bedside co sleeper Archives

A Guide for Sleep Deprived Parents: How to Get Sleep with a Newborn

Posted on February 28, 2023April 26, 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.

How to Make Your Babybay Bedside Crib Mobile

Posted on May 11, 2022May 1, 2023 by Sarah Birdwell

It’s no secret that bedside cribs and co-sleepers offer a host mind and body-boosting benefits, while helping the whole family get more restful nights of sleep. (Like making nighttime nursing easy and giving baby a healthy psychological and physiological development jumpstart — just to name a few of our faves!)

But you can enjoy an even bigger benefit boost by choosing a bedside co-sleeper that isn’t just safe and supportive for your little one, but is versatile as well.

Because when your bedside crib can easily transform into a portable bassinet, you have even more flexibility when it comes to choosing how you’ll nurture your baby during their sleeping and waking hours— while also making things easier on you.

The Pros of Using a Portable Bassinet

A portable bassinet, a bedside crib, a bedside co-sleeper: there are plenty of options out there when it comes to choosing a place for your baby to rest their head and catch some Z’s.

But when it comes time to choose which will work best for your family, finding one that matches your lifestyle needs — as well as the needs of your little one — is key.

How to Make Your Bedside Crib Moveable

Though some families might decide that choosing a baby co-sleeper that securely attaches to their own bed might offer everything they need, others may find that choosing a more moveable option (like a wooden bassinet or bedside crib) is better for them.

For parents who have a nursery space that they’re hoping to move baby into when the time eventually comes to transition from co-sleeping, having a bassinet with wheels lets them roll baby back and forth between rooms, helping baby become well-accustomed to both.

A bassinet with wheels also allows you to move your baby to new rooms in the house without waking them.

This can be a much-needed feature for families who want to keep baby close throughout the day without needing to rely on a baby monitor, stock up on extra products, or feel confined to the bedroom to do it.

Your Baby Bassinet Makes It Easier to Offer Comfort

A baby bassinet for bed is also perfect for families who find that their baby prefers to be rocked or swayed to keep calm throughout the night.

Without needing to leave the warmth of your covers, you can easily reach over and comfort your baby with a rocking motion by gently moving your baby’s portable bassinet back and forth.

Meaning you’ll be able to keep resting, even as you give your little one the kind of comfort that lets them happily drift back to dreamland!

Take an inside peek at how one family made their babybay mobile with the bassinet conversion kit — and loves the flexibility it offers!

Your Wooden Bassinet Will Keep Your Baby Cocooned

Your baby has just spent 9 months in the womb. And though they might be excited to have all the adventures the world has to offer, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t going to be a transition period when they experience a little discomfort while getting used to their new environment.

Traditional cribs are big. And while this might sound like a good thing at first (it gives my baby plenty of room to grow, right??), having too much extra space can be disorienting for some babies.

But when you convert your babybay co-sleeper, into a wooden bassinet, you’re able to enjoy all the advantages of a bassinet or crib —while making it easier for your baby to sleep happily in the more familiar and comforting embrace of a smaller sleeping space.

All babybay co-sleepers (including ones that have been transformed into a portable bassinet) are artfully designed to mimic the half-moon embrace of a hug (a shape your baby will be all-too-familiar with after growing in the womb).

So while your baby is soaking up all the new things the world has to offer, they’ll feel fully loved and embraced in comfort while doing it.

How to Turn Your babybay Bedside Co-Sleeper Into a Portable Bassinet

The bassinet conversion kit makes it easy to turn your babybay co sleeper into a bedside crib or wooden bassinet with wheels.

All it takes is a few minutes to install the guard rail, and you have a safe way to move your baby’s sleeping space around the house with ease.

Your baby’s co-sleeper mattress is fully height-adjustable, which makes it easy to line up their sleeping space to the height of your own bed and reach over to care for them during the night without having to leave the comfort of your sheets.

And though our uniquely-designed guard rail is made to keep you comfortable as you care for your baby, that doesn’t mean that it’s not equally comfortable and safe for your little one!

They’ll feel snuggled in a sleeping space made-just-for-them, protected by a guard rail that will keep them safe through all sleeping and waking hours.

[Get a mobile babybay!]

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.

What Does Co Sleeping Mean (and How Do You Safely Practice It)?

Posted on March 24, 2022April 28, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

If you search for “co sleeping” in the dictionary, you’ll probably find a definition that looks like this one (courtesy of Merriam-Webster): co sleeping is “the practice of sleeping in the same bed or close by in the same room with one’s child.”

Seems simple enough to understand, doesn’t it?

But in truth, this definition doesn’t even begin to answer the question What does co sleeping mean?

Because this definition groups three very different sleeping practices—bed sharing, room sharing, and co sleeping—under the same “co sleeping” umbrella.

To get a more accurate answer to the question What does co sleeping mean?, it’s important to understand the differences between these three sleeping practices.

Once you understand the pros and cons associated with each, it will become easier to decide whether enjoying the benefits of co sleeping is the right next step for your family.

Co Sleeping, Bed Sharing, and Room Sharing: How Are They Different?

Though “co sleeping” is often used as the catch-all term for describing the experience of sleeping close to your baby, co sleeping with the help of a safe bedside co sleeper is a very different experience than practicing more general room sharing or bed sharing.

“Room sharing” refers to instances when baby is invited to sleep in the same room as their parents—but on a different sleeping surface. When parents choose to sleep in their own bed with their baby catching Z’s in a crib or baby bassinet nearby, they are participating in room sharing.

“Bed sharing” refers to the practice of not only inviting your baby or child into your room, but into your bed as well. When bed sharing, children and parents sleep together on the same mattress and share bedding.

While this setup helps parents take advantage of many co sleeping benefits (like feeling more bonded with baby by sleeping so close by), it can be difficult to guarantee safe co sleeping positions when you’re sharing a bed.

That’s because the oh-so-soft mattresses and bedding that parents often prefer are not the safest choice for babies, especially when the baby is still so young that they are not easily able to untangle themselves if they’re accidentally covered by bedding.

When you practice co-sleeping with the right bedside crib, you’re able to enjoy all the benefits of bed-sharing, without the safety concerns that sharing a bed with your baby can bring.

This type of safe co-sleeping is sometimes referred to as separate-surface co-sleeping, and involves sleeping on your own mattress with your baby safely cuddled in a bedside baby co sleeper, baby bassinet, or crib pushed against your bedside.

By using safe co sleeping solutions like the babybay bedside co sleeper, you get to enjoy the plush and comfy bedding and mattress you prefer, while your baby enjoys a made-just-for-them crib mattress and sleeping space all their own.

Which means you’ll be able to co sleep soundly, knowing that your baby is feeling supported by a firm mattress that is perfect for their growing body, while being comforted by the feeling of having you no more than an arm’s reach away.

Co Sleeping Benefits: What Positive Experiences Should You Expect?

The connection between baby and mother doesn’t end the moment that baby is delivered. In fact, experts agree that babies and their caregivers remain physiologically connected to each other in complicated but powerful ways following birth.

As anthropologist James J. McKenna found, babies who sleep close to their caregivers wake up more frequently, but those wakings are also less disruptive than when they are catching Z’s further away.

Parents who are sleeping beside their baby are very aware of and receptive towards these moments of wakefulness, which and will often take a moment to offer touch, check for crisis, hug, or otherwise support their baby in quick but loving ways.

These loving touches go a long way in helping baby settle their stress levels and breathe easy, which positively supports their psychological and physical growth.

But beyond these moments of nurturing, co sleeping makes nighttime nursing easier, and helps the whole family get longer, more restful nights of sleep by making it simple to know when baby needs support and offer the proper care. (Which is good news, because if there’s one thing that all parents could use more of—it’s sleep!)

Separate-Surface Co-Sleeping: What’s the Best Sleeper to Use?

There are many different co-sleepers out there that can be used for separate-surface co-sleeping, but not all of them are gold-star status when it comes to ease, safety, and comfort.

The babybay bedside co sleeper is specially engineered to fit snugly against your own bed, meaning you don’t even have to leave your mattress or reach over awkward crib bars to care for your baby during the night.

And because babybay considers your baby’s safety and comfort as Priority #1, you can be confident that baby will feel secure and supported when cuddled into the half-moon shape designed to mimic the warm embrace of a hug.

Meaning that your baby will feel more than happy to settle into dreamland with you by their side, while you catch some much-needed Z’s of your own—knowing that you’ve found the answers to What does co-sleeping mean? and have a sleeping solution that delivers big co sleeping benefits while delivering peace of mind.

Why is Co Sleeping Bad for Newborns? (Hint: It’s Not!)

Posted on March 16, 2022July 13, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

There’s one important thing you should always remember when deciding how co-sleeping fits into your family’s nighttime routine—only you know what works best for you and your baby.

But as you research the many benefits of co sleeping and get excited for the nights of deeper bonding ahead, you might come across fellow parents claiming that co-sleeping might not be the best option for children under a certain age.

Which might have you wondering—why is co-sleeping bad for newborns?

Here’s the simple answer: when done safely, co-sleeping isn’t bad at all!

In fact, when anthropologist John Whiting surveyed 186 cultures, he discovered that almost 70% of children sleeping and growing strong around the world slept in the company of others.

While 70% of families around the globe and much research has shown that co-sleeping offers many benefits (Easier nighttime nursing, better rest for the whole family, and quicker crisis response? Yes, please!) there’s a little trick of naming that’s causing some confusion about cosleeping.

The truth is that “bed sharing” is not the same as other, safe co-sleeping practices.

While the babybay bedside co sleeper has been safety-certified by ASTM International, TÜV, and Confidence in Textiles, bed sharing (when a baby sleeps in the same bed as the parent/s) does not come backed by the same safety guarantee.

Despite this big safety difference, these two terms (“bed sharing” and “co sleeping”) are often used interchangeably.

As any parent who enjoys sleeping an arm’s reach away from their baby with the help of a bedside co-sleeper will tell you, there are ways to get stress-free, worry-less, and benefit-filled nights of rest while co-sleeping.

You just need to choose the right cosleeping method.

What age is co-sleeping safe? Is my newborn baby too young?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sleeping in the same room as your baby (or “room sharing”) for at least the first six months of baby’s life.

When you room share, you set up a separate space for baby to sleep beside your own bed. By giving them a firm mattress to sleep on that is all their own, you allow them to feel properly supported through the night, while still being close enough to respond quickly to anything they might need.

There’s a reason why so many parents recommend this approach. Depending on your child’s development, it can be dangerous to have your baby share space on the soft, plush, comfy, and pillowy bedding and mattress you love.

The truth is, your baby’s body is best supported by a firm space to rest.

And though your baby will one day be a pro at untangling themselves from any blanket or pillow that comes their way, newborns are still not quite used to the art of getting themselves unwrapped or untangled from any fabric that covers them.

What’s why many experts suggest waiting to bed share until baby is old enough to easily get unstuck from any bedding they get tangled in.

However, with the help of a bedside co sleeper, you’ll be able to co sleep from the first night your baby is born–without having a single safety concern.

That’s because babybay bedside sleepers are specially engineered to give your baby the safe, firm, and far-from-your-blankets sleeping space they need to rest comfortably and securely all night long.

That’s why parents who are wondering why is co sleeping bad for newborn babies? need to understand that the how of co sleeping is important, especially when determining what age is co sleeping safe for your baby.

With the right safe co sleeping solution by your bedside, you can enjoy rest-filled nights and the other many benefits of co sleeping from the first day baby is brought home, while being fully confident that your baby is safe and comfortable in a bedside co sleeper made just for them.

What’s the best age to transition from co-sleeping?

As we said: no one knows your baby’s needs better than you.

Though the best age to transition from co sleeping will eventually come, there’s no hard and fast rule of when this will be for you.

The best thing you can do is keep track of your baby’s developmental patterns, and know that there might be a time when baby’s sleep habits or your own needs make you feel ready to move baby to a separate crib or room of their own.

When that time eventually comes, just know that your baby will be well-prepared to take on the nighttime routine changes ahead.

And the next time you hear a fellow parent ask Why is co sleeping bad for newborn babies? just like you did, you’ll be able to tell them straight out—

It’s not! You just need the right safe co sleeping solution by your bedside.

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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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How to Transition Baby from Co Sleeping to Crib

Posted on February 17, 2022February 28, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

All co-sleeping families are familiar with the feeling—as much as you’ve enjoyed the many benefits co sleeping has to offer, it just feels like the right time to encourage baby to move away from your side and into a space of their own.

And though you’re fully confident that the time to transition has come, you’re wondering how to transition baby from co-sleeping to crib in the easiest and most stress-free way possible.

With the help of a few tips, tricks, and best practices, you can ease the transition for baby while making the experience worry-free for you.

Consistency is Key

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

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

But once you’ve put a plan for transition in place, it’s important to follow it. Keeping consistent will help baby feel more comfortable with the changes and make it easier for you to get back to the long nights of restful sleep you crave.

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

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

Keep baby close

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

Choosing to gradually transition from co-sleeping to crib can ease some of the stress for both you and baby.

On the first night you transition from co-sleeping to crib, keep baby close by pushing the crib firmly against your bed. That way, your baby will be able to take comfort in the familiar feeling of sleeping by your side.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Fun fact: because newborns are still learning how to find meaning in all the things they see and hear on the daily, they develop a strong awareness of smell.)

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

Sleep with your baby’s bed sheets for a few nights before you start the transition from co-sleeping to crib, so that when the time comes to set them up for sleep, they are surrounded by comfortable items that smell like you.

Of course, you’ll want to choose the item you give to baby wisley. Sleeping with bulky blankets or plush toys can be a safety concern for newborns.

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

Pick the right time.

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

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

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

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

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

Give yourself a break!

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

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

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.

How to Safely Co Sleep With Newborn in the Perfect Shared Bedroom Setup

Posted on February 2, 2022March 18, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

When it comes to supporting your baby’s sweet and sound sleep through the night, creating the right safe co sleeping environment is key.

Many parents begin their transition to co sleeping by researching safe co sleeping positions and getting excited for the many co sleeping benefits they can expect to enjoy in the days ahead (ones like an easier nighttime nursing routine and deeper bonding between you and baby).

While these can be helpful places to begin your co sleeping journey, once you’re really ready to take the next steps in learning how to safely co sleep with newborn, thinking through the specifics of your baby’s soon-to-be sleeping environment is a necessary next course of action.

That’s because there are many ways to co sleep — but not all of them will gift you with the sound nights of stress-free rest that you’re looking for.

Once you’ve decided that co sleeping is right for you and your family, it’s time to take a hard look at your sleeping environment and ask yourself a few questions. (We promise—your environment prep work will pay off to the tune of more restful nights in the long run!)

What safe co sleeping positions will work best considering my home setup?

Experts are in agreement: when your baby is first brought home, the safest place for them to sleep is close by your side (that way you’ll be able to respond to every need with super-parent speed!).

But sleeping close by your side doesn’t necessarily mean sharing your bed.

Truth is, your baby’s body will not be properly supported by the super-soft mattress, plush comforters, and soft-as-a-cloud pillows you love.

Especially during the first months of their life, your baby needs a clean and firm sleep surface that will support them as they lay on their back and catch some much-needed Zs.

Safe co sleeping solutions like bedside co sleepers offer your baby a way to be by your side while still getting the support they need. They can rest on a made-just-for-them baby bed mattress that provides comfort and proper ventilation while you rest easy surrounded by your comfiest blankets and silkiest sheets.

And though it might seem like bedside co sleepers that securely attach directly to your bed aren’t an option for families living in small spaces, compact co sleeper models can naturally fit into any room and make it easy to turn your bedroom into a baby-loved co sleeping space.

How do I create a healthy environment when sharing my bedroom with baby?

There are several best practices when it comes to sharing bedroom with baby that almost all parents know (like how important it is to keep the room smoke-free and keep the temperature not too cool, not too hot).

And while you might feel like you’ve been there, researched that when it comes to those much-repeated best practices, there is one big every-parent-should-know safety concern that still comes as a surprise to most parents.

Are you ready for it?

Here it is: your baby’s sleeping materials might not be as nontoxic as you think they are.

Most bedside co sleepers, cribs, and baby bassinets on the market are full of toxic finishes, harmful chemicals, and damaging hard plastics that can wreak havoc on your baby’s still-developing body and immune system.

That’s why it’s so important to choose a bedside co sleeper made of non toxic, all natural, eco-friendly wood and harm-free finishes.

And when it’s time to buy sheets and a mattress pad for your baby to sleep on, look for ones that provide proper ventilation while being made of chemical-free materials and baby-friendly cotton and polyester fabrics.

How to Safely Co Sleep With Newborn: The Benefits of a Bedside Co-Sleeper

For parents who are just starting to explore co sleeping, it’s easy to feel like you’re desperately trying to fit all pieces of the co sleeping puzzle into one, clearly-readable, easy-to-implement way for both you and baby to rest easy through the night.

And while many parents toss and turn with worry, wondering…

Have I perfectly designed my co sleeping space for baby to sleep easy?

Does baby have what they need to feel safe and supported as we sleep?

Have I chosen a safe co sleeping position that will help baby—and me!—rest stress-free all night long?

Having the right co sleeping bed securely attached to your bedside can take all the guesswork out of how to safely co sleep with newborn.

It can feel like a challenge to adapt your made-for-adults bedroom into a perfect-for-baby safe sleeping space.

But bedside co sleepers make it possible for you to create the perfect safe co sleeping environment for your baby—without needing to throw away your existing mattress or sheets, redesign your own bedroom space, or spend a single minute of much-needed sleep time wondering whether baby is feeling nurtured and supported in the way they need.

So that your baby can get better nights of rest—and so can you!

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

Posted on January 26, 2022March 18, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

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

Though thinking through the when of co sleeping is an important first step for families starting to transition to this long-loved sleeping practice, it’s hard to come to a decision about when to co sleep until you’ve thought through your how to co sleep.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which is why when it comes to the question When is it safe to co-sleep?, parents who have a co sleeper bed for their child attached to their own will feel confident that their child is getting safe and sound nights of co-sleeping rest from the first moment they’re brought home.

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

The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the benefits of sharing a room with your baby during at least the first six months of their life, and ideally through the first year.

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

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

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

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

You can maximize those “jump-start” benefits while paving the way for worry-free nights of rest for both you and baby with the help of a bedside co sleeper.

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

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

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

Deciding When to Co-Sleep: The Big Takeaway

The answer to the question When is it safe to co sleep? depends on how you co-sleep.

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

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

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