Admin babybay, Author at babybay

Is Your Baby’s Crib Exposing Them to Toxins? Here’s What You Need to Know

Posted on January 16, 2024February 21, 2024 by Admin babybay

During the first days of their life, your baby will need a total of 14-17 hours of sleep a day. (That’s around 1260 hours of sleep before your little one even reaches the 3 month mark!). Which is why for parents seeking out the right baby crib, non-toxic options go straight to the top of the “must-get” list.

Because if your baby is going to spend more hours a day asleep than they spend awake…it’s important to have a crib or co-sleeper that checks off all the right safety boxes for you and your family.

So what certifications do you need to look out for when seeking out a crib or co-sleeper that your baby can call their happy, snuggling place for the first sleep-filled months of their life? And what chemicals come with the biggest warning signs for newborns?

But First: Why Do the Materials of Your Baby’s Crib Matter So Much?

We know you want the best for your baby. That’s why you’re on this page: making it a point to research the products that your baby will frequently come into contact with during their first days (and throughout their life).

As you decide on the sleep environment that’s best for your family, there’s something you should know: not all cribs/bassinets/co-sleepers are made alike. Without knowing what safety certifications and materials to choose, you run the risk of opting for a sleeper that is made with toxic materials which can pose a short-term or long-term threat to your baby’s health.

Certain paints, glues, woods, and plastics can emit harmful chemicals and gasses known to cause cognitive delays, chronic health issues such as allergies, asthma, kidney failure, cancer, and more.

In fact, one study found that infants are exposed to high levels of chemical emissions through their continued contact with crib mattresses. Especially since body heat can increase the emissions your baby is exposed to as they sleep.

Though it’s not uncommon for household products — like new laminate flooring or fresh paint — to emit VOCs, there’s one big difference between these products releasing emissions and your baby’s crib releasing emissions:

Because of your little one’s 14-17 hours a day sleep schedule, they aren’t just exposed to these VOCs for a limited time. They’re exposed to these VOCs all the time.

That’s why getting a mattress and baby crib that you feel confident in is such an important part of prepping for your little one’s arrival.

Crib Safety Standards: What You Should Know

It’s kind of hard to believe, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission (or CPSC: the branch of the United States government responsible for keeping people safe when it comes to the products they buy) didn’t even set a universal safety standard for baby cribs until 2011.

Before then, baby crib production was kind of like the wild, wild west. Manufacturers would set their own policies about what materials they would — and would not — use in their products (with mixed degrees of care for how certain materials would affect your little one long-term).

There were such big differences in how manufacturers chose to construct their cribs (and with what materials) that the Consumer Product Safety Commission now considers antique baby cribs one of their “Most Wanted” and most risky products.

But still to this day, the CPSC is far more focused on how to construct safe cribs than they are on how to get manufacturers to choose non-toxic materials.

Meaning that crib manufacturers are still largely not held to a higher standard when it comes to seeking baby cribs that are non-toxic for your little one. Leaving it to you to seek out crib or co-sleeper manufacturers that hold a higher standard by being fully committed to protecting you and your little one from things like VOCs.

Safety Certifications That Indicate a Non-Toxic Baby Crib

Certain organizations have taken it upon themselves to hold crib manufacturers to a higher standard. In response, certain crib manufacturers have stepped up to the plate to match — or even exceed — these standards. By offering your baby the healthiest products on the market.

The standards listed below are frequently updated to adapt to changes in the market, especially as new technology becomes available to make higher safety standards even more possible. They offer a guide of what certifications to look for when shopping for the healthiest and most non-toxic crib options for your baby.

✔ ASTM International (Formerly the American Society for Testing Materials)

ASTM International was founded 125 years ago with one goal: to make sure that products are made more safely, more frequently.

As the story goes, the organization was first formed by a team of scientists and engineers who were tired with railroad tracks breaking and endangering consumers. In an effort to build consumer confidence and safety, they came together to form what has now become one of the biggest global organizations for holding products to a higher standard.

Their extensive standards (developed by 150 committees made up of international experts in their field) focus on the structural safety of a product — how it’s built, it’s ability to maintain safety with normal wear and tear, the safety of the materials used, the toxins used in finishes, and far more.

When you see this certification symbol in baby cribs or co-sleepers promising to be non-toxic (the way that babybay leads the market by proudly putting all its non-toxic co-sleepers to the ASTM test), you can be confident that you’re choosing a crib for your little one where safety takes center stage.

✔ OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100

The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label guarantees that each and every material used in the process of making a product is 100% safe for your baby.

That covers all the materials used in the production of your baby crib: non-toxic threads and non-toxic buttons. Non-toxic finishes and non-toxic mattresses.

If there’s an OEKO-TEX certification on your baby’s crib, it means the manufacturer has carefully considered it all — and left no safety box unchecked.

Arguably the most rigorous testing criteria of them all, OEKO-TEX searches for both regulated and non-regulated substances, going beyond national and international requirements to cover every possible concern that could affect your baby’s health. (In other terms: its testing criteria goes well beyond the standards set by organizations like the CPSC).

What Makes a Baby Crib Non-Toxic? (And What Red Flags Say “Stay Away”?)

Certain chemicals in common consumer products get plenty of press. And others are flying under the radar, playing a lead role in your baby’s crib manufacturing while not getting talked about enough.

If you’re on the hunt for a baby crib or co-sleeper that truly taxes being non-toxic seriously (the way that safety-focused manufacturer babybay does), these are the chemicals and products that your crib should be free from:

🚫 VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs are gasses emitted from certain woods, glues, and paint finishes. On items kept indoors, they can be up to 10x more harmful: especially to babies.

Why babies?

Because they spend most of their day sleeping — while continuing to breathe these VOCs in. They’re also still developing in body and mind, which makes them far more likely to be affected by the presence of VOCs than adults will be.

What qualifies as a VOC? Formaldehyde, benzene, phenol, phthalates, and a slew of other gasses that are hard to pronounce. Whatever the name (and the ease of pronunciation), one thing is clear: there’s no reason to want them anywhere near your baby.

When chronic exposure to VOCs occurs, it can cause respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, impaired memory, and visual disorders in the short term. In the long-term, VOCs have been associated with damage to the nervous system, kidney, and liver. As well as greater risks of cancer.

How to avoid:

If your crib has been manufactured with glues, plastics, or adhesives it’s best to look for a “NO VOC” label, or one of the higher-standard safety certifications listed above.

🚫 PVC and Phthalates

PVC and phthalates are often found in soft plastics or as an additive that gives fragrance to products. If a product you’re using smells artificial: it probably is. PVCs and Phthalates are known for making allergies worse in children.

In one global study, phthalates were shown to increase the risk of asthma and eczema. With some even claiming that they can affect a child’s behavior and development over time.

How to avoid:

Choose phthalate-free products when you can, looking at the labels for indication of whether they’ve set a higher standard for keeping your baby from being exposed.

🚫 BPA and BPS

BPA and BPS are often used in the making of clear hard plastics. They have been shown to affect the brain and prostate gland in infants and children, though some claim that these chemicals can affect behavior patterns as well.

How to avoid:

BPA, in particular, is often found in the lining of canned goods across the United States. Looking for canned goods that have been packaged BPA-free can help limit exposure.

Most manufacturers have switched to BPA-free options when it comes to things like water bottles for your children. But it’s still recommended that you seek out glass alternatives if you’d like to limit exposure to BPA and BPS.

🚫 Flame Retardant Chemicals:

Baby products like cribs and mattresses have a long and complicated history with flame retardants. In the 1970s, flame retardants started being added to commercial products in an effort to meet flammability standards.

Fast forward a few decades and several studies have concluded that flame retardants can build up in the tissues to cause cancer, disrupt hormones, and lead to neurodevelopment changes in children.

In a shocking move, one study reported that brominated flame retardants now contribute more to I.Q. loss and intellectual disability than lead.

How to avoid:

The easiest and most effective way to avoid flame retardants is simply to seek out products that don’t use them. Look for baby product manufacturers that proudly declare “no flame retardants” or “flame retardant free.” To keep full confidence that the products your baby is playing, growing, smiling in don’t come with unwanted chemicals in tow.

What about wood? Is that a better baby crib non-toxic option?

This may come as a shock, but not all types of wood are equally safe for babies and children. When it comes to selecting wooden cribs, wooden furniture, or wooden toys that do take top marks for safety, there are two main things to consider:

1). The type of wood used

2). The type of finishes used

Type of wood

Woods that splinter easily are never good options for babies and children, since they can lead to accidental injury over time. When looking for wooden cribs or wooden furniture for your little one, always opt for solid hardwoods. If you need a handy guide of what classifies as hard vs. soft wood, look out for these types as you shop:

✔SAFE	🚫AVOID
Beechwood Hickory Oak Maple Cherry	Cedar Douglas fir Juniper Pine Redwood Spruce

Type of finishes

When crib manufacturers choose to use solid softwood or other cheap materials like particleboard and plywood, they’ll often turn to glues and hard adhesive materials to keep them together.

Water-based paints are the only non-VOC emitting paints available on the market.

Though water-based glues and water-based finishes are available, many crib manufacturers choose not to jump through the hoops it takes to replace the more chemically-dense adhesive materials that are still common.

The more toxic alternatives to water-based finishes are likely to include VOCs or other toxins, particularly formaldehyde. That’s why it’s so important to seek out a baby crib crafted by a company that is fully committed to being non-toxic.

So..what’s the best non-toxic baby crib on the market?

In a study in 2014, the Center for Environmental Health found that over half the biggest names in the baby product market are still using harmful flame retardants in their products. And though over a decade has passed since this research came out, the lack of regulation around many chemicals still leads manufacturers to craft cribs and co-sleepers with cheaper materials and more toxic options.

babybay is the ONLY eco-friendly, fully non-toxic, fully attachable co-sleeper on the market. And we’re not keeping that hidden.

Because we believe that when it comes to your family, you should have confidence in the crib that your baby is sleeping in.

What Is Babybay All About?

babybay offers a line of all-natural, sustainably sourced, eco-friendly bedside sleepers to promote a healthy sleep environment for your newborn. Unlike other co-sleepers and cribs on the market, babybay uses no plastics or harmful glues. All finishes are low to zero VOC and certified non-toxic.

Each babybay is expertly engineered and crafted using non-toxic materials:

100% natural beechwood
Water-based wood glue
Water-based finishes without VOCs
Metal hardware, made without heavy metals such as lead or cadmium
No medium-density fiberboard, fillers, or artificial materials. Ever.

When you want the safest option when it comes to your baby’s crib, non-toxic solutions like the babybay bedside sleeper take the guesswork out of safe sleep. Ready to see more about what babybay is about?

How to Safely Co-Sleep with a Newborn Baby (Fully Without Stress)

Posted on December 30, 2023January 15, 2024 by Admin babybay

Co-sleeping is not a new practice. For most of recorded history, parents have ensured the safety and healthy development of their little one by sharing a sleeping space with them. (And by knowing the ins and outs of how to safely co-sleep to soak all kinds of benefits up!)

For many parents, co-sleeping can make breastfeeding easier. While also making it easier for you and your family to get a more peaceful, more nurturing night of rest.

But knowing how to safely co-sleep with a newborn is the secret behind feeling the full impact of all those benefits…while still getting the kind of nighttime peace of mind that leaves you waking up well-rested.

So whether you’re new to co-sleeping or just want a refresher on how to safely co-sleep with your little one, here are a few co-sleeping should-dos to keep in mind.

What You Should Know About Safe Co-Sleeping Before We Dig In

To this day, many cultures around the world sing the praises of co-sleeping.

They consider the sleep practice a normal — and natural — way of easing your baby’s stress while helping them learn to breathe regularly. And also helping them develop healthily in body and mind.

(Fun fact: mothers in countries like Guatemala and Japan have been known to express shock and disapproval when told that children in other countries are expected to participate in solitary sleeping.)

Studies have confirmed that co-sleeping is a safe practice that improves your sleep as a parent, supports your baby’s healthy development, and promotes bonding with your baby through proximity and touch. (A perfect trifecta that makes parents sing the sleep practice’s praises.)

Though co-sleeping is one of the oldest and most popular methods of sleeping with a newborn around the world, getting the safety dos and don’ts of co-sleeping with a newborn down is what leads to peace of mind. While also leading to long and restful nights of sleep for the whole family.

So let’s dig into those dos and don’ts…

What a Safe Co-Sleeping Environment Looks Like (and How to Prepare Your Own)

Before you and your baby can tuck in for a more caring and nurturing night of rest, your co-sleeping environment should be prepped for peaceful nights of catching Z’s.

Though it might be tempting to settle in and just invite your baby to share your own mattress, this sleeping position (which is often called bed sharing) can put your co-sleeping newborn at risk.

That’s because sharing a mattress with your newborn often means surrounding them with super-soft pillows and blankets that aren’t built with their safety in mind.

To create a safe co-sleeping environment (the kind that will deliver all the benefits you’re after while also delivering the peace of mind you deserve) there are four key “must-dos” to remember to safely co-sleep with a newborn:

Co-sleep with your baby close
Create the right room conditions
Ensure your baby’s safe sleep position
Choose the right bedside sleeper

Co-Sleep with Your Baby By Your Side

There’s nothing better than turning over in the middle of the night to see your little one sleeping sweet and sound — eyes closed and the kind of gentle smile on their face that lets you know that they’re resting easy.

Parents who choose co-sleeping cite the extra bonding time as one of the biggest benefits: and we can’t help but agree. (The extra bonding time is one of the big reasons we love co-sleeping so much!)

Because when you sleep no more than an arm’s reach away from your little one, you have plenty of extra time to take in their features, listen to every gentle coo, and care for every small crisis call that comes through the night.

That kind of nighttime bliss can’t be beat. But you can put the brakes on that bonding — and foster a potentially unsafe sleeping environment — if you choose to sleep too far away.

What the AAP has to say:

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) safe sleep guidelines, you should be within easy reach of your sleeping baby for at least the first six months of their life. That’s to make sure that you’re always around when a crisis call hits, no matter how big or small.

But sleeping close to your baby gives more benefits than just quick response times.

According to scientific research, sleeping next to your baby has historically been a way for babies to learn how to regulate their breathing patterns in positive ways. That’s because when you’re breathing close enough to your baby for them to hear you easily, they’ll start naturally matching your breathing rhythm (cool, right?).

Which is a pretty amazing way of saying that co-sleeping with a baby isn’t just a way to bond on an emotional level. Every part of your baby’s system and your baby’s healthy development processes will benefit from the act of sleeping close to you. Starting with the comfort they feel by having you there by their side every minute of the night.

Create the Right Room Conditions for Safe Co-Sleeping

Dark. Light. With the window open. With the window closed. With the thermostat set to a toasty 82 degrees.

We all have an opinion on what kind of conditions create the best night’s rest.

But when co-sleeping, the room conditions need to be designed with your baby’s needs in mind.

That means the room shouldn’t be too toasty (aim for between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit).

There also shouldn’t be extra pillows, stuffed animals, or blankets crowding the mattress. (These kinds of fluffy materials can quickly grow unsafe if a baby rolls onto them or gets wrapped up during the night.)

And even if you love the feeling of being extra-hot through the night (we can’t blame you for wanting to beat that winter chill or make the most of the summer heat!), welcoming your newborn baby might mean putting those preferences away for a little while. Because as soon as your baby takes up residence in your room, it’s time to start thinking of it as their space as well as yours.

But there’s good news: you don’t have to fully let go of your old sleep habits to guarantee that your baby is protected, well-rested, and unconditionally supported throughout the night.

By choosing a bedside sleeper that is expertly engineered with your baby’s comfort in mind (and beautifully designed with 100% beechwood to be eco-friendly and fit your bedroom style!), you can create a cozy environment for both you and your newborn. While taking all of the guesswork out of how to safely co-sleep.

Even better: you’ll soon be rewarded for your efforts. Because you’ll be enjoying more sleep (get ready for your new parent friends to be jealous!) and curbing separation anxiety while making nighttime nursing easier than ever.

Ensure Your Baby’s Safe Sleeping Position

There’s no debate or discussion about this one: experts agree that babies should sleep on their backs (just ask the American Academy of Pediatrics—or any other trusted source!).

And though expert consensus on this is fairly new (there weren’t firm guidelines on safe sleeping positions for babies until around the late 20th century), trusted voices have been on board with the necessity of a firm sleep space for a while now.

In case this baby is your first (or you just need a refresh!), the surface underneath your baby should always be firm and clean. Any blankets should also be light and kept far away from covering your baby’s head.

When you’re co-sleeping, these guidelines remain the same.

It’s important that your baby has space to lie comfortably — and safely — on a made-just-for-them mattress that isn’t too soft or pillowed. Babies can easily sink into too-soft bedding, which can quickly become dangerous if they’re not yet old enough to know how to safely roll away from too-plush materials.

But just because your baby is sleeping on a firm mattress doesn’t mean they’ll be left feeling uncomfy through the night.

With the right parent and baby-loved bedside co-sleeper to keep them cozy and secure, they’ll be able to fall asleep every night while feeling like they’re on cloud nine. Because the best bedside co-sleeper isn’t just designed to keep your little one safe by your side, it’s designed to nurture them in the loving half-moon shape of a hug, wrapping them in comfort whether day or night.

Which brings us to…

Taking all the Guesswork Out of How to Safely Co-Sleep

While you may prefer a weightless waterbed or a soft-as-a-cloud pillow topper that leaves you feeling like you’re sleeping on air, babies need baby-secure beds that have been rigorously tested for safety.

And while many crib and bedside co-sleeper manufacturers promise safety, they also build your baby’s sleeper out of cheap fillers and plastics, while being finished in toxic chemicals and varnish that leach harmful gasses all night long.

By choosing a bedside co-sleeper that is made of eco-friendly, fully non-toxic, and ethically-sourced beechwood, you won’t just experience all the expected co-sleeping benefits. You’ll also feel the difference that going with an all-natural option makes.

Because while adult mattresses just weren’t designed to properly support your baby (that’s the hard but honest truth!), made-just-for-them mattresses like the kind you’ll find on the best bedside co-sleeper will sit tightly against the co-sleeper frame so there are no gaps, space, or crevices that your baby could accidentally slip into.

By choosing a product specially designed by experts to provide a safe co-sleeping environment, you can spend less time worrying about how to safely co-sleep — and spend more time catching Z’s while your little one calmly and restfully sleeps by your side.

Because enjoying the feeling of spending more time sleeping beside your baby, knowing that they are spending their night comforted and protected by your nearby touch?

That’s just priceless.

What Makes a Co-Sleeper Safe? (What You Should Look For When Buying)

Posted on December 13, 2023January 5, 2024 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.

Believe it or not, crib safety standards the way we know them now didn’t even come into effect until 2011. (That’s why you’ll see plenty of people, including representatives from the Consumer Product Safety Commission — aka: the group in the US government responsible for looking out for the interests of consumers — warning about the dangers of repurposing antique cribs.)

And while some crib and co-sleeper manufacturers had to rush to keep up with the new standards, others had been looking ahead to best support the safety needs of babies from the beginning.

That’s why choosing a bedside co-sleeper (or any baby crib or bedside sleep tool for that matter!) isn’t as simple as looking online, seeking out your favorite colors, and hunting around for something that will perfectly match your bedroom decor. (The way you would when getting a new lamp, bed frame, or other piece of furniture.)

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. Along the way, we’ll also show you how to choose the baby sleep tool that’s safest for your little one.

What Do I Need to Know About Co-Sleeping Before Buying a Bedside Sleeper?

Before there were cribs for babies to sleep in, there was family co-sleeping.

Co-sleeping has long been the most favored sleep practice in the world. It’s practiced by a majority of families in countries like Sweden and Japan. And upon doing a comprehensive study, one anthropologist found it to be the go-to sleep set-up for almost 70% of children living around the world.

It’s clear that co-sleeping is loved by millions of families worldwide: and that’s for good reason! Dr. James J. McKenna — the founder and director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame — discovered that babies who co-sleep have an easier time breathing more regularly. They also experience less stress (along with a host of other well-documented co-sleeping benefits!).

But You Should Know: Co-Sleeping with a Bedside Sleeper Is Not the Same As Bed Sharing

Using a bedside sleeper and participating in bed sharing: these are two very different practices, though they often end up being grouped under the same “co-sleeping” umbrella.

In bed sharing, you invite your baby to share your bed and your mattress for the night. When using a co-sleeper, you sleep with your baby by your side: while keeping them snug in a safe sleep space made just for them.

Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to keep their baby sleeping a made-just-for-them sleep space separate from the mattress of their own bed. 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. Which can lead to unexpected risks — or nights spent tossing and turning while worrying about your baby’s safety.

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 (like a safely-engineered bedside sleeper) will make sure your baby has a secure and nurturing place to rest through the night. While giving you the comfort of being close to them all night long.

Not All Bedside Co-Sleepers Are Created Equal: Here’s What You Should Know

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 a bedside sleeper 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 a sleeper 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 so your baby feels snugly cradled all night long (which means no slips, trips, or unexpected roll-overs at the end of the day).

This shape helps your little one catch their 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 care of your chosen co-sleeper is just as important as the design that defines it.

Baby Safety Standards & 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. Not only that, but your baby can up the amount of emissions released: just with their body heat.

These emissions also happen to be strongest in the area of the crib mattress where your baby breathes, making it near-impossible for your little one 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 be found in other parts of your baby’s crib as well (like the crib frames they sleep beside).

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 Out There?

Only you know what safe sleep tool will perfectly support the needs of your family. But since 2003, babybay co-sleepers have been 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.

These co-sleepers are known for 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 the practice of co-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.

[Create Your babybay]

What Is Co-Sleeping and How Do I Know if It’s Right for My Baby?

Posted on December 3, 2023January 3, 2024 by Admin babybay

So what is co-sleeping?

You could be a preparing parent-to-be. Or you could be a parent pregnant with their second baby, wanting a sleep solution that gives you more — and better — nights of sleep than you got with your first. Or you could have just heard about co-sleeping on the playground and be sitting on this page wondering what all the hype is about.

No matter what made you want to discover more about one of the most time-loved sleep practices out there, one thing is true: you’re not the first person to wonder whether co-sleeping offers parents and baby a more peaceful, health-promoting way to sleep.

In countries like Sweden and Japan, co-sleeping is the norm. One study found that 72% of Swedish families co-sleep with their children, while mothers in Guatemala have been known to respond with disbelief — and also concern — when told that some babies around the world sleep without their parent by their side.

Where a child sleeps has long been a conversation in the United States, especially as early versions of the modern-day cribs were invented (and became popularized) throughout the 1600s-1800s.

But families are increasingly celebrating co-sleeping as a practice that fosters the healthy independence, healthy emotional regulation, and healthy physical development of newborn babies.

We’re about to break down the what, why, and how of co-sleeping: while giving you all the inside insights you need to know whether the world-loved and time-honored practice of co-sleeping is right for you and your family.

Let’s Start with the Basics: What is Co-Sleeping?

“Co-sleeping” is often used as a catch-all term to describe the experience of sleeping with your baby close by. But in reality, co-sleeping may look a little different for every family.

When you think of the word “co-sleep,” you might get an image of a family cuddled up close to each other all night long: sharing a bed as well as sharing a sleep space.

However, this is only one version of what co-sleeping can look like.

Parents may lay their child in a safe bedside sleeper that attaches to the side of their own bed. Or they might invite their baby to share a bed with them, while staying nestled up to them all night long. Or they might share a bedroom with their child, while encouraging their baby to sleep in a separate crib space. (This kind of sleep practice is more often — and more accurately — referred to as “room sharing”).

All of these can be considered versions of co-sleeping.

What the American Academy of Pediatrics has to say:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all parents sleep in the same room with their baby (or “room share”) through at least the 6-month mark, but ideally through the first year.

When this “room sharing” recommendation from the AAP is paired with a safe sleep tool like a bedside co-sleeper, it easily starts to fall into the c0-sleeping category as well.

With safe sleep tools like bedside sleepers, parents are able to sleep with their newborn baby only an arm’s reach away (making nighttime nursing a breeze). While still giving their little one a safe sleep space that has been designed to perfectly support their health and comfort.

When Did Co-Sleeping Become a Thing?

Though parents in many modern Western countries have popularized separate bedrooms and detached cribs, for thousands of years parents have been going to sleep with their newborn baby curled up close to their side.

In fact, parents from many different cultures have long understood that co-sleeping promotes healthy emotional and physical development while bonding you and your baby, easing the stress of nighttime nursing, and gifting everyone in the house a more restful night of rest.

But as soon as mattresses and cribs became the new in-trend home fashion statement of the 19th century, parents in the Western world increasingly kicked children out of their own beds and moved them into mattresses and rooms of their own. In America, Canada, and Europe, some parents continue to move children out of their own bedroom and encourage them to sleep through the night alone.

However, anthropologist John Whiting surveyed 186 cultures and found that solitary sleeping might be a Western trend, but it’s far from a universal norm. He discovered that almost 70% of children living and growing around the world sleep in the company of others.

Whiting’s research shows that co-sleeping isn’t just a trend — it’s the most popular and longest-loved sleeping practice in history.

Co-Sleeping Benefits: What Parents Love About the Sleep Practice

When it comes to co-sleeping benefits, there are some that support your body, some that support your mind, and some that are fully focused on helping your baby develop healthily.

Research has shown that parents remain physiologically connected their baby long after they’ve given birth.

Co-sleeping builds off this connection by setting parent and child in the close proximity they need to become responsive to breathing patterns and uniquely attuned to wakefulness.

Experts have also discovered that this kind of night-time close contact leads to a host of other benefits for baby, by helping them:

Stabilize their body temperature
Breathe more regularly (partly by matching their breathing patterns to their parents)
Use energy more efficiently
Grow more quickly
Feel more calm and experience fewer moments of heightened stress

Close night-time sleeping also helps mothers (especially those who are getting used to getting sleep after c-section) by making it easy to nighttime nurse without getting out of bed, or offer comfort without continuously needing to reach over crib bars.

But How Does Co-Sleeping Deliver All These Benefits?

To grow healthily in body and mind, your baby needs to be able to receive — and respond to — a ton of sensory feedback. When babies are shut alone in their room at night, they lose the opportunity to grow their sensory awareness during their sleeping hours.

But when babies are able to sleep close to others, they learn to bond and build meaningful connections while learning, growing, and developing an ability to separate and identify different sensory input.

This helps them breathe more regularly, while experiencing less stress overall by learning what it feels like to be safe, secure, and protected.

(And that’s good news—because when babies are less stressed, they put more energy into healthy growth and reap the rewards of a healthier immune system!)

Before We Go: What Is the Difference Between Co-Sleeping and Bed Sharing?

Many parents who start to explore co-sleeping will find another term pop up in their suggested searches: bed sharing.

Bed sharing is just as it sounds — it’s the practice of inviting your newborn not just into your bedroom, but onto your mattress as well.

Though bed sharing may boast some of the same benefits as other forms of co-sleeping — including increased bonding between parents and child and a less stressful night’s sleep for all — it is also sometimes seen to be less safe.

The feather-topped, super-soft, oh-so-pillowy mattresses that most of the Western world prefers can’t properly support your baby throughout the night. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, your baby needs firmness and stability under their body while they sleep to ensure their body’s healthy growth.

Though baby will love having you nearby as they rest, they won’t necessarily love your sleeping surface. Nor will they love all the extra blankets, pillows, and other comfort materials that adults love to surround themselves with as they sleep.

As comfy as it might be for adults to tuck into a long night surrounded by a cloud of goose down, those comfort items can easily get wrapped around your baby throughout the night and lead to unsafe situations.

That’s why parents should — and do — choose safe sleep for babies when setting up their environment.

How Do You Promote Safe Sleep For Your Little One While Co-Sleeping?

By choosing a bedside sleeper that fits flush against their bed, parents like you can control the specifics of their baby’s environment. (The first step? Pick a bedside co sleeper that’s right for baby and right for your room!)

Your baby can sleep securely nestled within an arm’s reach of you, while feeling comforted and protected on a mattress that is firm enough to support them and ensure safe sleeping.

They can receive, learn, and grow from all the sensory input they receive throughout the night — while you sleep soundly knowing that they are safe in a bedside sleeper built just for them.

What Age is Co-Sleeping Safe for Your Baby?

Posted on November 16, 2023December 4, 2023 by Admin babybay

As soon as parents begin to consider co-sleeping as the sleep practice that will best support their family’s peaceful and restful sleep, there’s one question that always seems to come up: what age is co-sleeping safe for my baby?

To answer this question fully (and give your family all the tools you need to get full nights of stress-free sleep), there are a few important things to cover, ones like:

- How co-sleeping is different from room sharing or bed sharing (and why that difference matters)
- What tools are available to help support your co-sleeping journey…and how parents use them to help their baby get more sleep (while getting more sleep themselves)
- How your baby’s sleep set-up might change at the 5 or 6 month mark (and why this change is an exciting sign of healthy growth)
- What co-sleeping might look like past the 1-year mark (and how to safely sleep as your little one grows older)

We’re going to break it all down so that you can skip straight past the struggle of “trying to figure it all out” and get to the part where you’re getting more restful nights of sleep. While also helping your little one soak in all the co-sleeping benefits each night.

What Is Co-Sleeping and Why Does “What It Is” Matter So Much?

As soon as baby is born, most parents invite their newborn into their bedroom to sleep nearby for a form of co-sleeping called “room sharing.”

Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that room sharing is the safest method of caring for your newborn during the first 6 months of their life (and ideally the first year).

Unlike with some other forms of co-sleeping that involve inviting your baby into your bed to share a mattress, room sharing describes the practice of sleeping close to your baby while still giving them a sleep space all their own. One expertly-engineered to support their comfort and safety.

Choosing to sleep near your baby — while still giving them a space to rest that’s designed for them — lets you experience all the bonding and better rest-giving benefits of traditional forms of co-sleeping/ While also reducing the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.

How Co-Sleeping Tools Give You the Best of Both Sleeping Worlds

If you think that “room sharing” means giving up on your co-sleeping dreams and simply popping a crib in your shared sleep space…think again.

Co-sleeping tools like bedside sleepers have made it possible to get the sleep closeness you want at night, without having to worry about the safety of sharing a bed with your little one.

You won’t have to reach over bars…leave your bed…or walk across the room to put a loving hand on your baby’s back. And you won’t have to choose between soaking up co-sleeping benefits or keeping your little one in a crib.

By taking advantage of the sleep innovation that has come in the last few years from co-sleeping tools, caring for your little one is as easy as reaching over from where you’re comfortably cuddled in the sheets yourself.

How Bedside Co-Sleepers Get Involved in the Safe Sleep Conversation

Bedside co-sleepers are expertly-designed to offer you and baby a safe co-sleeping solution to maximize rest time, emotional bonding, and healthy development during the oh-so-important first months of their life.

They do this by giving your little one a firm, stable surface away from the plush and not-baby-friendly softness of your own mattress and blankets — while keeping them within arm’s reach of you all through the night.

There are several reasons why room sharing and separate surface co-sleeping take top prize when it comes to co-sleeping with your newborn during their first few months, ones that remain fully focused on safety and comfort:

Reason #1: It makes it easier to adjust to your baby’s sleep patterns (which makes sleep easier for you both)

When your baby is first born, they aren’t quite oriented to the differences between day and night. This is a truth that easily wreaks havoc on their (and your!) sleep schedule.

Until your baby develops their circadian rhythm — the 24-hour clock within all of us that regulates our patterns of sleepiness and alertness — your baby will have a hard time sleeping for more than a few hours at a time.

Being able to care for their every need (whether that means putting a comforting hand on them during a crisis call or helping them with nighttime feeding them when the times comes) without even leaving your bed can make it easier for you to give care without interrupting your own sleep.

Which means you can get more rest each night, while feeling less grogginess when you wake up in the morning.

Reason #2: It makes nighttime nursing easier.

When babies are first born, they have very tiny tummies. Combine that tiny tummy with all the energy they’re expending growing big and strong and you have the perfect recipe for needing to frequently feed.

Though every baby is different, your baby might call out for feeding every 2-4 hours. And while this might feel like a lot to keep up with during the day, it can feel even more challenging at night.

Choosing separate surface co-sleeping during your baby’s first days, weeks, and months (by choosing to use a bedside co-sleeper) can help you catch some much-needed extra shut-eye while quickly responding to baby’s every nursing need.

You’ll be able to provide them with milk that will help them grow big and strong without even getting out of bed. Which ends up being a win-win for them and you — because you’ll be keeping them happy and healthy while getting extra hours of sleep yourself.

Reason #3: Separate surface co-sleeping uniquely supports mommas post c-section.

Getting sleep after a c-section can be a challenge for some moms.

Just because c-sections are one of the most common ways to deliver a baby today (with c-sections accounting for 1 in 3 births in the US), that doesn’t mean they aren’t major surgery.

Moms need to rest after a c-section. And luckily, safe co-sleeping is one of the best ways for them to support their baby with nighttime feeding while still caring for their body by limiting how much movement they need to do.

Instead of reaching over crib bars or having to roll over and walk to another room in the house, bedside co-sleepers and other safe co-sleeping tools help mothers care for their little one right where they are — while supporting the needs of their still-healing body.

This makes them a no-brainer for many families who are getting back into the swing of things post c-section, and a no-brainer for many moms who find that the crib they purchased (with high bars they have to reach over multiple times a night) just isn’t a comfy enough solution as they heal.

How to Safely Co-Sleep with a 6-Month Old

Throughout Europe, models of bedside co-sleepers are endorsed for and regularly enjoyed by parents and baby up through one year of age. That means parents can support their little one with worry-free co-sleeping throughout all the early stages of their baby’s life.

(In fact, some pretty cool people like Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and German pro soccer player Sebastian Jung have been known to sleep with a babybay by their bedside during these important first months.)

Though the US only tests co-sleepers up through 5 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends continuing to room share with your baby through at least the 6-month mark.

For parents who want to continue to reap the emotional-bonding and healthy-growth benefits of co-sleeping past that 5-6 month mark, this might be a good time to convert your safe co-sleeper into a bedside bassinet that stays right by your bedside.

A bedside bassinet will take all the guesswork out of how to safely co-sleep with a 6-month old, while still giving them new room to grow their independence in a sleep space all their own.

How to Safely Co-Sleep with a 9-Month Old

By 9 months, your baby will be becoming increasingly independent. No longer content to simply lay on their back all through the night, they’ll likely feel the urge to move and crawl around during any break from sleep.

As your baby continues to explore their own mobility, your co-sleeping environment may need to be adapted to support their needs.

Though by now your baby is full of the adventurous spirit and can-do attitude they need to turn your mattress into a fun-filled playground, it’s better to save that kind of exploring for when you’re awake and watching.

The truth is, your baby might still be too young to be fully supported by the softness of your comfy-as-can-be mattress, blankets, and pillows. The wrong roll, twist, or turn during the night can leave baby struck with no clue how to get themselves out.

To keep baby safe, make sure that you move them to a space of their own by converting your safe co-sleeper into a bedside bassinet or standalone crib as soon as baby starts being filled with that must-move, must-dance, must-explore spirit.

The “How To” and Benefits of Co-Sleeping with a 1-Year-Old

As Dr. James J. McKenna — founder and director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame — discovered, co-sleeping supports babies by helping them breathe more regularly, maintain a consistent body temperature, use energy more efficiently to grow strong, and experience less stress.

Though these remain some key benefits of co-sleeping with a 1-year old, it’s also important to remember that every child is unique. The safety of different sleep set-ups will largely depend on your child’s developmental stages and how they line up with your needs as parents.

Between one to two years of age, your child will grow from a tiny bundle of joy into a free-moving and free-exploring adventurer who doesn’t just know how to get themselves into some fun-filled situations…but how to get out of them safely as well.

By this time, your child should be able to naturally be able to move out of, roll over, and free themselves from any kind of restraining blanket, pillow, or comfy comforter that comes their way. Which might give you reason to adjust your sleep set-up to suit.

The Big Takeaway When It Comes to Safe Co-Sleeping for Your Baby

Certain sleep tools like the babybay co-sleeper bassinet are expertly-designed to safely support your baby through their first several months of life (and take all the second-guessing out of answering the question: What age is co-sleeping safe?). But you’ll ultimately have to use your own judgement when deciding when your baby is ready to leave their co-sleeper and crib behind to try out a different sleep set-up.

(Because just like in everything when it comes to parenting, the only one who truly can decide what works best for your family is you.)

But until the day coms when it’s time to transition your baby to a crib, you can be confident that c0-sleeping is giving your child the emotional and physical support they need to grow independent and strong. Supported by a sleep practice that has been nurturing babies like yours for thousands of years.

Baby Separation Anxiety & Sleep: How to Ease Anxiousness and Get Quality Rest

Posted on November 2, 2023December 4, 2023 by Admin babybay

What do baby separation anxiety, sleep problems, and restless nights all have in common?

Well, they can all show up at a very particular moment in your baby’s healthy development journey.

It’s common for babies between 6 months and 3 years of age to exhibit signs of separation anxiety—the kind that leave them calling for mom and dad, crying when you leave the room, and getting clingy even when plenty of attention is being offered.

And though a little separation anxiety shouldn’t be a cause of concern, it can frustrate parents as they’re left exhausted and unsure how to give their little one what they need while still getting some sleep of their own.

So we’re going to break down what causes separation anxiety during a very particular stage of your child’s development, and what you can do to help!

Why Is Separation Anxiety a Part of My Child’s Healthy Development?

Your child’s healthy development journey is complex, and made up of a lot of stages that don’t always make sense to adults at first.

If your child is feeling anxious whenever you leave the room (or you have a baby fighting sleep as soon as it’s bedtime), it’s likely because they’ve reached the stage in their growth when they can process their own dependence.

During this stage, they begin to realize how important it is for adults nearby to offer them care. And that can lead to a little anxiety and a whole lot of restlessness.

Think of it this way: if your baby isn’t yet able to think through how dependent they are on the adults around them, they won’t feel anxiety when any of those adults go away.

But once they understand that adults are the ones who help them grow big and strong by offering them love and support, they’ll feel frustrated when those caregivers aren’t in their sight—which might lead to some tears and frustration from time to time.

At the end of day, these signs of anxiety aren’t a bad thing. They’re your child demonstrating love and appreciation for the many ways you care for them.

What Are the Signs of Separation Anxiety in Babies?

There are a few ways to tell that your baby has hit the healthy development stage when anxiety in babies appears.

You’ll probably notice your little one trying when you or another caregiver leave the room. But you also might notice more signs of clinginess, fussiness, or frustration on their part.

Some common signs of separation anxiety in newborns include:

Feelings of fear and anxiety when you or a caregiver leave the room or are out of sight
Screaming, crying, shaking, or hiding their face when someone new comes near
A disinterest in being held or approached by new people (and a clear interest in wanting to come back to your arms!)
Issues with going to sleep easily, or a frequent need to be comforted during the night

How Do I Handle Separation Anxiety in Babies?

Though anxiety in babies might not be a new or uncommon thing, there are still steps you can take to ease your baby’s overwhelmed feelings and help them get good sleep during the night.

Show Your Child Comfort (Consistently!)

Sure, this might sound like a no-brainer, but consistent comfort is the key to helping ease your baby’s anxiety.

The more consistently you offer comfort, the faster your child will learn that you’ll be there for them whenever a need pops up. Which means they’ll trust that you’ll be back every time you leave the room (and all those “please don’t leave me!” feelings will be gone).

Practice Leaving Your Baby

Leaving your baby can be hard—both for them and you! If your baby is hard to calm when mom and dad are away, practice leaving for little bits at a time. You can leave your baby in their crib or bedside co sleeper and sing or nurture them from a room away.

This will help them practice the self-soothing process when you’re away, while also helping them learn that you’ll always come back when you leave.

Nurture Independence—By Being Just an Arm’s Reach Away

Independence comes with trust. The more confident your baby is that you’ll always be there to care for them, the more confidently they’ll try new experiences and explore their world in more depth.

You can foster this independence from the moment your baby is born by safely co sleeping with a newborn or practicing other safe sleep solutions that keep you near your child through the night.

Your baby will appreciate the closeness this offers, which will help them have an easier time embracing their own independence once they transition to a crib or room of their own.

So that separation anxiety, sleep problems, and other common concerns feel like an easy transition for you and your family—and nights of sleep feel easy to achieve!

Why Is My Baby Fighting Sleep? (And What Can I Do About It?)

Posted on October 17, 2023November 6, 2023 by Admin babybay

It’s a familiar feeling for many parents: You’ve gone through a relaxing bedtime routine. Helped your newborn baby get comfortable in their crib or bedside co-sleeper. And now you’re just waiting for the snores to come. But you have a baby fighting sleep, which means as hard as you try to help your little one drift off to dreamland…they just won’t settle into sleep.

When it comes to sleep, babies aren’t so different from adults.

Sometimes they’re perfectly tired — so tired that they immediately drift off as soon as your head hits the mattress.

But other times, something is standing in their way. Whether that “something” is over-exhaustion, an unmet need (like hunger), or one of the other reasons on our list below, one thing is sure: helping them settle into sleep needs to be Priority #1 if you want to wake up in the morning without groggy eyes.

So why won’t your baby finally get the rest they need? And what can you do about it?

We’re about to break it down and tell you what might be wrong and how you can help, step by step.

Why Is My Baby Fighting Sleep?

If your baby is fighting sleep, they’re most likely:

Overtired
Not tired at all
Overstimulated
Still adjusting to a new sleep schedule
Uncomfortable, because they have needs that still have to be met
Feeling a little sick
Experiencing separation anxiety

The good news is that all of these are manageable—as long as you know what to do!

And once you help care for the underlying cause of why your baby is fighting the sleep they need, you’ll find it easy to nurture them toward rest.

(If you’re on the other side of the screen right about now thinking “but how will I know which of these is the problem?!” — don’t worry, we’ll give you tips for figuring that out too.)

When Your Baby Won’t Sleep Because They’re Overtired (Or Not Tired At All)

Babies sleep a lot. Which sure, shouldn’t come as a surprise to any parent.

But what might come as a surprise? You can expect your newborn baby to need between 14-17 hours a day. Which means that your little one will spend more hours a day asleep than they will awake!

Despite needing a lot of sleep, it can be hard for newborn babies to find the right balance between rest and wakefulness.

Babies have a small window when sleep becomes easy for them. If you lay them down when the time is right, they’ll be able to quickly close their eyes and enjoy their slumber with ease.

But if you miss that window—either by asking them to go to bed before they’re ready or by putting them to bed long long after they’re ready—they’ll likely struggle to catch those much-needed Zs.

How Overstimulation Makes It Hard for Your Baby to Get Sleep

How do you know if you’ve missed your baby’s perfect sleep window? Much of the time, it comes down to the level of stimulation they experience before being laid down to bed.

Babies are naturally social creatures. If they sense that some snuggle time is on the horizon, they’ll fight off dreamland for as long as they can. Everything from a phone screen to noisy toys to doting visitors can make babies feel like it’s near-impossible to calm down. Everything, that is, that clues them in that fun and entertainment is on the horizon for them.

Overstimulated babies are hard to put to bed. They’ll show you that they’re feeling the overstimulated energy by:

Crying excessively
Covering their eyes
Having glazed over eyes, or a clear sense of tension in their body
Turning their head away
Making jerky movements, especially with their legs

Once your baby is in an overstimulation state, their circadian rhythm (the natural process that helps them feel wakeful during the day and restful at night) becomes disturbed. They’ll need more help falling back into a state of restfulness.

Which might mean more support form you in the form of gentle massage, quiet nurturing, and care in the kind of quiet and dark room that clues them in that it’s time to settle.

How to Avoid Overstimulation At All

To avoid overstimulated babies—and the kind of stress that puts on you!—try to create the kind of nurturing bedtime routine that will set your little one up for nighttime success. Turn on some calming music, put the screens away, and get them ready to snooze before bedtime comes by creating the kind of nurturing sleep environment they crave.

What Happens When They’re Adjusting to Their New Baby Sleep Schedule

It might be easy for you to set a baby sleep schedule for your newborn, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for them to follow.

That’s because it takes a while for babies to develop their circadian rhythm, and it’s only natural that they feel some confusion throughout the transition.

In fact, it can take about 12 weeks for your newborn baby to develop their circadian rhythm.

During that building process, they’re going to have trouble understanding why certain hours of the day are devoted to sleep, while others are devoted to wakefulness.

It’s best to roll with this period of growth the best you can, while establishing a quiet and calm bedtime routine (think: dark rooms, gentle reading) that sets them up to snooze, even as their body and works hard to understand the why behind having to sleep during certain hours of the night.

Helping Your Baby Sleep By Checking That All Their Needs Are Met

If your baby isn’t sleeping, it might be worth a double-check to make sure they’re not hungry, in need of a diaper change, or otherwise needing a little extra help getting comfy.

Your baby’s body has a clear hierarchy of needs, and hunger is right at the top of that list. If they’re sleepy enough, they might be able to fall asleep hungry or ignore some other issue in the form of a dirty diaper. But if that sense of hunger is overriding their want for sleep? They won’t be able to settle until they have that need fully met.

Your baby eats a lot during their first few years as they work on growing big and strong. (On average, you can expect your baby to eat 8 to 12 times within a 24-hour period.)

Even if it doesn’t seem like the time is right for nighttime nursing, a little extra hunger could be keeping them awake. Checking that all those basic needs are taken care of is often the easiest — and most helpful — path to helping your little one settle down.

When You Have a Baby Fighting Sleep Because of Illness

All it takes is a little cold or ear infection to turn your baby’s nights restless.

Though fever is often one of the biggest warning signs of illness that parents look for, it’s not the only way to tell that germs might be the cause of your baby’s sleeplessness.

A general change in behavior is often the quickest way to tell that your baby isn’t feeling too well. Irritability or persistent crying at bedtime might be a sign that your baby needs a quick trip to the doctor. And so too can weird patterns of over sleepiness during the night or day.

If you really can’t get your baby to sleep, it might be worth checking with your doctor. It might also be helpful to look for other signs or symptoms that might cue you in to whether illness is keeping your little one awake.

How Babies Feel Separation Anxiety (And Why It Affects Sleep)

Separation anxiety can keep your baby from peacefully settling down for sleep – which is totally normal!

During a very particular stage of their development (that starts around the 6 month mark), your baby will start to feel frustrated when they feel like their parents are far away.

This is a natural part of their development, and reflects how comfortable they feel in your care. As well as how excited they are by the thought of trading time sleeping alone for some quality time socializing with you.

But if separation anxiety in your baby is keeping your whole family awake, offering your baby a calming way of feeling your presence can help.

For many families, choosing to sleep with a bedside co-sleeper can ease some of these early sleep concerns and make nighttime nursing and comforting easier by keeping your baby no more than an arm’s reach away. So can setting up a bassinet by the bed, or otherwise keeping your baby within easy arm’s reach through the night.

With a baby sleep tool like this by your bedside, it can take away all your concerns about baby fighting sleep and offer more peaceful nights of rest for them—and you!

The Takeaway: What Do I Do When My Baby Is Fighting Sleep?

When it comes to helping your baby get better rest, consistency will always be key. Setting a consistent bedtime routine can help your little one easily know when it’s time to trade the social hours of the day for the quiet hours of the night.

With things kept consistent, it will also be easier for you to tell when something outside the ordinary (like a sense of overstimulation or a small illness) could be upsetting your little one and making it harder to settle down.

So that you can offer care however they need it, and set the stage for better nights of rest for the whole family. Today, and all the many love-filled days to come.

How to Stop Co-Sleeping: A Step-by-Step Guide for Easing the Transition

Posted on September 26, 2023October 16, 2023 by Admin babybay

No matter how long you’ve been co-sleeping — or the reasons that brought you to the long-done sleep practice in the first place — there will come a time when you know it’s time to stop co-sleeping.

Maybe your little one has grown out of their bedside sleeper. Or maybe you’re starting to sense that everyone in the family (your little one included!) would get better rest if they were in a crib or room of their own.

Let’s get this out of the way from the get-go: no matter the “why” behind the timing, only you know when it’s the right time to stop co-sleeping.

Luckily, transitioning your little one away from this sleep practice doesn’t need to be a struggle. And it doesn’t need to be a “take months until you’re all desperate for sleep” kind of thing.

With a few gentle tips and pre-transition tricks, you’ll be able to easily nurture your baby into rest in their new crib or room. Without having to feel stressed out while doing it.

Know Your Where and Why

If you’re feeling like you need to do all the research, get the whole process down, and be fully “in the know” when it comes to easing the transition from co-sleeping before finally giving it a go: we get it.

It can be easy to over-invest in the “how-tos” behind a milestone like this. Or worry about whether getting it wrong will lead to mornings of bleary eyes for you and hard nights of tears for your little one.

But here’s the real secret behind making the transition from co-sleeping easier: give up on the over-Googling, and get in tune with your where and why.

Instead of trying to learn every little thing there is to know about how to stop co-sleeping as a first step in the process, prepare for this next important milestone by taking stock of where your baby is in their developmental journey. As well as why your family believes that transitioning from co-sleeping is the right next step for you.

Your where and why are valuable guides that will help you determine the best and smoothest transition strategy for you and your family.

So that you can make things easy from the first night. Instead of dealing with months of exhaustion and frustration as you try out whatever method a well-meaning relative or friend told you is “right.” (With little to no success, we might add.)

How to Stop Co-sleeping: What to Know About Your “Where”

If you’ve been co-sleeping with your baby through the first months of their life (as many parents do with the help of a bedside sleeper), then you’ll likely find that your baby’s developmental milestones are what’s driving you to switch up your sleep practice.

For some families, the time to stop co-sleeping comes when their baby becomes mobile enough to easily crawl, roll, or scoot out of the safety of their made-just-for-them sleep space and into the plusher bedding of their parent’s bed.

Safe co-sleeping tools like bedside co-sleepers are designed to nurture your baby in the protective and supported embrace of a made-just-for-them mattress. On the flip side, the plush bedding that adults prefer — which can include things like mattress pads, thick blankets, and layers of snuggly warmth — can easily wrap around your baby or leave their body unsupported through the night.

If you’re transitioning away from co-sleeping because your baby is starting to enter the exciting time in their life when they’re learning to roll and crawl, then you may be simply looking to move your baby away from your bed but not fully out of your room.

The “where” of where you want your baby’s final sleep destination to be can help you decide what transition strategy will work best to try.

If they’re simply moving to a crib on the other side of your room, then you might find it easier to go “all-in” with getting your little one used to their new sleep set-up. While moving them to a nursery down the hall might mean introducing a little extra prep work into your pre-transition strategy.

What to Do with Your Where: Easing the Transition from Co-Sleeping

If you’re simply moving your baby further away from your bed (but keeping them in your room with you):

Start by pushing your little one’s new baby bassinet or crib against your bed. Instead of keeping them side-by-side with you through the night, let them learn to rest for a few nights in their new sleep space: while you still remain within easy reach.

As your baby becomes increasingly comfortable in their new set-up, move your baby’s crib father and farther across the room.

By doing this process slowly, you’ll give your baby the time they need to gain confidence that having you out of reach doesn’t mean that they aren’t being looked after and loved all night long.

Keep this gentle distancing strategy going until your baby has gained a full sense of peace with their new way of sleeping.

If you’re planning to move your baby to a nursery:

If you’re moving your little one to a nursery down the hall — or are closing out your co-sleeping journey when they’re a little older in age — then you might find it helpful to do even more pre-work to prepare your little one for the transition.

Help your get on a consistent sleep routine, with pre-bedtime rituals that leave them feeling perfectly rested but not over-tired.

If they’re a little older in age, you might also start with books or pre-bedtime chats that help them see the many exciting things they can expect now that they’ve hit this new milestone in their co-sleeping journey (a room of their own! a new crib! oh my!).

By getting consistent with a pre-bedtime routine, you’ll set your little one up to be comfy and relaxed as they sail toward bedtime.

Meanwhile, stirring up excitement for your little one’s new sleeping adventure in advance can help them understand that moving into a room of their own is a natural (and much-awaited!) next step as they grow big and strong.

How to Stop Co-sleeping: Know Your Why

There are many reasons why parents might decide that now is the time to stop co-sleeping.

Whether you’re looking for a little more privacy during the night. Are worried that your child has outgrown your current co-sleeping set-up. Or just feel like the time is “right”: knowing the reasoning behind your decision will help you choose a method for stopping co-sleeping that works perfectly for your family.

Going “Cold Turkey”

Parents looking for a little more privacy might be more inclined to try the “cold turkey” method, where one night your bedroom simply becomes “off the table” as a sleeping option.

We won’t sugarcoat it: going “cold turkey” might leave you rocking and rolling through some resistance the first few nights.

However, being firm and consistent in your decision to stop co-sleeping will help your baby learn that their new room is a safe and secure space to sleep (even if you aren’t always right by their side).

The Slow and Steady Approach

On the other hand, parents who have been prepping for a transition away from co-sleeping for a while now might find that a slower and more methodical approach (like slowly moving your baby’s crib or baby more and more distanced from your own) leads to quieter and less stressful nights of rest for all.

(This is especially true for parents who have been watching their baby hit come closer to developmental milestones for a while, with full understanding that they’re making their way toward independence quickly.)

If you’re not in a rush to quit co-sleeping, then coming up with a game plan —by outlining how and when you’ll slowly transition baby away from co-sleeping — can help make the process a smooth one.

Plan out small changes you can make each night that will ultimately build to baby’s full sleeping independence.

This might mean deciding how far you’ll move their crib from your bed every night, or coming up with a plan to sleep on a mattress beside your baby’s crib for a few nights before leaving them to try out their new space fully on their own.

The Most Important Thing to Remember

No matter when you make the transition, know one thing: how to stop co-sleeping depends on the needs of your baby and family.

So rather than looking for the “right” method, simply continue to ask yourself: is this plan right for us?

Keeping that question at the top of your mind will make sure that this next step in your co-sleeping journey is a smooth and exciting time for all.

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.