baby bedside sleeper Articles

A Guide for Sleep Deprived Parents: How to Get Better Rest (By Helping Your Little One Sleep Better Too)

Posted on February 28, 2023February 28, 2023 by Sarah Birdwell

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Why Crib Safety Standards Matter (And Why Not All Cribs Are Created Equal)

Posted on April 28, 2022January 31, 2023 by Sarah Birdwell

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.

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.

And though crib safety standards are something that are pretty important when it comes to ensuring your little one’s safety all night long, the truth is…

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 we’re about to break down the importance of crib safety standards in ways that are a little easier to understand.

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

But when it comes to baby cribs, things get a little more complicated 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.

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.

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, which we just discovered is the government agency who sets baby crib safety standards and guidelines). 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!

One thing that sets different bedside co-sleepers or cribs strongly apart are the materials used in their construction.

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 the best baby co-sleeper crib, it’s not enough to just look for one that has checked off all the mandatory boxes, but 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?

At babybay, we believe 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.

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).

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.

babybay Unboxing: How to Prep Your Bedside Sleeper For Your Little One’s Arrival

Posted on March 30, 2022February 28, 2023 by Sarah Birdwell

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!).

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!

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!

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?

Choose your babybay now!

3 Revitalizing Benefits of Co-sleeping with your Newborn

Posted on August 4, 2021August 3, 2021 by Sarah Birdwell

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

The babybay Bedside Sleeper Helps you Get More Sleep

Posted on May 25, 2021June 9, 2021 by Sarah Birdwell

Thank you to The MonarchMommy for your review of the babybay bedside sleeper! In her review, The MonarchMommy talks about the uniqueness and customizability of the babybay bedside sleeper as well as highlights many of the great qualities of the babybay.

Here are some of the Top Reasons MonarchMommy likes babybay:

Safety – made of solid beechwood, manufactured in Germany and is made to the highest European standards.
Non-toxic finish – no or low VOC – natural antibacterial and antistatic protection
Durability – “There’s no plywood or plastic here, just strong sturdy beechwood, so you can feel confident that it’s not a flimsy piece of furniture that won’t stand the test of time. The babybay® will absolutely last through more than one child!”
Versatility – can transform into bassinet, crib or even a bench – “A crib that doubles as a bassinet, co-sleeper, and a bench once baby’s outgrown it? Yes please!” – The MonarchMommy
Safety certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA), ASTM international child safety standards, and TUV/GS (German Safety Approval)

“Once you’ve got the babybay® set up against the bed, you’ve created a perfect little sleep nest for you and your baby. It’s like bed-sharing and co-sleeping without losing even an inch of your own sleep space. Baby is within arm’s reach for those late night feedings, and best of all, baby is close AND safe in the babybay®.” – The MonarchMommy

Below is an excerpt of the review:

Enter the babybay! I only wish I’d known about this great baby sleep solution before my little ones were born. It’s something that gives you options and a customizability that I haven’t seen in baby sleep setups before. Want to know what it’s all about? Here you go!

What exactly is a babybay®? The babybay® is more than just a co-sleeper, it’s a bedside sleeper that actually attaches securely to any regular bed (with or without a boxspring). It is made out of locally-sourced beechwood, so it’s sustainable AND offers natural antibacterial and antistatic protection. The babybay® is manufactured in Germany and is made to the highest European standards. There are four finishes to choose from, and each is done with a high-quality water-based finish that is non-toxic and no or low VOC. That definitely promotes a safe sleeping environment for your precious little bundle. The height of the platform of the babybay® is fully adjustable, so it will fit most bed heights with ease.

Once you’ve got the babybay® set up against the bed, you’ve created a perfect little sleep nest for you and your baby. It’s like bed-sharing and co-sleeping without losing even an inch of your own sleep space. Baby is within arm’s reach for those late-night feedings, and best of all, baby is close AND safe in the babybay®. The babybay® is nice and sturdy too. There’s no plywood or plastic here, just strong sturdy beechwood, so you can feel confident that it’s not a flimsy piece of furniture that won’t stand the test of time. The babybay® will absolutely last through more than one child!

To read the full review visit: https://themonarchmommy.com/2016/04/21/babybay-bedside-sleeper/

Safe Co-Sleeping for Babies and New Parents

Posted on April 22, 2021May 13, 2021 by Sarah Birdwell

For new parents, being close to their baby at all times is a priority. That includes being close to the baby during sleeping hours. The notion of co-sleeping refers to sleeping with your baby close to you, often with a reach of your arm. Co-sleeping generally means the baby is near, but in a different bed.

As you can see in this short clip, this dad is able to adjust his newborn in a babybay® bedside sleeper, which is attached right to the parents’ bed.

For several years now, more parents have been adopting this practice of co-sleeping, with the infants sleeping nearby in a co-sleeping cradle. This aligns with the guidelines set out by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which advises parents not to sleep with a new baby IN a parent bed, for obvious reasons. Let’s look at some of the benefits of co-sleeping arrangements.

Benefits of Co-Sleeping

Ideally, as a baby sleeps in a bedside sleeper next to the parents’ bed, the baby receives feelings of comfort, security and reassurance. Having the baby near to the parents’ bed gives the parents the ability to calm the baby without having to stand up and walk over to an unattached crib across the room or in another room.

Also, as both baby and parents sleep more soundly, this shared sleep provides benefits to both. The parent is at arm’s length in order to calm the baby if it awakes, and slowly massage the baby back to sleep. The baby gains a more balanced development in the early months of life, without sleep anxieties or other issues arising.

Find the Right Co-Sleeping Bed

At babybay, we take co-sleeping very seriously. Our babybay co-sleeping bed is one of the leading co-sleeping beds made for infants, and it’s largely because of the high attention of quality materials we put into the bed.

We make our babybay beds with untreated solid beech wood. This means the wood is untreated, made from sustainably managed forests, and is pollutant-free. Our babybay bed features 10 different adjustable height positions, giving parents the flexibility to adjust to the parent bed size. If you want to move the babybay around your living space, you can also pick up an optional side safety gate and castor wheels set for extra mobility.

If you’re a new parent, you owe it to yourself to check out a new babybay baby bedside sleeper bed. Our beds are solid and durable, and the quality wood design enhances the bedroom’s aesthetics. The co-sleeper can also be turned into a bassinet bed or play crib as your baby grows. Simply order our Bassinet Conversion Kit to convert your babybay from a bedside sleeper to a standalone bassinet.

What babybay Reviews Have to Say: The Pros That Parents Love

Posted on April 7, 2021February 28, 2023 by Sarah Birdwell

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).

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, ✩✩✩✩✩

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]

Infant Sleeping Guidelines

Posted on February 10, 2021August 24, 2021 by sam

It brings a sigh of relief to Mom and Dad when this peaceful moment occurs. Naturally, all parents want to have their infant fall into a deep sound sleep, because a baby that gets the required sleep is less likely to be a pool of crying eyes afterwards.

Creating the right sleep environment for infants and using recommended sleep guidelines from health professionals can make all the difference to both the parents and the infant’s well being. When parents follow proper sleep guidelines for infants, it can lessen the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

To help young parents, we’ve collected these helpful tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics to check to see if you’re helping your infant’s sleeping practices. We hope so!

Sleeping guidelines for infants

Babies should sleep on firm, flat sleep surfaces. We recommend the original babybay bedside co-sleeper to start out with when you arrive home with your infant. You can then convert this sleeper into a bassinet as your baby grows.

Babies under 12 months old should be carefully placed on their back to sleep for naps. The AAP notes that your baby can be left in a side or front position, if your baby is already able to roll from the back-lying position to the side or stomach.

The AAP strongly discourages bed-sharing habits for infants under a year old with parents. But we definitely recommend letting your baby sleep in the same room, and alongside your bed in a baby bed.

Try not to let your babies sleep with any kind of soft pillows, plush toy animals, comforters, blankets or extra bedding parts until at least a year and a half old. Just a baby in a onesie often works best.

Keep the baby’s crib or bassinet within reaching distance of the parent bed. This helps to comfort the baby or breastfeed without having to stand up and walk over to a crib.

These are just a few of the highlighted guidelines recommended by the AAP for the safety of your child. It’s important that your baby sleeps on the back for a more restful sleep. And that’s why we think that our babybay is the right baby bed sleeper to have the whole family sleep better!

From Bedside Sleeper to Bassinet

Posted on February 3, 2021August 31, 2021 by sam

But now you – Mom – are ready to find a new use for your sleeper. You’d love to use your sleeper and turn it into a freestanding baby bassinet. This may become an enclosed space for your darling little one to simply hang out near you, or nap nearby, during the day or evening.

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

When you’re ready to make this move, it’s simple to convert your babybay bedside sleeper into a bassinet. Simply order our bassinet conversion kit to convert your babybay from a bedside sleeper to a standalone bassinet.

The 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.

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 space your baby will be in. It’s a win-win for both the baby and the parents.

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 naptime sleeping independence after a few months. When that particular independent sleep time period happens is up to the parents 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.

It’s easy to add the babybay bassinet conversion kit wooden guard rail to your existing babybay bedside sleeper. Simply add it to your cart on our shopping page, order it, and we’ll ship it to you quickly. Order a bassinet conversion guard rail today, and have relief on seeing your baby sleeping peacefully during the day or night.

How to Get Your Best Sleep After C-Section

Posted on January 13, 2021December 29, 2022 by sam

Newborns can be a challenge to care for on a normal day. But when you’re recovering from major abdominal surgery while also trying to unlock the secret to getting quality sleep after a 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…

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 work.

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 our top wish-our-doctors-had-told-us-this tips for getting sleep during c-section recovery.

We’re about to break down:

How planning ahead can make it easier to drift into dreamland
What c-section sleep position will be most comfortable while speeding your recovery time
How to use a bedside bassinet to nighttime nurse and comfort your little one with ease
How to calm your mind and drift to dreamland by blocking out distractions
Why prioritizing self-care is the most important thing you can do for your little one

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!).

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.

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.

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.

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

Sleeping 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

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.

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.