The Bedside Crib - Fifteen Reasons to Buy One

By Helen Burroughs

Also known as a co-sleeper, the bedside crib attaches to the side of an adult bed. Resembling a standard crib with one of the side rails removed, the open side is placed next to the adult bed, with the bedside mattress and adult bed mattress at the same level.

It allows your baby to remain close to you at night without actually being in your bed. You can easily reach your baby during the night for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, comforting and bonding, without disturbing the warmth and security of your baby's bed.

Convenience for Mom

1. No ice-cold feet on cold winter nights! There's nothing worse than padding down the hall to replace baby's pacifier (which takes about five seconds) then lying awake for the next 30 minutes waiting for your feet to warm up!

2. You can breastfeed or bottle-feed during the night without getting up - bliss! (In order to bottle feed without getting up you will need an electric bottle warmer.)

3. If your baby is restless, you can simply reach over and comfort him, or replace his pacifier. Research shows that babies who are responded to quickly, and whose needs are met timeously, are more secure and are likely to cry less often.

4. You and Dad will enjoy more rest because you can reach baby from bed, and Dad will be happier, because he won't be living with a hopelessly sleep-deprived wife!

5. Recuperation after childbirth is quicker and easier if you can attend to your baby without getting up. This is particularly important after a Caesarean section birth.

6. Some of these cribs come with rolling casters and being relatively small, allow you to move your sleeping baby to a convenient place for you to watch him or her.

Bouncy Baby Bonuses

7. Baby gets the benefit of nighttime closeness with Mom. This provides your baby with the security he or she needs during the early months of emotional development.

8. Babies of working moms can catch up on mom's touch during the night, thereby maintaining a strong emotional bond.

Health Highlights

9. Research has shown that co-sleeping (with baby in a crib beside the bed) is associated with SIDS prevention. Note that this does not apply to babies sleeping in the parents' bed, which has been associated with an increased SIDS risk.

10. There is no risk of a parent rolling onto the baby during sleep. A common fear among parents who sleep with baby in their bed.

11. Organic baby crib mattresses and bedding are available in the bedside size. These are highly recommended, as synthetic mattresses have been associated with an increased SIDS risk.

Practical Pluses

12. The bassinet feature can double up as a changing table. This has the benefit of saving you money, as well as, allowing you to stay in bed while you change baby.

13. The bedside crib doubles as a portable crib, saving you more money. (And dad's really starting to like this idea!)

14. The bedside crib converts to a play yard when your baby outgrows the bassinet feature, dare I say it, saving you even more money! (And dad's sold!)

15. Co-sleepers are available in a range of styles and colors to fit with your bedroom decor.

The only downside is that this is a temporary crib. The Arms Reach Co-sleeper, the most popular brand of co-sleeper has a weight limit of 30lbs. The play yard, however, can be used until 50lbs. When your baby reaches 30lbs in weight, he or she will have to be moved to a permanent crib, probably in the baby nursery.

Nevertheless, if co-sleeping appeals to you, a bedside crib is well worth the money. No one can put a price on the special bond you will form with your baby during those first few months of life, and if a bedside crib enables you to bond at night too, even better!

Now there is a new option called the arms reach cocoon!

Author Helen Burroughs is stay at home mom to three precious little girls. Visit her website for more information on small baby beds such as bassinets, moses baskets and cradles, and advice on how to create a beautiful baby nursery.

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Baby Bassinets - A Special Heirloom

By LynnMarie S.

When women fantasize about beginning their families, they often have the image of tucking their angelic newborn into a beautiful bassinet. Baby bassinets are always a very elegant, classy alternative to a crib, and are often priceless family heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation. However, there is no need for parents to be to fret if there is no vintage wicker baby bassinet in their family tree. Bassinets can be purchased in every design imaginable, from old fashioned, delicate lace to modern plastic. The choices are endless, and making the right decision is very important if the parents are looking to create an heirloom.

Bassinets are often considered a luxury item, since an infant usually only uses one for the first few months. They serve the same purpose as a crib, but are usually much more stylish. Classic elegance is the theme of most bassinets, and often they are made of a wicker base. No matter which type of bassinet a new parent is looking for, there are some important qualities that parents need to be aware of. Most importantly, the bassinet needs to have a wide, sturdy base. It should not be wobbly or fragile. This is especially important to check for in old bassinets, as years of use can weaken the joints of the base. If there are other small children, or pets in the household, a bassinet should be used with extreme caution, since they tend to tip more easily then a crib. The mattress should be relatively firm, and fit snuggly inside the bassinet. If more than two fingers can fit between the bassinet mattress and the bassinet, the mattress is too small. The hood of the bassinet should be retractable for most convenience; however, this is often not the case on an antique baby bassinet.

Many companies make bassinets, in a variety of prices, from affordable to indulgent. Baby Doll is a company famous for their gorgeous bassinets. They offer a variety of models, each more regal than the last. The trademark of Baby Doll bassinets are the intricate lace designs covering the entire bassinet. While baby bassinets are typically white, Baby Doll offers a variety of beautiful pastel colors, and not just pink and blue! One of their most popular models is the Princess Diana Bassinet. It is made of Oak wood, and has large, sturdy wheels on the bottom for added convenience. The bed of the bassinet is the highest quality, and the outside is breathtakingly beautiful, with white lace all around. It is truly a bassinet fit for royalty.

Not all bassinets are expensive. It is easy to find economy models made by a variety of brands. Cheap baby bassinets, however, often lack the grace and beauty of the more expensive models. They are geared more towards function then beauty.

Since a bassinet is only used for a short period of time, it can easily be stowed away in pristine condition, awaiting the next child to use it. It is one of the first pieces of furniture a baby can use, so a bassinet is something that can and will always hold a special place in the parents heart. A bassinet can be used by generations of babies, becoming the most special of hand me downs.

About the Author
LynnMarie is On-Line Editor for Babyage.com which is one of the top online retailers of Infant Products on the web. BabyAge carries many styles of bassinets. Many styles to suit new moms!
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