baby bedside sleeper

February 20, 2024

Newborns can be a challenge to care for on a normal day. But when you’re:

  • Recovering from major abdominal surgery (because yep…whether we like to call it that or not, cesarean sections are considered a major surgery in medical terms)
  • While also trying to unlock the secrets to getting quality sleep after C-section (not always an easy task!)
  • And also trying to spend all the extra minutes of your day showing love to your new little one as they soak up their first moments in the world…

Well, it can feel like a lot to handle at once.

Your doctor should have provided specific care information to help you through your healing process. But even with this care info in hand, there isn’t a foolproof handbook on how to make it all add up to quality nights of rest.

So if getting enough rest while taking care of your baby and taking care of yourself is feeling like a lot to take on, let us make things a little easier by delivering the top wish-your-doctors-had-told-you-this tips for getting sleep during C-section recovery.

We’re about to break down: 

  • Why it can feel so hard to get quality rest while recovering from your C-section
  • How planning ahead can make it easier to drift into dreamland
  • Which C-section sleep position will be most comfortable while speeding your recovery time
  • How you could use a bedside bassinet to nighttime nurse and comfort your little one with ease
  • How to calm your mind and drift off to dreamland by blocking out distractions
  • Why prioritizing self-care is the most important thing you can do for your little one

Why Is Sleep So Difficult After a C-section? 

According to one study, mothers who have their baby via C-section average just 4 hours of sleep a night. (That’s 3+ hours less than the average recommended hours of sleep per night for adults.)

Though it’s no secret that it becomes harder — sometimes much harder — for parents to get quality rest after their little one arrives, one preliminary study suggests that mothers who give birth via C-section are particularly inclined to sleepless nights. Baby sleeping peacefully after getting a bedside co-sleeper | babybay bedside sleepers

This natural inclination toward lack of sleep for mothers giving birth via C-section becomes even more challenging when you think about the fact that parents lose the equivalent of 133 nights of sleep before their little one even turns one. 

The “why” behind those sleepless nights comes down to the basics of your little one’s development. With a tiny tummy, they need to feed frequently (as often as every 1-3 hours in their first days) and will need your help to do it.

But just because getting sleep with a newborn is hard (especially after a C-section delivery!), doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Planning the Days Ahead to Make Sleeping After C-Section Easier

It’s so easy to spend all day, every day staring into your newborn’s eyes and counting their fingers and toes. But there’s a reason why “rest when your baby rests” is some of the most-shared parent advice out there (you might even be sick of hearing it by now!).Mother and baby sleeping after c-section | babybay bedside sleepers

This is helpful advice for sleep-deprived new parents in general, but as your body recovers from the C-section it becomes even more important to make rest a priority. 

(Remember: a cesarean section is major abdominal surgery that requires some healing time, even if 1 in 3 babies in the US are born this way.)

Get Family, Friends, or a Doula to Lend a Helping Hand  

If you have a partner at home, plan for them to take over diaper change duty or meal preparation tasks so that you can get some extra time for shuteye when you need it most. 

If you are alone with your baby or struggling to find time to rest, ask friends and family for assistance. Or consider hiring a postpartum doula to spend time with you and your baby in the early stages.

Keep in mind that these early days sleeping with your newborn baby are just a small part of your journey. The better you take care of yourself during these days, the faster your cesarean section recovery can happen. But don’t feel pressured to rush toward recovery — the more you let yourself heal, the quicker your body will recover.

Prioritize a Healthy Mindset 

Making a conscious effort to take care of yourself while caring for (and bonding with!) your newborn will help ease your exhaustion and get you back to feeling like yourself. A little baby sleeping after c-section | babybay bedside sleepers

It will also help you maintain a healthy mindset, which is the key to turning all those early moments with your newborn baby into quality bonding time. 

If you begin to feel depressed, feel negative emotional changes, or feel in a constant state of fatigue beyond the first couple of weeks after your cesarean section, you may be experiencing postpartum depression. 

According to one study, depression can become more common in mothers whose C-section delivery is accompanied by poorer sleep quality.

And even for individuals who are not pregnant or post-delivery, sleep plays a big factor in the prevalence of depression symptoms. People with insomnia are 10x more likely to develop depression than people who get the recommended 7+ hours of sleep a night.

Meaning that you shouldn’t hesitate to get additional support if you feel that your lack of sleep is beginning to negatively affect your well-being. 

In these cases, reach out to your health care professionals for help and get an assessment of your situation (because even with the best support network on the planet, we could all use a little support from our care team too!).

How to Sleep After C-Section: Best Positions and Tips 

Prioritize Your Comfort While Sleeping with Your Newborn 

There’s not one universally comfortable position to help you get sleep after a cesarean section. It may take some trial and error (and some extra pillows!) to find a position that will help you relax without pain. 

Some commonly-loved sleeping positions after a C-section include: 

  • On your back
  • On your side
  • In a recliner
  • With an elevated upper body

Take your time and try out different arrangements to see what works. Make sure you carefully move between positions and try not to strain or overexert yourself while getting in to (or out of) your bed or recliner. Your main goal is to rest comfortably and reduce any stress on the incision site — keeping that goal in mind can help you find a position that makes it easy to effortlessly relax.

Sleeping On Your Back After C-Section

According to the Specialty Surgery Center, the best sleeping position after C-section (and most surgeries in general!) is on your back. In most cases, sleeping on your back may be the best option to relieve any pressure on your incision. Try placing a pillow under your knees or sometimes a smaller pillow for your neck to find a balance that works for you. 

If you’re sleeping on your back, it is very important not to sit up directly from this position. Rolling to your side and using your arms to help you sit up will protect your recovering abdominal muscles. 

The University of Washington Medical Center recommends the “logroll” method to get yourself out of bed (this will make you more comfortable while also protecting your abdominal muscles). 

To perform the log-roll: 

  • Before you move your feet off the bed, roll onto your side with your knees bent
  • Move your feet off the bed, using your arms to push your body up to a sitting position
  • Try to keep your abdomen relaxed
  • Sit on the side of the bed before you stand up

Sleeping on Your Side 

Mother getting ready for sleeping with newborn baby | babybay bedside bassinetsSleeping on your left side aids in optimum blood flow, which is great for your recovering body. 

You may still need that full-body pregnancy pillow around to support your belly and hips. But whether you go with or without extra cushioning, this well-loved C-section sleep position might make it easier for you to get into and out of bed. 

Many new moms find the side-lying position is the most comfortable breastfeeding position while recovering from a C-section. 

If you do decide to breastfeed with your baby in this position, make sure to keep your baby safe and move them out of your bed before you fall asleep. Or choose to use a bedside bassinet that lets you easily breastfeed and comfort your little one without having to leave your bed or aggravate your healing by reaching over crib bars. 

Sleeping In a Recliner

If you’re breastfeeding, you may already be spending a lot of time in the recliner.

Similar to sleeping on your back in bed, resting in a
recliner can be an option that takes pressure off your abdomen and makes resting more comfortable. 

Depending on the style of your chair, you may have a foot rest attached or a separate ottoman. Try out different adjustments, or supplement your cushions with small pillows or a rolled-up blanket to get things just right. 

Recliners don’t offer quite the same quality of rest as sleeping in your bed, but this can be a great option for an afternoon nap or just a few minutes of shut-eye to recharge.

Sleeping with an Elevated Upper Body

A study published in the journal CHEST found that sleeping at a 45-degree angle helps you breathe easier, without interfering with the quality or duration of your sleep. That’s why doctors will often recommend this position for postpartum mothers at risk for obstructive sleep apnea. 

But even if obstructive sleep apnea isn’t a concern for you, this position can make your sleep more peaceful by helping you get your breathing pattern get into a comfortable flow. 

If you have a wedge pillow handy, you can try to use it to elevate the entire upper body. If there isn’t a wedge pillow around, you can still get the same benefits with a carefully arranged pile of pillows. 

For even more support, you can prop pillows under your knees and use the log-roll method (cited above) to get out of bed with ease. 

Beyond Your C-Section Sleep Position: Getting Better Sleep with a Bedside Bassinet

Mother getting sleep after c-section with a bedside bassinet | babybay bedside co-sleepers

Many moms who start out with a more traditional crib setup switch over to a bedside bassinet or bedside co-sleeper as they recover from a C-section. That’s because reaching over crib bars or getting out of bed to nurse or care for your little one can be uncomfortable as your body heals.

To limit the stress on your body — while also comfortably nurturing your little one all night long — you can try setting up a safe and secure bedside bassinet by your bed so that your baby remains easily within reach. 

This will minimize the number of times you have to get out of bed during the night while giving your healing abdomen a much-needed rest. 

How to Block out Distractions for Better Sleep

It’s a story that every parent is familiar with: Your baby is finally ready for a nap. But just as you start to doze off bedside them…they start waking up. 

Getting into a restful mindset and falling asleep as quickly as possible can be a struggle on a normal day, but when the stress of staying on your baby’s schedule gets added to that — well, it can make it near impossible to get rest. Mom and baby sleeping after c-section recovery | babybay bedside bassinet

Consider keeping an eye mask nearby to block out some light as you rest during the day. Then plan some unplugged rest time away from your electronics to help to disconnect and mentally recharge. Turn off your notifications if possible, or set your device away from you so you’re not tempted to pick it up during your dedicated rest time.

Why You Should Stay Focused on Self-Care 

It’s totally normal to want to focus all your extra attention on being with your newborn during their first weeks. But after a C-section, making room for your own recovery and health also needs to be a priority. 

Remember that by taking care of yourself, you’re taking care of your family. 

Your body has gone through some amazing changes in the last nine months, and there are more changes ahead as your hormones and body recover from giving birth. You may experience a roller coaster of emotions during this time, which is absolutely normal. 

As long as you give your body and mind the rest and recovery it needs (by prioritizing your need for sleep after C-section), you’ll be back to feeling like yourself in no time — with plenty of energy to enjoy every minute with your loved ones. 

July 5, 2023

You open up your front door to find your babybay bedside sleeper just-delivered to your door by the mailman. As you open the box up and catch a comforting whiff of the ethically-sourced beechwood that is guaranteed to cradle your little in comfort, you have one thought on your mind: you’re already in love with your new co-sleeper, but what if it could be a bedside bassinet too?

Having the freedom to use your co-sleeper as a safe place for your little one to rest their head at night and a comforting home that nurtures them during the day is the ultimate in convenience.

With a freestanding baby bassinet, you get an enclosed space for your darling little one to nap nearby or simply hang out near you. During the day, and also during the evening.

How Do I Turn the Babybay Bedside Sleeper Mobile?

This wooden guard rail pictured below is all you need to keep your lil’ guy or gal snoring happily near you. We call it the Bassinet Conversion Kit, and you can order it separately as an accessory to your babybay bedside sleeper.

babybay bassinet conversion kit | babybay bedside sleepers

This protective wooden guard rail fits onto the open side of your bedside sleeper. It uses wooden locking clips, so it’s able to withstand any holding and pulling by your baby’s little exploring hands.

The picture below on the left shows the bedside sleeper with the wooden guard rail being attached. And the image on the right shows you the enclosed safe space your baby will be able to happily snooze in all day long.

Diagram of transforming babybay co-sleeper into baby bassinet | babybay bedside bassinets

Having the freedom to transform your bedroom sleep set-up into a moveable bassinet is a win-win for both the baby and the parents.

Why?

Because your baby is already used to the comforting feeling of catching Zs in their made-just-for-them bedside sleeper. So they’ll have an easy-peasy time finding a sense of peace no matter where you happen to take your bedside bassinet: whether it’s across the room or on a whole new floor.

What’s the Best Way to Use My Convertible Bassinet?Mother pushing a wooden bassinet with wheels | babybay bedside bassinets

Using the guard rail to enclose the sleeper and turn it into a convertible bassinet for your baby can help gently move your baby away from the parental bed and further toward nap time sleeping independence after a few months. When that particular independent sleep time period happens is up to you to decide, of course.

But when the time is right, having the guard rail to convert your sleeper into a bassinet will give you the assurance you need to know your baby always sleeps safely.

And if you need even more options on the convenience front, you can add some easy-to-put-on rolling casters to the bottom of your bassinet to make movement even easier. For when you’re using your babybay bedside sleeper as an attached sleep space and when you’re keeping it by your bed as a convenient bassinet.

Transform your babybay. Save your sleep. 

[Transform my bedside sleeper, please!]

February 28, 2023

You don’t need statistics to back up the fact that getting a full night’s sleep with a new baby can be hard (heck, you just need to look in the mirror to see the black rings under your eyes and that spell “I need some coffee or wake-me-up tea…stat!”) But if you’re feeling like one of the many sleep deprived parents out there who need some relief, just know that you’re not alone.

Adults tend to need 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. But with frequent feedings and cries for comforting as the new normal, getting that much shut-eye can feel near-impossible to do. In fact, scientists have discovered that new dads tend to lose an average of 13 minutes of sleep a night, while new moms lose over an hour of sleep on average.

And while chugging caffeine might seem like a solid short-term solution at first, the truth is that it might take years (or, at least, up until your child is around 6 years old) before your sleep schedule returns to its pre-kid patterns.

But that shouldn’t be cause for concern. Because while studies are pretty clear on the fact that long-term sleep deprivation comes with some pretty not-fun negatives (like increased anxiety, irritability, reduced cognitive functioning, and postpartum depression onset), there are ways to take back control of your sleep — while still making sure your little one is getting high-quality shut-eye of their own. A parent and smiling child after finding solutions to deal with sleep deprivation with a baby | babybay bedside co sleepers

In this complete guide for sleep deprived parents (who are finally ready to wake up feeling rested and ready to take on the day), you’ll discover:

  • Why following your baby’s lead is the key to getting dream-filled nights that leave you refreshed in the morning
  • The key ways you can rely on your support network to ease the pressures of nighttime stress and sleeplessness
  • Why sleep hygiene might be the most-important (and rest-giving) part of your nighttime prep routine
  • How postpartum doulas and after-care specialists make nighttime sleep magic happen (just by supporting you in the right, should have thought of that! ways)
  • The sleep setup that has been scientifically proven to help you sleep longer and spend more time in REM — while your baby gets peaceful and bonding-filled rest right beside you

How to Deal with Sleep Deprivation with a Baby: Follow Their Lead

When your baby sleeps, that’s your cue to sleep too. Simple enough, right? But hold up — it doesn’t always feel that easy.

It’s tempting to spend the first year fighting against their baby’s natural rhythm and needs, or ignoring clear baby sleep cues when they start showing. Because when there is a schedule to keep or visiting grandparents to pay attention to, it can be easy to ignore the yawning and eye-rubbing or assure your baby “just a few more minutes!” while keeping them wide-awake and surrounded by love and attention.

And while being surrounded with loving people sounds like a good thing (and it is most of the time!), ignoring those baby sleep cues when they come on sets you and your baby on the fast-track to tumultuous sleep.

You can try to get your baby on your clock, but this will only add to your exhaustion. The time will come when your baby can wait a bit before being put to sleep (without any over-exhaustion symptoms coming on), but don’t expect it right away.

Instead, follow the #1 trick for how to deal with sleep deprivation with a baby: let your baby take the lead, and commit to getting rest-time in when you can. 

When Possible, Share Responsibilities with Your Partner or Loved Ones

Listen to your body when it says you need to rest. And no matter how independent you are, talk to your partner or other nearby friends/family/neighbors/people close to you about how they can help you during those rest-needing moments.A baby sleeping peacefully after their parents have figured out how to deal with sleep deprivation as a parent | babybay co-sleepers

Working with your support network to rotate responsibilities will make it possible for you to sleep, heal, and be at your best. (Remember, child birth takes a lot out of your body, and if you had a cesarean section you might be having an even harder time finding ways to get comfortable and get quality sleep after c-section.) 

The American Academy of Family Physicians echoes the importance of letting others help during your postpartum recovery:

“During the first six weeks, pay attention to your body…resist the temptation to do more. Overdoing things at this point can set you back in your recovery. Concentrate on nourishing your body with good foods, drinking plenty of water (especially if you are breastfeeding), and getting enough rest.”

Your baby, body, and relationship will all benefit from practicing good communication. So think of asking for help as the natural thing to do after child birth — and get the support you need to finally sleep.

Practice Proper Sleep Hygiene as a Sleep Deprived Parent (Yep, That’s Really a Thing)

The concept of proper sleep hygiene is all about setting up your sleep environment and making choices during the day to not interfere with your body’s ability to sleep. And unsurprisingly, the same tips that help you get more shut-eye during other times of your life offer much-needed advice that take some of the difficulty out of how to deal with sleep deprivation as a parent. 

For example: not drinking caffeine after 2pm, fighting late-night cravings, and removing technology from the bedroom can all set your mind at ease and leave you geared up (or geared down) to cozy into bed and fall into dreamland as soon as your head hits the pillow.

With a newborn added to the nighttime equation, it’s hard for your body to make sense of the nightly schedule you’re keeping up. With feedings waking you up every few hours, sending mixed messages to your body in the form of late-night caffeine or social media scrolls can make it hard to go back to sleep on command. 

But if it’s nighttime and “struggling to sleep” feels firmly where you are (while popping things like “How to deal with sleep deprivation as a parent” into Google’s search bar), here are some quick tips that will help you calm your racing mind and make drifting into nighttime slumber easier:

      • Doing 5-10 minutes of yoga or peaceful meditation
      • Sipping a cup of herbal tea (herbal teams like chamomile and peppermint are naturally decaffeinated)
      • Closing the blinds, or using blackout window treatments to help cut through your body’s circadian rhythm and let your system know it’s time for rest

A mother watching her sleeping baby after figuring out how to get sleep with a newborn | babybay bedside co-sleepers

Services to Help with Slumber: Postpartum Doulas and After-Birth Care Specialists

Postpartum Doulas and After-Birth Care Specialists are specially trained to help moms in the first weeks or months after giving birth. They work with you — often in your home — to help you feel comfortable adapting to all things parenthood. (They’re also covered by state health care and independent insurance coverages in many cases.)

If your lack of recent sleep is partly a result of all the recent changes in your life or concern about whether you’re “doing things right,” postpartum doulas or after-birth care specialists can help set your mind at ease by giving well-researched answers to all of your most keep me up at night questions about parenthood.

Struggling with getting baby to latch on? Worried you’ve swaddled your baby too tightly? Experiencing anxiety about how your body is healing? Don’t know why your baby won’t stop crying?

With compassion, understanding, and a helpful attitude, professionals like these will help with all of it. And bonus: they’ll also listen to the specifics of your situations and give some relevant-to-you tips and tricks for easing the exhaustion pressures of the nighttime hours.

Although this uncharted territory of parenthood can be frightening, don’t forget about the resources available to help you. If you’ve got a question, ask it. If you’re unsure of something or something feels off, trust your gut and find help. There’s nothing like peace of mind when it comes to a good night’s sleep.

Try Out a Bedside Co-Sleeper (Your Sleep Cycles Will Thank You)

This might just be the quickest and easiest to new parent sleep deprivation on this list: switching to using a bedside co-sleeper can make all the difference in terms of a good night’s sleep by taking all the “getting up to breastfeed or care for your little one” sleep disrupting out of your nightly regimen. Parent and baby with co-sleeper baby bed | babybay bedside bassinet

Co-sleeping has long been the generations-loved and around-the-world-respected sleep solution for helping both parents and baby sleep better — and longer — at night. When done safely (like with the help of a safety-certified bedside co-sleeper), co-sleeping promotes physiological syncing between parent and baby (which sets breathing, heartbeat, etc. into a balanced and calming pattern that affects the peacefulness of both), and leads to increased time in REM sleep and rest in longer intervals.

If you think about it, the proven benefits of staying extra-close to your little one at night make sense.

Your baby has spent upwards of 9 months in the womb, getting used to the feeling of having their mother’s heartbeat nearby and the natural body rhythm of a loved one surrounding them. Safe co-sleeping replicates this closeness, making the transition from womb to the real world less jarring (which leads to easier ease during the moments when drifting into dreamland is on the agenda).

Want to try the bedside co-sleeper thing out?

Consider the leading attachable bedside co-sleeper by babybay. Not only is babybay the only eco-friendly sleeper on the market, but they’re also committed to sustainable manufacturing and are created by parents, for parents — showing a true understanding of your everyday struggles and needs. That puts them on the front line of your mission to end end your status as sleep deprived parents, while making every night of sleep one that is filled with plenty of peaceful dreams and beautiful bonding.

April 28, 2022

Babies spend a lot of time sleeping. And when we say a lot, we mean it. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that newborns get between 14-17 hours of sleep a day. Which is why crib safety standards are such an important thing for parents to understand (and to check off the list when it comes to making sure their baby’s bed is up to 5-star safety snuff!)…

Because your baby spends more time snoozing away in their bedside co-sleeper, baby bassinet, or crib than they spend in any other room — or on any other piece of furniture — in your house. Mom snuggling baby after taking them out of their bedside bassinet | babybay bedside co-sleepers

And though crib safety standards are something that are pretty important when it comes to ensuring your little one’s safety all night long, it can be difficult to understand how crib safety standards should affect your choice of bedside co-sleeper or crib model. Or to cut through all the formal lingo to understand what’s really going on so you can pick a crib that will let you rest easy while knowing your baby is peacefully sleeping away in perfect comfort and security.  

So we’re about to break down the importance of crib safety standards in ways that are a little easier to understand. Stick around to see how to choose a crib or bedside co-sleeper that measures up to full peace of mind for you and your little one. 

First Thing’s First: Who Sets Baby Crib Safety Standards and Guidelines? 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is the head office tasked with overseeing the safety of cribs. This is the agency of the U.S. government that oversees the safety of consumer products (as their name suggests) and sets general safety standards for how and when products can be used.

There are a few general guidelines that all manufacturers of baby products must follow, as well as a few tests they must pass.

For the most part, these tests address and regulate things like lead content and phthalate content (aka: chemicals that make plastics more durable, but aren’t the healthiest for your little one).

Little boy sleeping in a baby co-sleeper | babybay Bedside Bassinets

But when it comes to baby cribs, things get a little more complicated. Especially when it comes to the mechanical and construction side of things.

Believe it or not, the Consumer Product Safety Commission didn’t set mandatory crib safety standards for manufacturers until 2011. 

Up until then, there were recommended safety guidelines that baby crib manufacturing companies were asked to follow — but none that were considered set in stone, non-negotiable “must-dos.” 

Though many parents are interested in how to make an old crib safe, the CPSC considers old and vintage cribs (no matter how beautiful or decorative they are!) one of their “Most Wanted” dangerous products. Parent snuggling baby who sleeps in a bedside crib | babybay bedside co-sleeper

And for good reason! One slight design flaw — like slats that are set too far apart or a decorative pattern in the wrong place — can easily become unsafe for babies. And any corner posts that aren’t well-constructed can easily catch on a newborn’s clothes and pose a risk. 

This is why when it comes to choosing the best baby co-sleeper, bedside crib, bedside bassinet, or standalone crib for your little one, it’s a good idea to stop looking for how to make an old crib safe and instead seek out a crib or co-sleeper designed with safety as the top priority.

It’s also important to stay away from ones that were produced before those stricter safety standards were introduced in 2011. Because no matter how cute that vintage crib you find at an antique shop might be…there’s no guarantee that it will be safe for your little one to rest in all night long.

Are There Really Best Baby Cribs That Take the Top Spot for Safety? 

Sure, safety standards might now be mandatory (thanks to the Consumer Product Safety Commission!). But that doesn’t mean that all baby crib or baby co-sleeper manufacturers think of safety the same way. 

Many baby product manufacturers still consider safety as a “must do,” rather than a mission. 

At the end of the day, there’s a big difference between checking off all the safety boxes and going above and beyond to give your baby a space to rest their head that is safe, secure, and perfectly built to support them through their many hours of rest! 

Mother pulling baby in a co-sleeper crib | babybay Bedside Sleepers

One thing that sets different bedside co-sleepers or cribs strongly apart are the materials used in their construction. The tough reality is: it’s still common for cribs and baby co-sleepers to be made with toxic glues, paints, and plastics that can be harmful to your baby’s health. 

Certain paint finishes and glues release gasses that include formaldehyde, benzene, phenol, phthalates (and plenty of other ones that are equally hard to pronounce!) that can cause irritation, cause cancer, or damage the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. 

And though these gasses can be harmful outdoors, they can be even more concentrated and harmful (10x more concentrated, in fact!) when they’re found on products indoors. 

So when seeking out a crib or the best baby co-sleeper crib on the market, it’s not enough to just look for one that has checked off all the mandatory boxes. Look for one that has made smart and safety-centered choices when it comes to everything from engineering to construction. 

How Does the babybay Baby Co-Sleeper Do Safety Differently? 

As a company, babybay believes that your family’s health and safety is what matters most. 

We were proud when we received the gold star for safety from ASTM International, TÜV Rheinland, and Confidence in Textiles (some of the biggest names in safety certification!). But that wasn’t enough for us. 

Baby enjoying the benefits of co-sleeping | babybay Bedside Co-Sleepers

We wanted to check off all the safety boxes, and then go above and beyond in providing your baby with a made-just-for-them safe sleep space that doesn’t just give them security…but also you peace of mind. 

That’s why we build all of our baby bedside sleepers using sustainably sourced and ethically manufactured 100% beechwood.

And our beechwood isn’t coated with chemicals. We keep it just as nature intended — non-toxic and pure. 

This means you get to enjoy all the many benefits of co sleeping without worrying about whether the materials in your crib are hurting your baby’s health (because we’re always all-natural over here, all the time!). 

So if you’re trying to decide what kind of baby bed is best for your family, understanding crib safety standards is a good place to start. 

But then seek out the cribs and baby sleeper options that are going above and beyond when it comes to safety — and are committed to giving you and your baby better nights of rest. 

Just starting to explore co-sleeping? 

Discover how the babybay has helped thousands of families co sleep safely.

March 30, 2022

Your co sleeping journey begins way before your baby sleeps on their made-just-for-them baby bedside co sleeper for the first time. 

It starts the moment you look around online for the best baby bedside sleeper on the market (hint: you’ve stumbled upon the right page!), chat with fellow parents about bedside crib and bedside bassinet models they love, and click the “Choose Your Babybay” button so that we can get your brand new co sleeper shipped straight to your door. 

Because when it comes to choosing co sleepers, it’s not just about finding one that will provide you with feelings of ease after your baby arrives. It’s about choosing a bedside co sleeper that is easy to unbox, easy to assemble, and easy to make  a part of your and your baby’s soon-to-be shared bedroom space.

That’s why when we designed babybay, we had ease in mind. And we carry that ease through every step of the assembly process.

Take an inside look at one family’s experience unboxing their brand-new babybay cosleeper: 

Properly assembling your babybay so that your co sleeper attaches to the bed takes just 12 steps, all easily accomplished with tools you already have at home (no trips to the hardware store needed!). 

And though the assembly time might be short and simple, that doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing a single ounce of safety or security. Each babybay co sleeper has been given a gold-star for safety from top safety certification organizations (including ASTM International, TÜV Rheinland, and Confidence in Textiles Oeko-Tex), which means you’ll have confidence that your baby is peacefully sleeping safe and secure while catching Z’s of your own with full peace of mind.

How to Customize Your Baby Co Sleeper For Fullest Comfort 

Your little one is unique, and so is your family. That is why we made it our mission to offer plenty of accessories and customizable color options that will make your bedside co sleeper easily blend into your home (or stand out in your home, if that’s more your style!).

Mom with crib canopy on bedside co sleeper | babybay bedside bassinets

Though all babybay bedside sleepers are made of 100% eco-friendly and fully sustainable beechwood (because we believe that caring for the Earth is just as important as caring for your family), you can easily choose untreated, walnut, white, or gray color options to help you personalize your co sleeper so it feels part of your space. 

(Don’t worry—we never use the harmful glues, chemicals, or paints that you’ll find in most cribs. With us, it’s all-natural, all the time.)

You can even deck your baby co sleeper out with a colorful canopy that creates a pop of cute with stars or polka dots. So that by the time you’re finished putting together your babybay, you feel fully ready to welcome your baby home with a soft space all their own!

Baby co-sleeper set up next to a bed | babybay bedside co-sleepers

Convert to a Crib With a Bedside Bassinet Conversion Kit

Straight out of the box, your baby co sleeper attaches to bed and keeps your baby secure by sitting flush against your own mattress. But for families who want to have options when it comes to converting their bedside crib into a moveable bassinet, the bedside bassinet conversion kit is here to help!

The bedside bassinet conversion kit has a wooden guard rail that can be installed in minutes with wooden locking clips, allowing your baby to sleep soundly—even if your bedside co sleeper isn’t right next to your bed.

This is a perfect choice for families who have nursery space where their baby can nap (because yep–with the bassinet conversion kit and attachable roller casters you can easily roll your new standalone crib to another room), or who want to have options for how they use their bedside sleeper throughout their journey. 

After Unboxing: What to Remember As You Start Co Sleeping 

Your bond with babybay doesn’t end the moment that your bedside co sleeper is unboxed! 

Baby napping comfortably in a bedside sleeper | babybay bedside co-sleeper

We’re here to support you and be by your (bed)side — see what we did there? — through all stages of your co sleeping journey. 

Which means if the time ever comes when you feel like your babybay needs a little extra accessorizing — like a breathable, moisture-regulating, mattress pad upgrade or all-natural 100% organic cotton sheets — know that we’ll be here to help you out. 

And if a day ever comes when you’ve used your bedside sleeper for so many kiddos that you could use a few replacement parts…well, we’ve got you covered on that front too. 

Which is our way of saying, we’re here to help you for the long haul.

Already ordered your babybay? It’s time to accessorize! 

Just getting started on your babybay journey?

Customize My babybay!

August 4, 2021

 

 

 

When was the last time you actually felt rested? 

Can’t remember?

We totally get it. Those late-night feedings are exhausting, especially during the initial weeks after giving birth.

Imagine how rested you’d feel if you didn’t have to get out of bed every 2-3 hours to feed or soothe your newborn.

No more tip-toeing your way back to the crib, praying not to wake your baby. 

No more frustration when, you finally find a comfortable position, only to be woken up moments later. 

…sounds too good to be true, right? Not anymore. 

Parents all over the world have started getting the sleep they desperately need by switching over to babybay’s Baby Bedside Sleeper.

Uniquely engineered to lock into beds of all sizes and heights, this co-sleeper is changing the game. 

Now, you can enjoy all the benefits of co-sleeping, and the closeness of bedsharing, without compromising safety. 

 


CO-SLEEPING ENCOURAGES DEVELOPMENT

James J. Mckenna, Director emeritus of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, found that,

“Parents serve as a kind of biological “jumper cable,” or outsourced regulator, to a newborn baby when she is completing her gestation outside her mother’s body. When parents and babies sleep together, their heart rates, brain waves, sleep states, oxygen levels, temperature, and breathing influence one another.”

In basic lingo, this means, your baby’s development relies on being close to you. Even outside of the womb, our bodies sync together for prime developmental functioning. The separation that comes from a stand-alone crib can get in the way of this. 

Does this mean you have to stay joined at the hip? No. But, it shows that simply sleeping nearby makes it possible for them to grow big and strong. Amazing, right? 


THE CLOSER YOU ARE THE LESS ANXIETY FOR EVERYONE

Hearing the beating of your heart and the in and out of your breath can be incredibly soothing to your baby. Depriving them of this for 6-8 hours at night means babies cry more often, needing your closeness to soothe their anxiety. 

Babies who co-sleep generally cry less, wake less often, and allow you to sleep for longer periods of time.

Added Bonus: You get to wake up next to a smiley baby!

 


YOU CAN BETTER RESPOND TO A CRISIS WHILE CO-SLEEPING

Parenting guru Dr. Sears  found during his studies that:

“Babies who sleep close to their mothers enjoy ‘protective arousal,’ a state of sleep that enables them to more easily awaken if their health is in danger, such as breathing difficulties…Infants who sleep near their parents have more stable temperatures, regular heart rhythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing compared to babies who sleep alone. This means the baby sleeps physiologically safer.”

When it comes to defending against dangers to your baby, there is no substitute for your care. Co-sleeping makes it possible to familiarize with all the sounds your baby makes.

As part of your natural-momma-bear instinct, (part of the physiological syncing mentioned above,) your body stays alert even while sleeping. If something is off, you can count on your body to sense it — and, in the event of an emergency, this can make all the difference for the safety of your baby.   


The babybay Baby Bedside Sleeper is a leader in safety for co-sleeping with newborns. All of our sleepers undergo rigorous safety inspections, and must receive domestic and international safety certifications before ever going out to you.  

If you’re ready to start getting a better night’s sleep, with less stress, and more opportunity to connect with your baby then, it’s time you meet our bedside cribs. 90% of the world’s families are already co-sleeping their way to better nights. Isn’t it time you expected more for your family?

Meet the babybay co sleeper cribs

April 7, 2021

Plastic netting, cheap fillers, screws made of plastic that seem like they can barely hold your baby crib up: so many baby products on the market these days (not to mention bassinets, co-sleepers, and cribs!) are built to be short-lived and quickly outgrown. But from the first day that the babybay bedside sleeper was born as an idea, we’ve strived to do things differently. Whether it’s the 100% solid beechwood construction, first-class safety certifications, or sustainability pledge that keeps parents in love with their bedside sleeper for a long time, this is what the babybay reviews have to say about what makes them choose babybay time after time (and kid after kid!).

Babybay Bedside Sleeper Safety: All the Details on the Top-Earned Safety Certifications 

“BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN CO-SLEEPING AND CRIB SLEEPING

I have heard so many wonderful things about the BabyBay bedside sleeper from friends and peers, so I am really excited to try it out myself. I love that it’s made from natural materials (hooray for no plastics), and that it bridges the gap beautifully between co-sleeping and crib sleeping.”

– Alivia, ✩✩✩✩✩

When it comes to ensuring that your baby is sleeping safe and snug all through the first six months of their life, room sharing is the sleep approach recommended time and time again by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

If that lingo is new to you, room sharing describes the practice of sleeping extra-close to your baby by sharing a room — but not a sleep surface — with your little one.

Bedside co sleepers like the babybay give your little one a made-just-for-them space to get peaceful rest all night long, with safe locking straps that keep their crib securely attached to your bedside. This sleeping arrangement can be especially helpful for a quick response to nighttime wakings and breastfeeding without the risks that come from keeping your baby in your own bed and sleep space (which is why bedside sleepers get such a gold star when it comes to sticking in line with the AAP’s recommendations for safe sleep). Baby holding finger of parent while lounging in babybay bedside co sleeper | babybay bedside bassinets

When it comes to babybay bedside sleeper safety, parents aren’t the only ones raving. The babybay bedside co sleeper has been certified safe by some of the top certification standards, including ASTM International, TÜV Rheinland, and Confidence in Textiles (where it was awarded an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 for babies certification — meaning it’s free of harmful regulated and unregulated toxic substances and materials).

Easy Access and Full Convenience with the Babybay Crib Conversion 

“I looked everywhere for a co-sleeper that was functional, made with natural materials and wasn’t plasticy looking. I loved that i found this! It’s beautiful, works well and seamless to put together. Works everywhere next to our bed.”

– KP, ✩✩✩✩✩

Even if you don’t need a bedside option, the bassinet conversion kit makes it easy for the babybay to be used in any room of the house. Adding the rolling casters adds even more convenience to your babybay crib conversion opportunities by allowing your bassinet to roll from room to room as needed.

The space-saving design of babybay also allows you to easily push it through doorways and find a useful place to put it to good, rest-giving use in any room of your house or apartment. This can be especially handy for parents working at home or in smaller homes with multi-use spaces — and that kind of adaptability isn’t a happy accident, but a convenience-making choice or expert engineers made as they set construction of the first babybay in motion.

Toddler Time: How Your Babybay Original Grows as They Do

“WELL MADE

We just ordered the BabyBay Bassinet for our second baby. It was very easy to put together and is very well made. We wish we had this for our first born. I recommend this bassinet over all the plastic flimsy ones on the market. I plan to reuse this as a bench or desk in the kids room once they grow out of it. I am so happy I came across their product!”

– Tiffany, ✩✩✩✩✩

Parent watching baby sleeping in babybay bedside co sleeper | babybay bedside bassinets

As your little one becomes more independent, the babybay easily transitions into a comfortable space for young children. That means it’s not just built to be with your family during the early days of your little one’s life, but will stick with you for the long-haul as they grow.

Adjusting the sleep space to a low-level makes a lovely bench space for a toddler. Baskets of toys or books easily slide under the platform to make a self-contained area. The comfortable mattress and a few pillows or stuffed animals make for a comfortable snuggle space for looking at picture books or playing with toys.

That means you have everything you need to make a special corner in the nursery or as a small space in the living room where your child can be comfortable and play independently once they grow out of sleeping in their babybay Original, babybay Maxi, or babybay Maxi Tall (which makes this bedside co-sleeper a perfect win-win in the short and long term!).

[See what other parents have to say: more babybay reviews]