How to Safely Co Sleep with Baby Without Sacrificing Your Own Comfort

Posted on April 20, 2022April 28, 2022 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 some super-soft bedding and supported by a just-soft-enough pillow top.

And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel comfy and cozy through the night, it can be challenging to know how to fit your cosleeping 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 without sacrificing your own comfort, don’t there?

Good news: there are!

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!).

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.

Though 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, 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.

Choose Your babybay

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

Posted on March 30, 2022April 28, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

Your co sleeping journey begins way before your baby sleeps on their made-just-for-them baby bed side 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.

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 comfort 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).

So that you’ll have confidence your baby is peacefully sleeping safe and secure, while you’re catching Z’s 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.

Which 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 or choose a tie-on padded crib border that creates a soft nest for your baby while giving 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 relationship 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—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!

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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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.

How to Co Sleep with Infant and Wake Up Well-Rested

Posted on January 18, 2022January 14, 2022 by Sarah Birdwell

Whether you’re welcoming your first little one into the world or have plenty of practice co sleeping with newborns, getting a full night of rest is probably at the top of your priority list.

While some co sleeping methods (like bed-sharing) are likely to leave you tossing and turning with worry for baby’s safety, a safe bedside cosleeper helps you sleep soundly—while baby catches plenty of Z’s of their own!

Wondering how to co sleep with infant so you wake up feeling well-rested?

Here are 4 ways that bedside co sleepers help you and baby get the quality sleep you crave

1. Bedside co sleepers make nighttime nursing easy-as-can-be

You can expect your baby to double their weight in the first five months of their life—and all that growing takes a lot of energy!

Combine that need for a nutrient boost with a tiny tummy that can only take in a little milk at a time and you have the perfect formula for frequent feedings through the night.

For parents who choose a detached crib or baby bassinet, those frequent feedings will mean constantly pushing back the covers, getting out of bed, leaning down into a crib, and then trying to find a position that will let baby feed…without you feeling uncomfortable.

And though your body and mind will both be ready to get some rest once baby is fed and you’re back in bed…getting comfy in your pillows and blankets again is going to take some time.

With bedside co sleepers, baby is always within reach.

That means you’ll be easily able to give baby what they need without taking long walks across the room (because trust us—those extra steps add up fast!) and without moving from the comfortable space of your bed to find a space to set up and breastfeed baby elsewhere.

Which is good news! Because the less disrupted your sleep feels, the easier it will be to fall right back into dreamland.

2. Bedside co sleepers help you quickly care for every concern (without sacrificing comfort!)

Hunger isn’t the only reason your baby might cry during the night.

They might not love the temperature of the room, or could be trying to let you know that a soiled diaper is causing them discomfort. They might even just be calling out for a little extra love.

Being within arm’s reach of your baby helps you quickly—and easily!—take stock of what baby needs. In fact, you won’t even need to leave the comfort of the covers when caring for baby’s cries.

3. Bedside co sleepers make it easier to care for multiples

For families with twins or multiple newborns, the question isn’t how to co sleep with an infant and wake up well-rested. The question is how to co sleep with infants and get any rest at all.

And while some parents quickly decide to give each baby a crib or baby bassinet of their own, this adds time and distance during every feeding or crisis call.

But a bedside co sleeper for twins can support both babies in safe comfort—without you needing to get up or push off your covers to care for their needs.

When your babies are in a bedside co sleeper for twins, their bodies and minds feel the impact.

Experts believe that when twins sleep together, they’re reminded of the nurturing feeling of sharing a womb. This gives their healthy growth a boost—while helping synchronize their feeding and wake-up patterns during the night.

That synchronization is key. Because the more in sync your babies become, the fewer times you’ll be called to care for them—leading to far more sleep for you!

4. Bedside co sleepers set your mind at peace

When baby isn’t close by, it’s easy to be filled with thoughts of what might be going wrong.

But bedside co-sleepers make it easy to check that baby is sleeping safe and sound.

That means you’ll spend less time wondering and worrying about how baby is doing—and more time getting the sleep you need.

babybay bedside co sleepers are committed to making peace of mind a priority.

That’s why every babybay bedside sleeper is made of locally-sourced and eco-friendly beechwood that is naturally antibacterial and antistatic. babybay bedside co sleepers are also free of the toxic wood glues, cheap fillers, plastics, or other harmful chemicals that fill most other cribs, baby bassinets, and bedside co sleepers.

Because for most parents, figuring out how to co-sleep with infant and wake up well-rested can be a challenge.

But babybay believes that better rest is possible—and is committed to delivering nights full of sweet, sound, and long rest to families like yours.

Choose Your babybay

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

Posted on November 3, 2021November 12, 2021 by Sarah Birdwell

What is Co-Sleeping?

Co-sleeping is often used as a catch-all term to describe the experience of sleeping with your baby close by.

Co-sleeping may look a little different for every family. Parents may lay their child in a safe bedside sleeper that attaches to the side of their own bed, or they might share a bedroom with their child but encourage baby to sleep in a separate crib. They might even sleep with their baby nestled up against them all through the night.

Though there are many ways to cosleep, some are far safer than others. (Bedside sleepers, we’re looking at you and giving you a gold star!)

But all forms of co-sleeping have one thing in common: they’ve been the safe sleeping practice preferred by families throughout history.

Though parents in many modern Western countries have popularized separate bedrooms and detached cribs, for thousands of years going to sleep curled up near your newborn has been the norm.

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

(A full night of rest—now that’s something at the top of every new parent’s wish list!)

But as soon as mattresses and cribs became the new in-trend home fashion statement of the 19th century, parents in the Western world increasingly kicked children out of their own beds and moved them into mattresses and rooms of their own.

In America, Canada, and Europe, some parents continue to boot children out of their own bedroom and encourage them to sleep through the night alone.

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

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

What are common cosleeping benefits?

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

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

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

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

But your baby isn’t the only one who benefits from co-sleeping. Parents are able to care for their own bodies and minds by making nighttime nursing easier and getting a few much-needed extra hours of shut-eye.

What is the difference between co-sleeping and bedsharing?

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

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

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

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

Though baby will love having you nearby as they rest, they won’t love your sleeping surface.

Nor will they love all the extra blankets, pillows, and other comfort materials that adults love to cocoon in.

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

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

By choosing a bedside sleeper that fits flush against their bed, parents can control the specifics of their baby’s environment.

(The first step? Pick a bedside co sleeper that’s right for baby and right for your room!)

Baby can sleep securely nestled within an arm’s reach of their parents, but feel comforted and protected on a mattress that is firm enough to support them and ensure safe sleeping. They can receive, learn, and grow from all the sensory input they receive throughout the night—while their parents sleep soundly knowing that they are safe in a bedside sleeper built just for them.

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How to Safely Co Sleep

Posted on October 18, 2021October 18, 2021 by Sarah Birdwell

Co-sleeping is not a new practice.

For most of recorded history, parents have ensured the safety and healthy development of their babies by sharing sleeping space with them. (While making breastfeeding easier and getting a more peaceful night’s rest themselves—that’s what we like to call a win-win!)

To this day, many cultures around the world sing the praises of co-sleeping and consider it the normal— and natural— way of easing baby’s stress while helping them learn to breathe regularly and develop healthily.

Studies have confirmed that co-sleeping is a safe practice that improves parents’ sleep, cares for baby’s development, and promotes bonding through touch.

While cosleeping is one of the oldest and most popular methods for sleeping with a newborn, it’s important that you co-sleep safely.

Before baby and parent tuck in for a more caring and nurturing night of rest, the cosleeping environment needs to be properly prepped.

To create a safe cosleeping environment, you should…

Keep your baby close
Create the right room conditions
Ensure safe body position
Choose the right bedside sleeper

Ready to help your baby co sleep safe and sound?

Let’s break these safe cosleeping conditions down further.

Keep your baby close

Co-sleeping helps you bond with your baby. (In fact, emotional and physical bonding is one of cosleeping’s biggest benefits!) But you can put the brakes on that bonding—and create an unsafe sleeping environment—if you choose to sleep too far away.

While cosleeping, you should never be more than an arm’s reach away from your baby.

Sleeping next to your baby helps you become in-tune to their emotions.

And when your breathing is close enough to your baby for her to hear you, your baby will start modeling her breathing patterns to your rhythm, helping keep her asleep for longer.

Not only will sleeping close help you sense their needs faster and with more ease, you’ll be close enough to respond immediately—without needing to fly to the other room or wake up your partner.

Create the right room conditions for co-sleeping

Dark, light, with the window open, with the window closed, with the thermostat set to a toasty 82 degrees—we all have an opinion on what kind of conditions create the best night’s rest.

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

That means the room shouldn’t be too toasty, and there should be no extra pillows, stuffed animals, or blankets crowding the mattress.

These kinds of fluffy materials can quickly grow unsafe if a baby rolls onto them or gets wrapped up during the night.

As soon as your baby takes up residence in your room, it’s time to start thinking of it as their space as well as yours.

Find a bedside sleeper that fits with your bedroom style, and you’ll create a cozy environment for both you and your newborn.

That means being open to letting go of your old sleep habits to guarantee that your baby is protected, well-rested, and unconditionally supported throughout the night.

But don’t worry, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts. Soon you’ll be getting more sleep (get ready for your new parent friends to be jealous!) and curbing separation anxiety while making nighttime nursing easier than ever.

Keep your baby in a safe body position

All the experts agree—babies should always sleep on their backs.

The surface underneath them should be firm and clean, and any blankets should be light and kept far away from covering their heads.

Cosleeping is no different.

It’s important that your baby has space to lie comfortably—and safely—on a mattress that isn’t too soft or pillowed. Babies can easily sink into too-soft bedding in a way that quickly becomes dangerous.

We know you love your baby, which means you want them to go to sleep every night feeling like they’re on cloud nine.

But it’s far safer for them to sleep somewhere firm instead of sleeping on a surface pillowy as a cloud. That’s why bedding and mattresses matter when it comes to cosleeping.

Which brings us to…

Choose the right bedside sleeper

While you may prefer a weightless waterbed, babies need baby-safe beds that have been rigorously tested for safety.

Be sure your chosen bedside sleeper has no toxic wood glues, cheap fillers, plastics, or other harmful chemicals.

Any mattress you use for cosleeping should sit tightly against the bed frame so there are no gaps, space, or crevices that your baby could accidentally slip into.

Here’s the truth: Adult mattresses just aren’t designed to protect your baby.

They’re designed with adult comfort in mind.

That’s why it’s best to choose a crib, bedside sleeper, or baby bassinet that is designed to tuck your baby in for a long night of firm and safe cosleeping.

These bedside sleepers fit snugly against your own bed, letting you care for your baby through the night while drifting off to dreamland with peace of mind.

The babybay isn’t designed for adults. It’s uniquely designed with your baby in mind. Because of that, choosing a co sleeper crib like the babybay can take a lot of the guesswork out of safe co-sleeping.

By choosing a product specially designed by experts to provide a safe co-sleeping environment, you can spend less time worrying about whether you’re facilitating the right room conditions for safe co sleeping with baby.

Instead, you can spend more time enjoying the feeling of sleeping beside your baby, knowing that they are spending their night comforted and protected by your nearby touch.

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

5 Resources for New Moms in Need of a Better Night’s Sleep (It Starts by Using a Bedside Co-sleeper!)

Posted on July 15, 2021July 26, 2021 by Sarah Birdwell

Is adapting to life with your newborn leaving you exhausted?

Does it feel impossible to catch up on sleep?

We totally get it. You’re not alone. Take a deep breath. We’re here to help.

If you recently had a baby, a full night’s sleep can feel like a distant memory. Adapting to your new normal while trying to heal from labor, is no small feat. The longer you go without rest, the worse your body feels — occasionally causing serious side effects. Studies have shown that long-term sleep deprivation can result in anxiety, irritability, reduced cognitive functioning, and can contribute to postpartum depression.

If you’ve been struggling to rest, or are looking to optimize your sleeping environment, continue reading below. Our tips include data on the benefits of bedside co-sleeping, as well as minor changes to your sleep hygiene that will have you sleeping like a baby in no time.

FOLLOW YOUR BABY’S LEAD

When your baby sleeps, that’s your cue to sleep, too. Simple enough, right? Some parents spend the first year fighting against their baby’s natural rhythm and needs, You can try to get your baby on your clock, but this will only add to your exhaustion. That time will come, but don’t expect it right away.

Instead, try taking the opposite approach and create a sleeping environment similar to the womb. Science tells us to expect newborns to sleep 16-18 a day, in 2-3 hour increments (bedside co-sleeping can increase that time.) You can work with that, right? Start viewing those hours as windows of opportunity to rest and relax. Don’t forget to be patient with yourself. This is going to be an adjustment, but you’ll get there. (You just made a human! After that, there’s nothing you can’t handle.)

SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH YOUR PARTNER

Listen to your body. No matter how independent you are, talk to your partner about how they can help. Working together to rotate responsibilities will make it possible for you to sleep, heal, and be at your best. 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. After all, teamwork makes the dream work.

PRACTICE PROPER SLEEP HYGIENE

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.

For example: not drinking caffeine after 2pm, fighting late-night cravings, and removing technology from the bedroom. With a newborn added to the equation, and feedings waking you up every few hours, the mixed messages to your body make it hard to go back to sleep on command. Additional tips for those struggling to get back to sleep, include:

- - Doing 5-10 minutes of yoga or peaceful meditation
  - Make a cup of herbal tea (they are naturally decaffeinated.)
  - Close the blinds, or try blackout window treatments

POSTPARTUM DOULAS & AFTER BIRTH CARE SPECIALISTS

For those unfamiliar, 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, in your home, to help you feel comfortable adapting to all things motherhood. (They’re also covered by state health care and independent insurance coverages.)

For those struggling with getting baby to latch on, or, worried you’ve swaddled your baby too tightly — Maybe, you’re experiencing anxiety about how your body is healing — Or, you don’t know why your baby won’t stop crying — With compassion, understanding, and a helpful attitude, they will help you with all of it.

Although this uncharted territory 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.

BEDSIDE CO-SLEEPERS

Switching to using a bedside co-sleeper can make all the difference in terms of a good night’s sleep. Studies have shown the benefits of co-sleeping, (when done safely,) can be extensive — including: physiological syncing between mom and baby (breathing, heartbeat, etc,) increased time in REM sleep, and in longer intervals.

Try taking the more natural approach, by keeping moms and babies close throughout the night. It will change the game, and the science is there to prove it, says Dr. James McKenna:

“Staying close to the adult’s body helps the baby remain at a more stable body temperature. Physical contact, in close cosleeping, helps babies to “breathe more regularly, use energy more efficiently, grow faster, and experience less stress”

Simply speaking, when you create a sleep environment that allows for physical connection, similar to the womb, the transition won’t be nearly as jarring for your baby (and moms.) The problems start when we fight against nature, and expect babies to not be upset when they don’t know where mom is. They’re not able to self-soothe, yet. So why would we expect them to do so, just because it meets our needs? Now that co-sleeping can be done safely again, there’s no reason not to. It’s best for both of you.

Interested in finding a bedside co-sleeper that works for you?

Consider the leading, attachable, bedside co-sleeper by babybay. Not only are we the only eco-friendly sleeper on the market, but we are also committed to sustainable manufacturing. Each of our sleepers are made with the highest quality, European beechwood, and, for every tree used, we plant another. You’ll never see plastics, cardboard, or any toxic paints on our sleepers. Plus, we hold 2 of the highest safety certifications from Europe and the United States.

Our customers love our bedside sleepers because they’re created by parents, for parents — showing a true understanding of your everyday struggles and needs.

For more information on how we stack up against the competition, click here.