babybay bedside sleeper Archives

How to Make Co-Sleeping Comfortable (For You and Your Baby)

Posted on April 20, 2022February 28, 2023 by Sarah Birdwell

In the United States (and much of the Western world), we’re pretty big fans of catching quality Z’s while cocooned in super-soft bedding. And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel comfy and cozy through the night, it can be challenging to fit your co-sleeping baby into your bedroom equation when you know that the oh-so-comfortable bedding you love isn’t quite right for them.

But there have to be answers to how to safely co sleep with baby that don’t sacrifice your own comfort, don’t there?

**Good news: there are ways to keep your baby comfortable while co-sleeping that will prioritize your own comfort during sleep time just as much as they prioritize theirs.**

To feel super-comfortable all night long while your baby is safely co-sleeping close by, all you need is the right crib (and a little bit of know-how when it comes to common co-sleeping terms!). But we’re going to break all that down now…

How to Safely Co-Sleep With Baby: Why the Sleep Surface Matters

When you’re co-sleeping with your baby, the mattress matters.

Most mattresses made for babies would feel too firm to satisfy adults. But that firmness is exactly what your baby needs to breathe easily and feel like their body is properly supported throughout the night.

That’s why when it comes to mattresses for your baby, the firmer the better!

But as parents begin to explore co sleeping, they wonder whether taking advantage of all the co sleeping benefits means tossing out their much-loved mattress for one that their baby will prefer.

Parents who choose to bed share (the term used to describe the practice of inviting your baby to share your bed through the night) might need to put extra thought and consideration into which mattress they choose. Meanwhile, cribs like the babybay bedside sleeper make it easy to safely co sleep while keeping your long-loved mattress.

That’s because the babybay bedside co sleeper helps you prioritize safe co sleeping positions by practicing what is often called separate surface co sleeping.

Separate surface co sleeping is exactly how it sounds—instead of making room for your baby on your own mattress, you get to snore the night away on the bedding you love, while baby co sleeps on a mattress of their own.

You get to take advantage of all the co sleeping benefits that come from being no more than an arm’s reach away from your baby, while being filled with the peace of mind that comes from knowing baby is cradled in safe co sleeping positions that will keep them rested and happy.

Co-Sleeping With Baby Comfortably: Why Separate Surface Co-Sleeping Is Best

The truth is, no matter how careful you are when setting up your shared sleeping space and preparing to bed share, it can be incredibly challenging to set up an environment that works equally well for both you and baby.

You’ll have to meticulously strip away all your memory foam mattress pads, soft quilts, comfy bedding, plush pillows, and take care to make sure that there are no gaps between the mattress and headboard or mattress and wall that could be dangerous if your baby gets stuck.

But bedside sleepers like the babybay fit flush against your bed and cradle your baby in their own nurturing cocoon—so that you can rest easy and comfortably while knowing they’re doing the same.

And rather than wondering how to co sleep with baby while still feeling comfy-as-can-be yourself, you can be confident that baby has everything they need to sleep safely through the night…on a co sleeper mattress made just for them.

Co-Sleeping Benefits: How Does Separate Surface Co-Sleeping Affect the Benefits You’ll Get?

There are plenty of cosleeping benefits to love (like better bonding between you and baby, better support for baby’s developing body and mind—the list goes on!).

And luckily, you and baby can still experience all those benefits while choosing to sleep in safe co sleeping positions with the help of a baby crib like a bedside sleeper.

Though you might be moving baby out of your bed and into a made-just-for-them space of their own, you’ll still be close enough for them to feel the positive effects of being by your side—and take advantage of the benefits that come from that kind of closeness.

Which means you never have to worry again whether discovering how to safely co-sleep with baby without giving up your own comfy mattress means that baby won’t be enjoying all the positives that co-sleeping has to offer.

Because you’ll know that during all the nights that you’re sleeping happily, comfy as can be…

Your baby is feeling comfortable, nurtured, and supported during every second of their own sleep.

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How to Break Co Sleeping and Move Baby into a Room of their Own

Posted on April 13, 2022April 28, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

There’s a reason why co sleeping has been one of the most-loved sleeping practices throughout history (and continues to be the bedtime norm for over 70% of children in the world!). Sleeping close to your baby gifts the whole family with better nights of rest, while promoting deep bonding during waking and sleeping hours.

But there inevitably comes a time in every co sleeping family’s journey when stopping co sleeping seems like the right next step. And when that time comes, it can be difficult to know how to break co sleeping and move your baby to a room of their own without it causing baby (or you!) extra stress.

Luckily, all you need to ease the transition from co sleeping is a little planning—and a little patience!

That’s why we’re breaking down some of our top tips for smoothing the transition from co sleeping to a room of baby’s own—so that you can help your baby feel comfortable in their new space, while taking all the stress out of stopping co sleeping.

Know that there probably will be a transition period when stopping co-sleeping

Though you might know that it’s the perfect time to transition your baby to a room of their own, that doesn’t mean that your baby will be immediately on board.

That’s because babies—just like adults!—are creatures of habit, and getting used to a new setup after so many months spent catching shuteye co sleeping safely by your bedside will take a little getting used to.

Even if you just know that your baby is fully ready for this next milestone in their co sleeping journey, you should still be realistic that getting baby comfortable with the change might involve a few nights of frustration (for you both!).

If you’ve been practicing safe co-sleeping positions for a while now (like catching your Z’s with a bedside co-sleeper!), then baby has gotten used to having you close and easily accessible if they want love, cuddles, or nursing during the night.

Though we have every confidence they’ll get used to their room soon—and you should have that confidence too!—it doesn’t mean that you won’t have to put a little work in to showing them that you’re still there to care for their every need (even if you’re no longer sharing a room!).

When deciding when to stop co-sleeping, choose the right time

If it’s deep in the holiday season and you have a few dozen family members roaming your hallways and sleeping on your couch, it’s probably not the right time to decide to stop co sleeping.

When deciding how to break co sleeping, choose a time when all is calm in your household and there aren’t any major life changes or stresses—like big work projects or family events—that could make it difficult for both you and baby to focus all your attention on the task at hand.

During this time of transition, you should be focused on helping your baby get comfortable with their new sleeping arrangement. If life is feeling a little on the crazy side, consider waiting to transition from co sleeping until things have settled down.

Don’t just stop cosleeping cold turkey! Have some sleepovers

Just because it’s time to stop cosleeping doesn’t mean the transition from cosleeping to a room of baby’s own has to happen all at once.

You can help your baby get used to their new room by planning to spend a few nights on a mattress or sleeping bag on their floor.

If you’ve been practicing safe co-sleeping positions with the help of a bedside co sleeper bed, then your baby has gotten very used to having you within arm’s reach.

You can get them used to sleeping alone—while also helping them feel comfortable, confident, and nurtured in their new room—by showing them that you’re still physically there to support them.

Ease the transition from co-sleeping by finding other ways to bond

One of the biggest co sleeping benefits is how much time your baby gets to spend with you.

When baby is sleeping by your side with the help of a tool like the babybay bedside co sleeper, your night hours are full of deep moments of bonding.

As you make your plan and consider how to break co sleeping so that the transition is as stress-free as possible for the whole family, consider putting a new cuddles-filled nighttime routine in place before you make the transition.

Finding ways to show baby your love before they go to sleep—and getting them used to that routine before they move into a room of their own—will help them feel physically and emotionally supported in their new setup.

So that during the nights when they’re getting used to sleeping in a room all their own, they know that your love is still close by.

When Is Co Sleeping Safe for My Baby?

Posted on March 10, 2022March 10, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

For parents wondering when is co sleeping safe?, there are many factors that need to be considered.

Here’s the truth: there are many different sleep practices that often get grouped under the “co sleeping” umbrella.

And while some—like enjoying the benefits of a bedside co sleeper—offer an ASTM, TÜV, and Confidence in Textiles certified-safe solution for helping baby catch some rest while sleeping by your side, other common “co sleeping” practices don’t offer the same safety guarantee.

“Bed sharing,” for instance, references the practice of inviting a baby into your own bed to sleep during the night. Though bed sharing is often considered one form of co-sleeping, there are key safety differences between the two.

Bed Sharing: What to Know About Safety and The Question When Is Co Sleeping Safe?

The American Academy of Pediatrics knows that keeping your baby close during the first year of their life carries a whole host of benefits (like making nighttime nursing a breeze and helping you easily—and quickly!—respond to every crisis call).

That’s why they recommend room sharing with baby for at least the first 6 months of their life, and ideally through the first year.

But in the eyes of the AAP, room sharing is not the same as bed-sharing.

While bed-sharing with 6 month-old or younger babies can carry risks—like concerns about comfy bedding, soft objects, or any other pillowy or quilted materials causing harm—room sharing does not create these same concerns.

When you room share, you offer baby the firm, made-just-for-them sleep space they need to feel comfortable, cozy, and safe all night long.

You get to enjoy the adult mattress and oh-so-plush bedding you’ve come to love, while giving baby a sleeping space all their own that is perfectly designed to support them and keep them safe.

Because you’re sharing a space rather than sharing a bed, you can room share with baby from the first moment they come home from the hospital.

But bed-sharing with 6 month-old or younger babies is not as easily recommended since baby has yet to learn the escape artist skills they need to untangle themselves from any soft fabrics that come their way. (Those escape artist skills will come one day! But not for a while down the road.)

That means that you can feel confident practicing forms of co-sleeping that give baby a sleeping space that’s made just for them from the moment they come home from the hospital.

But you should take a second safety glance before practicing any co sleeping methods (like bed-sharing with 6 month-old or younger babies) that encourage baby to sleep in a space that isn’t specially designed just for them, but is designed with your own adult comforts in mind.

How to Co-Sleep Safely

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be hard to co-sleep safely.

There are certain gold-star co sleeping practices that help you get stress-free nights of sound rest while supporting your baby’s body and mind.

Bedside sleepers deliver all the benefits of co sleeping—we’re talking more bonding time with baby, easier nighttime nursing, and boosted support for baby’s healthy physical and mental growth—while gifting you with peace of mind (which is one of the best gifts of all, can’t we agree?).

Bedside sleepers like the babybay attach snugly to the side of your own mattress, allowing you to sleep comfortably on the soft bedding you love while giving your baby a made-just-for-them sleeping space that properly supports their needs.

That means they can enjoy the firm mattress that’s safest for them—without you having to sacrifice any of your own sleep comfort.

The best part? Bedside co sleepers allow you to always be within arm’s reach of your baby all through the night. That means you’ll be able to soak up all the close-by-baby benefits of co sleeping, without a single moment of stress or worry.

When Is Co-Sleeping Safe with a Bedside Co-Sleeper?

The babybay bedside co sleeper has been lovingly designed to support your baby through nights of safe co sleeping as soon as they come home from the hospital.

That means that the babybay will be there to support all of your co-sleeping needs from the moment that your baby is born!

And when you feel it’s the best age to transition from co sleeping, you can be sure that your baby will be ready to get full nights of rest all on your own, with full confidence that you’re there to support them during every step of the way.

That’s why parents that wonder when is co sleeping safe? should keep this in mind—how you co-sleep matters when you’re trying to decide the right time to start.

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The Secret Behind How to Transition from Co Sleeping to Crib: Be Consistent

Posted on February 11, 2022February 11, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

When it comes time to encourage baby to stop co-sleeping and catch their Z’s in a space all their own, it can be challenging to figure out how to transition from co sleeping to crib.

Here’s the most important thing to remember: every family is unique, and so is every co sleeping journey. Though family, friends, or strangers online might swear by one method of transitioning from co sleeping, that doesn’t mean that this is the right method for you.

As you make plans to transition from co-sleeping to crib, take into account your own needs, as well as how your baby’s personality might respond better—or worse!—to different possible ways to stop co sleeping.

Though there are many parent-loved approaches to transitioning away from co sleeping out there (from going gradually to stopping “cold turkey”), there’s one thing you should keep in mind no matter which strategy you choose—consistency is key.

Though there are sure to be a few bumps along the road or nights when things just don’t seem to go according to plan, keep at it!

Putting a plan in place and following it closely will help your baby quickly get used to their new nighttime routine.

Why It’s So Hard to Transition from Co Sleeping to Crib

Have you ever suffered through a night of tossing and turning because you were in an unfamiliar place or sleeping on a mattress that wasn’t your own?

It’s common for anyone—adults and babies alike—to have a hard time sleeping when they’re getting used to a new sleeping environment or are adjusting to new nighttime sounds.

Your baby has gotten used to the comfortable feeling of sleeping by your side. Suddenly moving across the room into a crib of their own—or moving into a whole new room of their own—is bound to create some confusion and discomfort during the transition stage.

(Wondering how to make this transition easier? Check out some of our top tips!)

But the more consistent you can be, the easier it will be for your baby to feel comfortable with the new routine you’re setting.

Though it can be tempting to switch up your method of transitioning from co sleeping when faced with your baby’s discomfort and a night or two of lack of sleep, it’s important to hold strong!

By outlining your goals ahead of time and being clear about what method you’ve chosen and why you believe it’s the one that will best support your baby’s transition, you’ll be able to roll over all those bumps and help baby get used to their new routine.

How Bedside Co Sleepers Help Ease the Transition from Co Sleeping to Crib

Luckily, families who have been co sleeping with the help of a bedside co sleeper like the babybay might have an easier time transitioning baby away from their bedside.

Because your baby is already familiar with the feel of their baby co sleeper, they won’t have to get used to a new sleeping space—they’ll just have to get used to a new distance from you.

With a conversion kit, you can easily transform your bedside co sleeper into a standalone baby bassinet that you can gradually move across the room.

Before you know it, your baby will be sweetly exploring dreamland all night long, even when you’re not right by their side.

The Key to Transitioning from Co Sleeping to Crib: Be Consistent

You’ll hear this advice again and again, and for good reason—keeping consistent is the most important thing you can do to help baby feel confident and comfortable as they get used to their new nighttime routine.

Some experts recommend putting an “our bed is off limits” rule in place for the first three months after they’ve stopped co sleeping. This means that baby is not invited onto their mattress at all—even for nap times or cuddling—until they’ve had enough time to adjust to sleeping in a space all their own.

It makes sense that many parents find this an effective tactic to stop co sleeping. Your baby is still too young to logically understand why cuddling at 10am is totally fine, but sleeping by your side at night is off-limits.

Keeping your baby completely away from your bed until they have fully adjusted to their new nighttime routine can help deliver sounder nights of comfortable and confident sleep for them—and you!

Of course, if you’ve been co sleeping with the help of a bedside co-sleeper, then baby is likely well-prepared to take on the challenge of adjusting to a new sleeping space.

Because they’re already used to being comfy and cozy on a mattress all their own, they won’t have as much trouble leaving your bedside behind (especially if you’re simply transforming your trusted bedside sleeper into a baby bassinet that baby gets to continue to happily sleep on all night long!).

Which means when it’s time to figure out how to transition from co sleeping to crib, you can be confident that your baby is well-prepared for the journey ahead.

Is your Baby’s Crib Exposing Them to Toxins? Must have Safety Certifications and Which Materials To Avoid Altogether

Posted on August 11, 2021August 5, 2021 by Sarah Birdwell

Hey moms!

We know you want the best for your baby. That’s why you make a point to research the safest products they will come into contact with. Before deciding on the sleep environment best for your family, there’s something you need to know. Not all cribs/bassinets/sleepers are made alike. Without knowing what safety certifications and materials to choose, you run the risk of opting for a sleeper that is made with toxic materials which can pose a threat to your baby’s health.

Certain paints, glues, woods, and plastics can emit harmful chemicals and gasses known to cause cognitive delays, chronic health issues such as allergies, asthma, kidney failure, cancer, and more. Knowing that your newborn baby will be spending 16-18 hours a day in their crib, it is vitally important to make the most educated decision on which one you use. Choosing a trustworthy crib and mattress is one of the best choices you can make for your baby, and we’re here to help take the guesswork out of the process.

MUST HAVE SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS

Listed below are the leading safety certifications to look for when deciding on the safest sleeper for your baby. Each year, the standards are updated to adapt to technology and changes in the market. As a result, leaders in crib safety urge parents to use a new crib, not one handed down. Older cribs may not meet current standards and have the potential of risking your baby’s safety. Look for the following safety certifications when deciding on your next sleeper.

✔ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials)

The ASTM is one of the leading third-party product testers. They focus on the structural safety of a product — how it’s built, it’s ability to maintain safety with normal wear and tear, the safety of the materials used, and they also search for toxins in finishes, paints, flame retardants and more.

✔OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 for BABIES

The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label guarantees that each and every material used in the process of making a product, is 100% safe for your baby. Arguably the most rigorous testing criteria of them all, OEKO-TEX searches for both regulated and non-regulated substances, going beyond national and international requirements. The company also updates its standards at least once a year, if not more, to incorporate scientific finds, and changes to statutory requirements — which is no small feat.

IDENTIFYING TOXINS & HOW TO AVOID THEM

🚫 VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs are gasses emitted from certain woods, glues, and paint finishes. On items kept indoors, they can be up to 10x more harmful, especially to babies. What qualifies as a VOC? Formaldehyde, benzene, phenol, phthalates, and a slew of other gasses I can’t pronounce. Whatever the name, I certainly don’t want them anywhere near my baby.

Long story short, when chronic exposure to VOCs occurs, it can cause asthma, lung infections, allergies, liver damage, central nervous system damage, kidney damage, and cancer. Make sure to pay attention to the materials used in making the product — if it requires extra glues, plastics, adhesives, or if it says NO VOC paints/finishes.

🚫 PVC AND PHTHALATES:

Found in soft plastics and are used to add fragrance to products (to avoid smelling toxins.) If it smells artificial, it probably is. PVCs and Phthalates are known for making allergies worse in children, can cause kidney and liver lesions, cancers, and reproductive problems.

🚫 BISPHENOLS (BPA + BPS):

Used in the making of clear hard plastics. Has been shown to cause prostate cancer, breast cancer, female infertility, obesity, and reproductive damage.

🚫 FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICALS:

Often used on textiles, mattresses, foam inserts. Can cause endocrine and thyroid disruption, immune system disruption, reproductive issues, cancers, and have adverse effects on child development.

SELECTING THE RIGHT MATERIALS

WOOD

Always choose Solid Hardwoods. Other options such as solid softwood, or MDFs (Medium Density Fiberboards — such as particleboard and plywood,) require glues, plastics, and other adhesive materials (to hold them together,) which may contain VOCs or other toxins — in particular, formaldehyde.

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

PAINT/FINISHES

Always inspect the type of paint or finish used in manufacturing. Water-based paints are the only non-VOC emitting paints available on the market. This is one of the main reasons that using hand-me-down cribs is not recommended. Restrictions have become more strict in recent years, but, in the past, it was not uncommon to use paints made with lead — which you definitely don’t want your baby around!

WHY BABYBAY BEDSIDE CO-SLEEPERS ARE THE BEST OPTION

babybay is the ONLY eco-friendly, non-toxic, fully attachable co-sleeper on the market. Here’s how we’re leading the pack:

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

babybay’s only have a few basic ingredients:

100% natural beechwood
Water-based wood glue
Water-based finishes (Untreated babybay has no finish) NO VOC
Metal hardware: contains no heavy metals such as lead or cadmium
We NEVER use medium-density fiberboard (MDF), fillers, or artificial materials.

Safety Certifications: ASTM, CPSC, FSC, TUV/GS, Oeko Tex-100 Class 1

Our Mattresses: Free from hazardous chemicals, awarded the “Confidence in Textiles” certificate for being free of harmful substances (Öeko-tex Standard 100 Class 1 for babies)

Take the guesswork out of the bedside crib safety process by choosing a babybay bedside sleeper for your newborn baby.