their little eyes open to the world and greet you with a gentle smile as a way to hello.

But one day it just hits you: it’s time to stop co-sleeping and give your child the independence to be in their own baby crib. Which means you have to figure out how to transition your baby from co-sleeping to crib without stressing them (or you) out.

If you’ve been sleeping within arm’s reach of your baby for a while, you know all about the many co-sleeping benefits. You might also know that co-sleeping has a magical way of fostering independence in your little one, which will go far in making this transition from co-sleeping to crib as easy as can be.

But what’s the secret to stopping co-sleeping without stress?

Well, here it is:

Consistency is key

On the list of best practices for how to transition baby from co-sleeping to crib, being consistent takes the top spot.

It can be difficult (okay, not just difficult—sometimes it can feel gosh darn impossible!) to think logically when you’re woken up at 2 am from a deep dream state.

But once you’ve put a plan for transition in place, it’s important to follow through on it. Not just sometimes. But every single night of the week.

Keeping consistent will help your baby feel more comfortable with the sleeping changes you’re making. Which will shorten the transition process and help you get back to the long nights of restful sleep you crave. Fast.

Of course, there might be nights when your half-asleep brain doesn’t quite stop your parenting instincts in time and your transition plan goes out the window.

Don’t worry about one or two-speed bumps along the way. Just get back on track with your transition plan the next night.

Keep your baby close

Just because you’ve decided to move baby into a crib of their own doesn’t mean you have to move your baby far away.

Choosing to gradually transition from co-sleeping to crib (rather than going all-in one night) can ease some of the stress for both you and baby.

On the first night you transition from co-sleeping to crib, keep your baby close by pushing the crib firmly against your bed. Your baby has been sleeping within arm’s reach for a long time now…which means being anything more than a few feet away from you might initially feel like a shock to the system.

By putting your baby’s new crib in the same spot next to you that they’ve gotten used to sleeping in, they’ll be able to keep a sense of familiarity. Even as they get used to their totally new sleep set-up.

As the nights go on, slowly start moving your baby’s crib farther away from your own sleeping space. Do that until your baby is fully comfortable and confident sleeping away from your side.

If you’re a co-sleeping family who has been using a co-sleeper crib:

For families who have been enjoying the many benefits of a bedside co sleeper throughout their co sleeping journey, this gradual transition can be made even easier.

Use a conversion kit to transform your bedside co sleeper into a baby bassinet. Then make a plan to start moving your baby’s bassinet away from your bedside slowly during the nights ahead.

Because baby is already familiar with the sensations of sleeping in their made-just-for-them baby bedside co sleeper, they’ll feel more confident and comfortable as they adjust to the changes in their sleep routine.

Instead of feeling the impact of many surprise changes at once (New mattress! New crib! More distance away from you!), they’ll be happy to catch some Z’s in the familiar sleeping space they already love.

Sleep with their stuff (so that they feel like they’re sleeping beside you!)

Your baby has slept right beside you for many nights, which means they’ve gotten used to being calmed by the familiar feeling of sensing you nearby.

(Fun fact! Because newborns are still learning how to find meaning in all the things they see and hear on the daily, they develop a strong awareness of smell. Which means just having you close enough to offer the comfort of scent will set them in a peaceful mood!)

Putting a little extra care into making sure that baby still feels the sensation of having you close (even when you’re across the room) can go a long way in making sure nights remain stress-free and rest-filled for all.

Sleep with your baby’s bed sheets for a few nights before you start the transition from co-sleeping to crib. By doing this, you’ll guarantee that your little one is surrounded by comfortable items that smell like you. So that when the time comes to set them up for a new sleep set-up, they’ll have all the extra comfort they need to make the transition from co-sleeping seem easier.

Of course: you’ll want to choose the item you give to baby wisely. Sleeping with bulky blankets or plush toys can be a safety concern for newborns. Which means leaving those kinds of items in their bed will leave you with more worry than peace of mind.

But by sleeping with baby’s sheets and fitting them snugly on your baby’s mattress before they tuck in for the night, you’ll be able to help soothe your baby and keep any separation anxiety away. Without a single safety concern.

Pick the right time

Only you know what’s best for you and your family. Which means only you know when will be the right time to transition baby from co sleeping to crib.

For many families, the decision to stop co sleeping will come when baby becomes too active during the night. Or when you more generally decide that it would be better for you to get back to having some space of your own.

But even if your decision to transition away from co sleeping is accompanied by some need to make the switch now! feelings, set the stage for an easy transition by making sure that it’s a good time to start a new routine.

Avoid making big changes when family is in town, a big project is forcing you to work long hours, or other big life events are taking over your time and emotional energy.

Making sure that both you and baby are feeling settled, calm, and ready to rock and roll toward a new routine will help keep things feeling stress-free.

Give yourself a break!

Though many parents wondering how to transition from co-sleeping to crib feel pressure to get the process “perfect,” remember that only you know what works best for your family.

Give yourself a break if there’s a day when your perfectly-made plans go out the window. And know that your baby will get comfortable and content with the transition from co sleeping to crib soon.

As long as you keep consistent in your plans, the day you’ll have successfully transitioned to a crib (instead of just Googling “how to transition your baby from co-sleeping to crib”) will come. Maybe even sooner than you think!

Sleep with Pregnancy Pillow: Best Positions to Get Good Rest

Posted on July 27, 2023August 16, 2023 by Admin babybay

For pregnant women trying to finally get a good night’s sleep, sleeping with a pregnancy pillow can be a way of relieving pressure on your growing belly, making yourself more comfortable, and finally catching those hours of much-needed shuteye.

Whether back pain, restless leg syndrome, cramps, heartburn, or other common pregnancy concerns are keeping you from dreamland, properly positioning a pregnancy pillow can help keep the pregnancy insomnia away.

But not every sleep pillow position will offer the same level of comfort–or the same number of hours spent in restful slumber.

There are a few common shapes of pregnancy pillows, all of which will provide relief in different ways.

The most popular pregnancy pillow shapes are:

U shaped pregnancy pillows
C shaped pregnancy pillows
J shaped pillows for pregnancy
Wedge shaped pillows for pregnancy
Body pillow shapes

Let’s break down the “pros” of each of these pillow options (and the pregnancy sleep positions they’ll help you achieve) so that you can choose which of them will best support your comfort.

U Shaped Pillows: How They Can Help You Get Pregnancy Sleep

U shaped pillows are often one of the more expensive options you can find, but for good reason.

These pillows will support your back and belly at the same time, nurturing you in the kind of super-comfortable position that provides back relief. They also take some much-needed pressure off your belly, head, ankles, and neck.

This is a good pregnancy sleeping position for anyone who was a fan of sleeping on their back before they were pregnant, since these pillows provide a similar experience while still keeping you securely on your side.

To sleep with a U shaped pillow: Flip that “U” upside down and rest with your head on the bottom. Let your legs stay in the opening while the side of the “U” supports your belly.

C Shaped Pillows: Making It Easier to Get Sleep While Pregnant

If you’re someone who loved to roll back and forth during sleep before becoming pregnant, this pillow might not be a good one for you.

Since it’s one-sided, you’ll need to reposition it if you roll around while trying to get sleep while pregnant.

But for women with a particularly heavy belly, it can offer a place for your head to rest while also giving necessary support to your legs.

To sleep with a C shaped pillow: Lay your head on one end of the “C” with your back against the curve. Your belly will rest in the middle, with both sides of the pillow taking pressure off this part of your body.

J Shaped Pillows: A Super-Supportive Pillow for Pregnancy

Sometimes called a candy cane shaped pillow, this option allows you to sleep in the same supportive position that you’ll get from the “U” shaped pillow without worrying about all the extra cushioning that comes from that “U” option.

A candy cane shaped pillow is perfect for pregnant women who want to get all the relief of the “U” shaped pillow while still being able to cuddle with loved ones or have a little extra room in the bed.

Though it’s not ideal for sitting up, it does offer increased versatility when you’re lying down.

To sleep with a J shaped pillow: You have lots of pregnancy sleeping position choices when it comes to this “J” shape! You can lay with the curved side against your back (and your belly in the middle of the open space) or put the curve between your belly for a different angle of support.

Wedge Shaped Pillows: A Small and Portable Option for Pregnancy Sleeping Position

Wedge shaped pillows are one of the most common ways to offer yourself a little extra support through the night. Probably because they’re so easy to use!

Unlike some other options on this list, you can use this pillow in whatever way works best for you. That means you can try out different orientations and see what’s most comfortable with your own body and preferred ways of sleeping in mind.

To sleep with a wedge shaped pillow: You can lie on your side and prop it under your belly as you sleep, or use it as a helpful way to relieve heartburn by sitting up to rest.

Body Pillow Shapes: A Common Way of Sleeping While Pregnant

Body pillows aren’t just for pregnant women. These extra-long pillows allow you to find support in whatever way is most comfortable for you, which makes them a favorite for many people looking for a little comfort during the night.

(Pro tip! Save the pillow for after your baby comes. They’re also perfect for postpartum recovery.)

To sleep with a body pillow: Try out different positions and see what works best for you. You can hug your body around it during the night or use it for an extra boost of support wherever you need it.

Tools like bedside co sleepers can make it easier for you to get good nights of sleep once your baby comes.

But until then, these options for getting sleep with pregnancy pillow will give better support for you and your belly—so that you can wake up every day well-rested and ready to welcome your little one soon.

Why Is My Baby Crying in Sleep Suddenly (Reasons and Remedies!)

Posted on July 13, 2023August 16, 2023 by Admin babybay

Sure, new parents are used to their babies crying during the day. But when you start hearing your baby crying in sleep suddenly, it can set your nerves on high alert and leave you wondering whether there’s something really wrong.

The good news is that nighttime crying isn’t uncommon for babies.

Neither is nighttime screaming, grunting, or other surprising sounds that you don’t expect to hear when your baby is deep in the dream state.

But knowing why your baby is crying in sleep—and what to do about it—can save you needless worrying during the night, and help you give your baby exactly what they need to quickly go back to rest.

So what leaves your baby crying in sleep suddenly?

Your baby might be crying or making sounds because they’re:

Having tummy troubles
Experiencing an overactive imagination (with nightmares as well!)
Flipping between sleep cycles
Having some tooth pain

So how do you recognize the why behind the nighttime crying your baby is doing? And how do you try to keep these sleep tears from happening again?

Let’s break it down.

Nighttime Crying from an Upset Tummy

During the first months of their life, your baby is growing and learning a lot about the world.

That takes time and energy—which means the transition from being in the womb to relying on formula or mom’s milk for sustenance might not be smooth.

Your little one could be feeling their tummy rolling around and use crying to express their frustration, even while they remain partly asleep.

As long as this stops fairly quickly, you shouldn’t be too concerned. Some nighttime crying is normal as your baby adjusts to the world.

Do Babies Dream? And How Does That Lead to Nighttime Crying?

Do babies dream? Well, kind of! Many researchers now believe that babies only begin dreaming once they’ve developed the ability to process the world, which could take a few years.

But that doesn’t mean your baby’s imagination isn’t working overtime, or they aren’t working on processing some parts of their day.

If this is the case, just keep a close eye on your baby and let things play out. Their imaginative wonderings will soon calm down, and their crying will too.

Baby Crying During Sleep: Part of Flipping Sleep Cycles

It’s common to see a baby crying during sleep as their body transitions from one sleep cycle to the next. That’s because they move between sleep cycles very quickly (unlike adults!), and spend far more time in REM sleep than their older siblings or parents.

As babies come to the end of each sleep cycle, they find themselves coming partly awake. During this transition phase, your little one can experience brief moments of distress and express frustration at being dragged toward wakefulness.

If this is the case, don’t fret! Your baby should go back to their normal, quiet sleep routine as soon as they adjust to that new state of sleep.

Your Baby Is Crying At Night Because of Teething

Teething pain isn’t easy on your little one.

Teething pain can keep your baby awake at night and also make them cry out in frustration and fussiness when they feel that discomfort come on.

Though parents tend to know the signs to look for when this happens throughout the day, it can be disconcerting to hear your baby crying out in pain when it’s time to rest.

If this sounds familiar, it shouldn’t be too much of a concern.

This is a temporary phase—one that starts at about 3 months of age for many babies—and can be soothed with remedies for teething pain.

So Should I Worry If My Baby Is Crying During Sleep?

Though it can set your nerves alight to hear your baby crying in the middle of the night while still being asleep, you shouldn’t immediately be concerned.

There are many reasons why your baby may be crying in the middle of the night, and many of them don’t require intervention on your part.

However, you should watch your baby to make sure that their crying stops soon.

Whether it’s from teething pain or baby nightmares, the cries you hear should stop fairly quickly. If they don’t, it could be a sign that you should consult a professional in the morning to learn more.

Luckily, bedside co sleepers can help you become more attuned to your baby’s needs and know when a crisis or a random nighttime cry is afoot. So that you don’t have to spend another night worrying about your baby crying in sleep suddenly—and get better nights of quality rest instead!

How to Recognize Baby Sleep Cues

Posted on June 8, 2023July 2, 2023 by Admin babybay

If you have a newborn baby at home, then you’ve seen it all before: the yawns, the arched back, the signs of crankiness and crabiness that make it clear that your baby is in need of rest. Learning all about baby sleep cues can help you catch your baby’s signs of exhaustion in the early stages, before it turns into the kind of overstimulation that leaves them frustrated and leaves you struggling to calm them down.

So what are your baby’s clear sleep cues? And how can you catch tiredness before it becomes impossible to put them to sleep?

Sleep Cues in Newborn: How to Know Your Baby Is Ready for Rest

Once your baby’s body decides it’s time to rest, a rush of melatonin (the hormone in our bodies that makes us sleepy) is sent through their system. As soon as that melatonin rushes in, you’ll start seeing signs that your baby is in need of some shut-eye, including plenty of yawns and eye rubbing.

Some common baby sleep cues include:

Yawns
Eye rubbing
Fluttering eyelids
An arching back
Jerking arm or leg movements
Calls for attention
Clinginess
Frowns or looks of concern

When your baby is just-born, you’re likely to frequently see these signs of exhaustion.

Your little one will be tired after only 1.5-3 hours awake, and will probably need a nap every 2-3 hours up through their first birthday.

This might sound like a lot of sleep, but it’s nothing for a baby that has spent the first 9 months of their life comfortably sleeping away all day in the womb.

Your baby is using a lot of energy as they focus on growing strong and adjusting to the world around them (like developing the kind of healthy circadian rhythm that will help them know when to sleep and when to be awake). And that leaves them extra tired.

You can help them out—and help them grow big and strong!—by learning the sleep cues in newborn and catching them right as they come on.

Baby’s Sleep Cues: What They Mean

You might think that your baby’s sleep cues come on the instant they first start feeling tired, but that isn’t the case.

By the time these sleep cues start coming on, your baby is already tired.

And though you can quickly rush to get them changed and put them to bed, it’s best to try to catch your baby’s tiredness cues before they reach their peak.

Once your baby has hit an overtired state, it can be near-impossible to put them to sleep or keep them happily in a dream state.

That’s because their stress response is likely to kick in once their exhaustion levels hit a critical peak, causing an adrenaline and cortisol spike that makes falling back asleep a challenging task.

This means that avoiding an overtired baby should be a priority throughout the day, and tuning into your little one’s tiredness cues should be at the top of your to-do list.

How to avoid an overtired baby and help your newborn get the sleep they need:

Know how many hours of sleep your baby needs every day (this helpful chart from the Sleep Foundation can help)
Follow a consistent bedtime routine at night
Don’t overstimulate your baby during times of day when you know they’ll need rest. Instead, allow them to be in a quiet and restful place surrounded by sounds and lighting that will nurture their body’s needs
Don’t try to re-stimulate your baby when they’re showing signs of tiredness. Instead, allow them to get the rest they need
Recognize your baby’s sleep cues and know when they’ve reached their energy limit so you can help them settle into sleep

How Do I Help My Newborn Get the Best Possible Sleep?

As a parent, it can be hard to know how to help your newborn sleep while also getting the nights of rest you need to feel ready for anything in the morning.

And while there are many sleep practices that parents have long-relied on to help their baby feel nurtured throughout the night while supporting mom and dad’s sleep needs too, many parents turn to safe co sleeping solutions as a way to help their baby get more rest—while also getting more (and better!) rest themselves.

Safely sleeping side-by-side not only helps reduce your baby’s stress levels and leave them ready for the day (along with a host of other benefits!), it also tunes you in to your baby’s unique patterns and habits.

That close bonding and familiarity with your little one doesn’t end when they wake, making it easier for you to make note of unique baby sleep cues and help your little one get rest—exactly when they need it!

Safely Co-Sleeping in Bed: Everything You Need to Know Before Starting

Posted on May 18, 2023June 4, 2023 by Admin babybay

When you first set out on your co-sleeping journey, one thing will become obvious very quickly: every family has a different idea of what co-sleeping is and how to have their best nights of sleep by incorporating the practice into their own routine. While some families may choose a way of co-sleeping in bed that involves inviting their children to share their own mattress, others choose the safer and more secure option of encouraging their babies to sleep while snuggled in a made-just-for-them bedside co-sleeper.

Given the fact that co-sleeping has been the preferred family sleep practice throughout history, it’s not surprising that there’s so much diversity when it comes to how families choose to practice it.

But what does that diversity look like? And how do parents like you learn how to put a co-sleeping baby to bed so that they can get a sound night’s sleep while also being perfectly safe?

We’re about to break down everything you need to know about the differences between bed sharing and putting baby to sleep with a co-sleeper, so that you can enjoy the many benefits of co-sleeping while being 100% confident that your little one is feeling rested, relaxed and snuggled in comfort all night long.

Co-Sleeping and Bed Sharing: How Are They Different?

Though many people think that co-sleeping and bed sharing are the same thing, these two terms actually describe two very different sleep practices.

When you see a baby sleeping in bed with parents (as in: sharing a mattress as well as a sleep space), you’re seeing bed sharing in action.

In bed sharing, babies often stay cuddled up to parents while being surrounded by the same pillows and blankets that adults use to keep themselves comfy and ready for rest. Though this might seem positive at first (it’s always good to keep baby comfy as can be, right??), the American Academy of Pediatrics (or AAP) makes it clear that firmer is better when it comes to your baby’s sleep environment.

That’s because comfy blankets and pillows can quickly become dangerous for babies, especially those little ones who are not yet old enough to know how to safely roll themselves out of harm’s way.

Bedside co-sleepers offer an alternative to traditional bed sharing by keeping your baby within arm’s reach while still giving them a perfectly safe sleep space that’s all their own.

With bedside co-sleepers, your baby is able to sleep the night away with a firm mattress that’s perfectly suited to their needs. While still keeping you within easy reach of your little one so that nighttime comforting and quick nighttime nursing is easy-as-can-be.

Why Are Bedside Co-Sleepers the Recommended Way to Co-Sleep?

While both bedside co-sleepers and bed sharing put you within arm’s reach of your little one through the night, bed sharing is often associated with risks that don’t come when you create a safer co sleeping setup with a bedside co-sleeper.

In fact, when the American Academy of Pediatrics first released their infant sleep recommendations, they drew a clear distinction between the definition of “bed sharing” and “co-sleeping.”

They explained that “co-sleeping” might be a term that “is commonly used, but the task force finds it confusing, and it is not used in this document. When used, authors need to make clear whether they are referring to sleeping in close proximity (which does not necessarily entail bed-sharing) or bed-sharing.”

If you cut through all that formality, you’ll see a clear difference between bed sharing and co-sleeping as sleep practices: while parent and baby rest on the same sleep surface while bed sharing, co-sleeping can refer to any situation where you put your baby to sleep close by.

And, more importantly, can refer to sleep set-ups where your baby is given a comfortable space that has been carefully crafted with love to care for their comfort and safety. One that isn’t all about adult comfort (though it still provides that too!), but puts your baby at the center of attention.

Why Do Parents Choose to Bed Share When They Have Baby Sleeping in Bed?

There are many benefits that parents who sleep close to their baby enjoy. Though waking up without bleary eyes in the morning is a big-time plus (as any new parent who has struggled to get quality sleep would agree!), better rest isn’t the only thing that calls parents to want to c0-sleep child after child, and time after time.

Babies naturally wake up every few hours during the first months of life. By sleeping close to your little one, you make baby care easier while also giving your baby the subconscious hint that they’re safe and free to sleep in peace.

When babies sleep better, so do parents! Which turns co-sleeping into a win-win for both parents and babies who are looking to get more nurturing hours of rest every night.

Many families also enjoy the extra shuteye that comes from being able to quickly calm and feed your baby while handling all other baby care with ease.

Because though reaching over crib bars a few times a night might not sound like a big deal to non-parents or first-time expecting moms, it can become a detriment to healing for mothers who are recovering from birth or trying to crack the code to get sleep after c-section.

Which gives co-sleeping parents who are in easy reach of their child a big help when it comes to keeping themselves comfortable and rested all night long.

So How Do You Make Co-Sleeping In Bed Safe?

When you start asking how do you make co-sleeping in bed safe? there’s one go-to simple answer: you choose the right tool to be by your bedside. A co-sleeping bed attachment (like a bedside co-sleeper) fits snugly against your bed and lets you sleep closely to your little one through the night, while giving them a safe sleep space that offers the firm bedding they need.

Parents who choose a co-sleeping bed attachment over other sleep practices — including bed sharing — take all the guesswork out of how to safely co-sleep in bed. Which gives them less stress and more energy to make beautiful memories throughout the day and night.

With a bedside attachment like a bedside co-sleeper, your baby gets to lie by your side all night long. And better yet: they get to do in a sleep surface free from the too-plush blankets, pillows, and other bedding that you rely on to keep you comfy and cozy (ones that are an A+ for adult comfort but a solid F when it comes to baby safety).

Do Experts Recommend Promoting Safe Sleep with a Co-Sleeper?

Just like the American Academy of Pediatrics makes a distinction between co sleeping in bed through bed sharing and co-sleeping with a safe tool like a bedside co-sleeper, so do other experts.

In a survey of different infant sleeping practices, researchers made a distinction between co-sleeping and bed sharing, noting the key risks that come from babies being surrounded by plush bedding and covers while bed sharing.

These risks are ones that can be avoided by using a safe bedside co-sleeper. One that prioritizes your baby’s comfort while also giving them a firm and non-plush surface to rest their head and sleep peacefully.

Bedside co-sleepers offer many families an opportunity to balance lifestyle considerations and safety ones. With one set up safely bedside your bed, you’re able to enjoy all the nurturing, peaceful hours of catching Zs within arm’s reach of your little one…while also promoting safe sleep while co-sleeping in bed.

Which sounds like a win-win for many families, and could be the perfect one for yours.

Why Co Sleeping and Breastfeeding Go Together So Well

Posted on May 1, 2023May 1, 2023 by Admin babybay

There are many reasons why parents may choose to breastfeed. And even more reasons why parents might choose to get more sleep while making their nights easier by taking advantage of the connection between co-sleeping and breastfeeding.

Maybe they’ve heard about the many benefits of breastfeeding (like giving baby better protection against short and long-term illness) or read one of the academic studies that explores how breastfeeding supports both maternal and infant health.

Perhaps they’ve even read the stats about how breastfeeding can save parents between $1,200-1,500 in their baby’s first year. (Definitely not something to sneeze at!)

Regardless of why they make the decision, around three out of four mothers in the U.S. choose breastfeeding over buying formula. And many of those families take advantage of the co-sleeping and breastfeeding connection to make nighttime nursing even easier.

While breastfeeding may not be an option for every mother or family, co sleeping can positively support baby health while making it easier for parents to get a night of good rest. Here’s how…

First Thing’s First: What Is Breastfeeding While Co-Sleeping Like?

Newborn babies have a schedule all their own. (As any new parent will tell you after getting up with their baby multiple times in one night!).

It will take your baby a while (on average around 6 months of life) before they’ll be able to get a full 6-8 hours of shut-eye without waking up every hour or so.

The “why” behind that crazy baby sleep schedule often boils down to their undeveloped circadian rhythm.

As it turns out, it takes time for your baby to develop a healthy circadian rhythm (the internal clock that helps us stay awake when the sun is up and get rest when the sun goes down). After spending so long in the womb, your baby is not exactly accustomed to the changes of day and night, which makes it challenging for them to stay asleep for long stretches of time.

Not only that, their tiny tummies can’t hold much food. Your baby will double their weight in the first 5 months of life, and that kind of quick growth requires plenty of nutrients.

This is why your baby may call for food every few hours when they’re first born. (And why you as a breastfeeding parent are likely to wake up several times throughout the night to give them a much-needed helping hand for their hunger.)

Together, the combo of a tiny tummy and an undeveloped circadian rhythm can lead breastfed babies to stay up all night – while their parents happen to stay up with them.

But luckily, “staying up all night” doesn’t have to be the name of the game when it comes to caring for your baby through the night while responding to every hunger cue with breastfeeding. That’s where co-sleeping comes in to make nights with your newborn easier and more comfortable.

The Convenience and Ease of Co-Sleeping Cribs

Many breastfeeding mothers choose to get more and more restful sleep with a co-sleeper or bedside crib, which offer a safer alternative to inviting your baby into bed with you to sleep away the night.

With the help of a co sleeper or bedside crib, you don’t even need to get out of the comfort of your bed to care for their baby’s needs (which many families with a newborn baby count as a big, big plus!).

While breastfeeding mothers who are not relying on a co-sleeper may need to groggily get out of bed every two to four hours, co-sleepers allow you to stay relaxed and comfortable while offering your baby the nurturing and nutrients they need.

And while getting out of bed and reaching over crib bars might not sound like too much of an inconvenience at first, having to make the trip multiple times throughout the night can easily leave nighttime feeding feeling like a chore.

Co-sleepers make it easier to care for your breastfed babies during the night, while waking up more comfortable and rested in the morning. That’s why they remain one of the most popular sleeping options for breastfeeding families around the world.

Breastfeeding and C-Sections: How Co-Sleeping Makes Everything More Comfortable

Getting sleep after c-section can be a challenge. Scratch that: getting sleep after c-section can feel near-impossible to some mothers. Add breastfeeding into the mix and it can easily lead to some sleepless nights for mama.

Though c-sections are one of the most common ways to welcome your baby into the world (about 1 in 3 babies are born this way in the United States every year), it’s important to remember the c-sections are still major abdominal surgery.

And while caring for your baby all night long definitely is Priority #1 for new parents, caring for your healing body by giving it the rest and lying-down time it needs is just as important.

Sleeping after c-section with the help of a co-sleeper or bedside bassinet can help your wounds heal by totally eliminating the dozens of trips across the rooms that mothers using a crib have to take each night. It also cuts down on the time you’ll spend bending over and reaching across crib bars, which cuts down on the kind of pulling motion that irritates your healing c-section abdomen.

That’s why many mothers who have delivered their baby via c-section choose co-sleeping after birth, or quickly swap out their crib for a “no bending over needed” co-sleeper for the time it takes their body to rest and heal.

One of the Comfiest Ways to Care for Your Little One: Co-Sleeping and Breastfeeding Lying Down

Breastfeeding lying down can be a tricky position for new moms to learn, but it can also be one of the most comfortable ways to feed your baby at night.

Lying down can make the breastfeeding experience more relaxing for you, and it can be a way to minimize sleep disruption when you need to feed your baby at night.

Some experts even believe that this position helps babies nurse better, because there’s less pressure on the baby’s neck and head.

During the first months of life, this position can also help a fussy baby get a good latch by calming them down and putting them in a better position.

For some parents, breastfeeding a newborn at night means waking up, walking around, and finding ways to wake up their body enough that they’ll be able to support baby health without succumbing to exhaustion and lying back down.

And while this can help the breastfeeding mother feel awake enough to breastfeed their baby comfortably, it can be hard to lie back down and get back to sweet sleep after spending so much energy becoming alert.

When using a co-sleeping baby bed to remain comfortable while breastfeeding lying down, you’re able to remain in a restful state while feeding your little one. Which makes it easier to get back to sleep once the time comes.

This helps parents get more sleep during the night by making it easier to transition between being awake and falling back to sleep (which for parents of a newborn, is a major win!).

A Big Co-Sleeping Benefit: Better Nights of Rest

Though there are many co-sleeping benefits to enjoy (including a boosted immune system and better bonding between you and baby), the more restful nights of sleep that both you and your baby enjoy are a big plus.

When you sleep no more than an arm’s reach from your baby, you’re able to respond to every one of their nighttime needs — including their hunger calls — easily, and without needing to fully get out of bed to do it.

That means you and your baby get to take advantage of all the benefits of breastfeeding, without struggling to get sweet sleep while nighttime feeding.

That’s one of the main reasons why co-sleeping and breastfeeding go together so well: You’re able to give your baby everything they need during the night, while also giving your body the rest and relaxation you need as a parent.

Interested in discovering more about co-sleeping or starting out on your own safe co-sleeping journey?

Learn more about what co sleeping is and how to know if it’s right for you, or take a peek at our guide to safe and restful co sleeping for you and your newborn baby.