Advice on sleep arrangement for newborns is readily available. But there is almost as many conflicting ideas as there are babies!

So how do you figure out the best safe sleeping arrangement for your baby? These guidelines will help you make a plan that’s best for your baby and your family.

 

Baby Sleep Recommendations

So, recently the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that sleeping in (baby sleeping in the room with Mama) for the first 6 months of a baby’s life is the way to go.

The benefits are significant and include:

• Reduced risk of SIDS
• Quicker response to feeding cues
• Better regulation of body temperature and respiratory functioning in babies.

Cool… seems like we can all agree that those sound like good reasons to stick close to your baby in those first months – no brainer!

 

Which Option is Right for You?

Ah, but reality… The truth is, how this looks and how it might work for each family is going to be different.

Feeding plan, night time parenting plan, work schedules, tolerance for limited sleep, and baby temperament are all factors that will cultivate the landscape of this reality for each family.

 

Factors to Consider in Sleep Arrangements for Newborns

How each family approaches baby sleep arrangements will be different. There are many factors you need to consider:

 

1. Who is caring for the baby at night?

Spoiler Alert! Babies don’t – and shouldn’t – sleep through the night right away. You should be ready for that to be true for the better part of the WHOLE FIRST YEAR. Yup. Set that expectation in the right place from the beginning and you will have a better mindset for managing.

Side note: We have somehow made sleeping through the night some kind of parenting badge of honor and/or the hallmark of a “good baby”. Take a deep breath and let that go right now. In order to optimally navigate these first few weeks/months/years of disrupted sleep, all available adults should be clear on their role in the night time feeding/sleep care routine – your sleeping arrangement will be guided by this. And of course, remember to keep this plan flexible, revisit this plan in the early days and weeks of your parenting journey to assess what is working and what is not for both parents, and adapt to the real-time needs of everyone involved.

 

2. Baby feeding plan

Are you breastfeeding, bottle-feeding breastmilk or bottle-feeding formula?

Some breastfeeding moms like to just pull baby right into the bed and “side-lie” for night feeds. Some like to sit up in bed and some like to get up and sit in a proper chair with all the support.

Bottle-fed babies, either BM or formula, require someone to get up and prepare the bottle, which will usually be fed while sitting in a chair or sitting up in bed.

Basically, does your feeding plan allow your baby to be right in the bed with you or are they fine in a separate bassinet right next to you but out of the bed? 

This plan will also evolve once you get into your groove with baby. I always suggest that my clients walk themselves through whatever scenario appeals to them and plan for that, but also be ready for that to change.

 

3. Are you going to have extra help?

Either a family member or a hired person, to be “on shift”? Day time? Night time?

This is important because the sleep solution you choose will probably need to be mobile and work in multiple locations in your home, so that the on-duty adult can watch and care for the baby while you get your protected sleep.

 

4. Baby should be in a safe, separate space.

Co-sleeping is tricky. While it can be safe and is common practice in many cultures and countries around the world, If you are choosing to have your baby right in the bed there are some safety rules that need to be adhered to, so make sure everyone in the bed understands and follows these rules! Check out a great review of safe baby co-sleeping guidelines here.

 

Night-Time Newborn Care

Not sure what night time parenting or baby care looks like? You are not alone. Below are a few common ways that parents structure their night time parenting, depending on feeding plan and available adults.

 

Night-time feed/care options – first weeks:

 

Scenario A – Mama alone, breastfeeding (no bottles).

 

Baby wakes, begins to cue hunger or has slept 3 hours (whichever comes first). Mom gets up, unswaddles and feeds baby. Changes and burps baby. Settles back to sleep.

 

Scenario B – Mama alone, bottle feeding breastmilk.

 

Baby wakes, begins to cue hunger or has slept 3 hours (whichever comes first). Mama prepares and warms bottle. Feeds baby. Burps and changes baby. Settles baby back to sleep. Mama pumps milk (do not skip pumping to protect establishing full supply).

 

Scenario C –  2 adults: breastfeeding.

 

Baby wakes, begins to cue hunger or has slept 3 hours (whichever comes first). Mama feeds. Goes back to bed. Adult 2 burps, changes and settles baby back to sleep.

 

Scenario D – 2 adults: Bottle feeding breastmilk.

 

Baby wakes, begins to cue hunger or has slept 3 hours (whichever comes first). Adult 2 prepares bottle, feeds, changes and settles baby back down. Mama pumps.

 

Scenario E – 1 or 2 adults bottle feeding formula.

 

Baby wakes. Bottle is prepared and fed. Burp, diaper change and settled back to sleep. Adults can alternate feeds or nights being “on duty”. Or can divide labor as works best for their circumstances.

 

Notes about scenarios B & D:

Early on during breastfeeding it is important that Mama is pumping at the same time baby is having a bottle to maintain and support timely milk production and supply.

Many families make the plan that Parent 2 will give a bottle of breastmilk while Mama sleeps. For the exclusively breastfeeding family this scenario has problems in the early weeks. It can impact supply and because Baby can smell Mama in the room, Parent 2 may struggle to give baby the bottle while Mama is sleeping nearby.

Best to plan that Mom will feed baby herself and not implement a pumping plan during night feeds until supply and bottle usage are well established. Parent 2 can still be helpful during this feed by taking over after the baby is fed and taking the lead on changing, burping and settling baby back to sleep. In fact, this is a great way to support involvement, attachment and bonding with the non-breastfeeding parent.

 

Baby “Container” Options for Newborn Sleeping Arrangements

 

What should you consider when deciding on the best baby sleep option?

• Does it lay flat?
• Are the sides breathable?
• Does it vibrate? Does is rock? Do you want it to?
• Can it convert to a longer term solution? Do you want it to?
• Does it work in your space?
• Can you easily and comfortably access the baby to provide your care plan?
• Is it in your budget?

 

Things To Look For When Choosing A Sleep Space For Your Child

1. Beware of solutions that promise longer, better “sleep” but that require “supervised sleep” or are marketed as “baby loungers”. Read the fine print and safety guidelines VERY CAREFULLY with these kinds of products and make sure your planned usage of them is within their safety guidelines. “Supervised sleep” means you have to supervise them the ENTIRE time they are sleeping in it – ie you are not also sleeping.
2. In general, pay close attention to the safety guidelines, intended usage and age, weight or movement limitations of the product.
3. Google to see if that product has ever been recalled. If you end up choosing it, make sure your version adheres to the recall – especially if you’re looking at secondhand stuff.

 

The Best Newborn Baby Sleep Options

Here are some of my favorites. (These recommendations are not sponsored but I have included affiliate links):

 

SwaddleMe By Your Bed Sleeper

Maybe you have heard about people saying how they loved their Rock ’n Play sleepers, and since I started writing this the Rock ’n Play was recalled.

The SwaddleMe by Your Bed Sleeper was always my recommendation for an alternative to the Rock ’n Play, but here’s why I think this is a better option:

As soon as possible you want to get your baby sleeping in an open space flat on their back. While the Rock ’n Play and any other confined sleep space works in the short term, it quickly becomes something you have to “wean” your baby off of.

Fear of sleep regression usually results in families keeping their infants in these types of sleep solutions longer than is safe (a contributor to why it was recalled). This is a problem. I like the SwaddleMe as an alternative to the Rock ’n Play because it offers the option to recline the sleep space flat, which I suggest doing as soon as your baby can tolerate it (which can totally be day one BTW).

What I like about the SwaddleMe By Your Bed:

• The legs are designed so you can tuck this sleeper right up next to your bed and adjust the height. Baby is literally within arm’s reach if needed so you can rest a hand on their chest, pop a pacifier back in or give the bassinet a little wiggle. Also, smelling you is good – the closer the better to facilitate that because that’s some super cool subconscious neurological magic going on!
• There’s an option to safely incline for reflux babies or just a safe post-feed hang out. The fact that you can do this without adding additional material to the inside of the bassinet is a plus.
• It rocks. Movement is magical in that precious 4th trimester.

 

Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Harmony Infant Sleeper/Baby Bed with Incline Wedge

What I like about the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest:

• This is great if you want to have your baby in the bed with you but have a bit of separation. Doesn’t take up much space between parents.
• This gets A+ on portability also, so you can move it around the house in the first few weeks (not with baby in it of course).
• This one has an incline wedge which is designed to be used with this product. Many people doctor up solutions for reflux babies, but best practice is to use solutions that are designed and tested to be used with the product. 
• Has sounds and soft lighting built right in.

 

SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper, Deluxe

This is truthfully my favorite for anyone who wants to have baby right in bed with them.

What I like about the SwaddleMe By Your Side Deluxe:

• This one is very similar to the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest but is slightly larger and has breathable sides. This will give you a little more longevity to maintain a safe sleeping space for growing baby as they start to move around.
• It folds up small and can be easily stored for future babies if that is your plan.
• It fits easily right between parents in the bed so doesn’t obstruct anyone from easily getting in and out.
• It’s affordable.
• Once baby is older, if co-sleeping is the plan, baby will seamlessly transition to sleeping in bed without the sleeper. 

 

NUNA Sena – Portable Crib

You can also just go with a straight-ahead portable crib. Truthfully, when used as directed, any portable crib will do the job and function safely as a sleep space for your baby.

What I like about the NUNA Sena:

• It comes in calm, decor-friendly colors.
• It sets up and breaks down really easily. Just google ‘setting up a pack n play’ for all the comedy that ensues from trying to set up a portable crib.

 

BABY JOY Rocking Bassinet, 2 in 1 Lightweight Travel Cradle

What I like about the Baby Joy Rocking Bassinet:

• If you have some more space, this one is great as an option for longer term use – it would be ok for many babies right up to 6 months. (Review the safety guidelines for exact time limits based on your baby’s development, ie. are they rolling or pulling up?)
• This one can rock, which is nice if you have it tucked right up next to the bed – you can sometimes just reach out and move the crib a little and settle baby back without much intervention.

 

HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Premiere

 

Ok so now we are starting to get a little fancy. The HALO has some bells and whistles without going to a price point that will cause you to spit your prenatal protein smoothie across the room (but maybe across the table).

What I like about the HALO:

• It sways – some babies do love movement.
• It tucks right up against the bed.
• It swivels to make getting out of bed on that side easier.
• It has optional soothing sounds and vibration built right in.

 

SNOO Smart Sleeper by Happiest Baby

What I like about the SNOO:

This is the Cadillac of baby sleepers. It has all the bells and whistles, and you are paying for it.

The features of this sleeper are created based on the philosophy from Dr Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby on the Block so it provides options to provide the 5 S’s. If you don’t know what those are yet, finish reading this and then immediately read at least the first few chapters of his book. This is NEED TO KNOW information for surviving life with a newborn.

Depending on where you live, you can also rent a SNOO now too! Which is great because one of the downsides is that it has a short life span relative to the cost.

 

Bloom Alma Papa

The Bloom Alma Papa is really an actual crib. But I like it and it’s worth including if the short-term nature of the newborn sleeping options above seem unnecessary to you, because the truth is for some families it is unnecessary.

What I like about the Bloom Alma Papa:

If you have the space and you want a truly longer term option, I would consider this. It is a proper crib, no bells and whistles but is a size solution that will work in a parents’ room until it is ready to be moved to a room of its own.

I personally used this crib for my kids at all ages including converting it to a toddler bed for my 4-year-old. It worked great as primary crib all the way through but is a slightly smaller footprint than a full-sized crib.

It would be great to combine this with the co-sleeper snuggle nest which has a super short life, then graduate baby to this at around 3 months as their permanent bed. It be in room with you until 6 months, or as long as preferred.