Nighttime Baby Care Made Easy

When I was pregnant with my first child, I really wanted a bedside Co-sleeper; I had educated myself on the our nighttime options, and had decided that co-sleeping would be the best option for us. My parents decided that they'd buy the baby's bed for us, so I searched for a store that carried the Co-Sleepers.

When we finally found the cribs section (this was a HUGE store devoted to babies), I found the Co-Sleepers right away. Compared to the 50-or-so cribs that were on display, the Co-Sleeper was small and simple. Just what I wanted!

My mom, on the other hand, had other ideas. And since she was paying (for which I was extremely grateful), I had no choice but to go with her selection (with my input on style, of course). In the end, we left with a beautiful crib in a dark stain; I already knew I'd set it up side-car style (pushed up against my side of the bed with that side of the crib removed).

It took my husband two hours to set the crib up! All that time and frustration was for naught; my son just did not enjoy sleeping in it. Furthermore, it just never felt safe and I wished every night that I had held my own with my mom about the Co-Sleeper (for which she made us pay half anyway). Within weeks my son came to sleep right next to me and the crib became storage for clothes and other baby things.

A couple of years later, I sold it for less than a fourth of what it was worth brand new - I knew I'd never use it with another child. But for anyone not comfortable sharing their own bed with an infant, I would definitely recommend the Arm's Reach Co-sleeper.

If you've never heard of co-sleeping, you're probably wondering what the benefits of co-sleeping are. Co-sleeping:

• Provides easy access to baby
• Enhances the natural bonding process
• Allows for more comfortable and efficient care giving (breast feeding, soothing, comforting, diaper changing, etc.) than can be accomplished if the baby slept in a separate bed or bedroom.

Something that makes nighttime care easier, for parents of a newborn in particular, is something that should be seriously considered. Since I couldn't nurse my son lying down in the side-car crib, I had to get out of bed and move to a rocker I kept in the room. Doing this several times a night, along with diaper changing, made me exhausted the next day. It wasn't until I was able to start nursing him while lying down (and he stopped having bowel movements at night) that I started to feel that I was actually getting some rest.

The Arm's Reach Co-sleeper will help with this. From their site:

All mothers will benefit from having their baby in a bed that fits snugly next to their own bed, keeping the child within arm's reach. Within arm's reach babies can be breast fed, soothed, comforted or otherwise cared for while mother remains in her own bed. Close proximity to the child will allow all mothers less disturbance and more sleep.

Ah, sweet sleep! The Co-sleeper has other advantages, too.

• Mothers who have cesarean sections are advised to stay in bed as much as possible while recuperating. These mothers as well as those with episiotomies, hemorrhoids or other physical ailments will be especially pleased to have their baby sleeping right next to them.
• Mothers will enjoy the additional benefit of having an easy to use changing table right next to the bed or anywhere else in the house.
• Mothers will also benefit form the product when it's in the form of the familiar play-yard. The play-yard is a popular item with child rearing mothers. Mothers will enjoy having a play-yard that it is also useful for other functions.

And the benefits aren't just for mothers, if fathers are sharing in the responsibility for baby's care. All the above advantages apply to dads, with the exception of breastfeeding, but if mom's better rested, her advantage is the family's advantage.

Since my son was born, the Arm's Reach company has come out with many new styles, including a mini, a convertible, and a sleigh bed (and I know my mom would have gone for that one, it's adorable!).

And the great thing about the co-sleepers is that they have more than one function! They can be made into a changing table or transformed into a play-yard. The sleigh bed (and possibly others) converts into an wonderful little love seat when baby is too big to sleep in it.

If you're a parent-to-be or are going to add to your family soon, thoroughly research your sleeping options. Take it from a mom who never planned to share a room, let alone a bed, with her babies. Consider co-sleeping - you'll feel better rested and be glad you did.