Top 10 Must-Have Products for Cosleeping Families

For the ease of shopping, these are all my favorite amazon finds. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Similar to breastfeeding, cosleeping comes with minimal costs! Yay! Believe it or not, when my second child arrived, I skipped setting up a traditional nursery altogether. No crib, no bassinet, no swaddles, no extra sound machine—the list goes on...

So, what did I opt for to begin bed sharing, and what factors should you consider if you're thinking of doing the same?

#1 A firm mattress

Certainly, here's a revised version:

Check the firmness of your mattress; you shouldn't sink into it. Remove any mattress toppers or foam additions. A firm mattress is the safest option. Based on a selection of Amazon reviews, here are some top firm mattresses that are budget-friendly!

Firm Mattress Recommendation: BedStory Full Mattress 12 Inch, Deep Sleep Firm Mattress Extra Lumbar Support CHECK OUT HERE: (https://amzn.to/4bius0I)

EGOHOME 14 inch Firm King Mattress, Memory Foam Mattress with Cooling Cover, CHECK OUT HERE:https://amzn.to/4bOwPs8

koorlian King Size Mattress, 12 Inch King Mattress in a Box, CHECK OUT HERE: https://amzn.to/4bN0mlX

#2 Mattress protector

When searching for a mattress protector, I aimed for one that was easy to remove (not full coverage/zipper), washable, soft, and not crunchy/noisy.The one linked here is fantastic because it's stretchy, soft, and produces no sound when moving in and out of bed. It creates a barrier between your mattress and any accidents!

Waterproof Mattress Protector, CHECK OUT HERE : https://amzn.to/3WMepE7

#3 Sleep sack / wearable blanket

Wearable blankets are a much safer choice compared to traditional blankets that could potentially cover a baby's face at night. With these, babies stay covered and warm without the risk of their face being obstructed. I suggest having 4-5 on hand in case of accidents during the night. They also make wonderful baby shower gifts and come in a wide variety of colors!

KYTE BABY Unisex Rayon Sleeping Bag for Babies and Toddlers, CHECKOUT HERE : https://amzn.to/3Kd38VS

#4: Sound machine

This sound machine easily connects to your phone for effortless adjustments! It's my personal favorite and has lasted us for years. The ocean setting, in particular, is fantastic. Remember to keep it at a safe distance and not too loud; we prefer it at 20% volume on the ocean setting, placed on the counter of our shared bathroom.

Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine, Night Light, CHECK OUT HERE:

https://amzn.to/3Vbhs7F

#5 Night light

A soft night light can make a significant difference when tending to your baby in the middle of the night. I advise against plug-in lights that a child could easily unplug from the outlet while crawling out of bed. Instead, opt for a rechargeable night light or one connected to an outlet that's out of reach.

WYZE Rechargeable Night Lights with Dusk to Dawn & Motion Sensors, CHECK OUT HERE:

https://amzn.to/3URy1nB

#6 Baby monitor

Having options is a real plus, whether it's watching the monitor through the app or directly on the monitor screen. The ability of the camera to move is a feature I particularly adore! It allows me to keep an eye on both kids and adjust the camera if they've shifted from their original positions. The switching on and off process is quick, and the camera quality is absolutely top-notch!

Our favorite monitor is the Vtech Upgraded Smart Wifi Baby Monitor (https://amzn.to/3WOxKo3)

#7 Gap filler

Depending on the type of trim in your room and the bed frame you have, there might be a gap between your mattress and the wall. It's important to fill these gaps, whether with rolled-up towels or a pool noodle. Personally, I prefer using one of these wedges under the sheet to create a deterrent from the edge of the mattress.

Wedge Pillow for Headboard Upgraded Bed Gap Filler, CHECK OUT HERE:

https://amzn.to/3wIXOGE

#8 Floor bed frame

Opting for a floor bed frame is the safest choice, given the potential risks involved. Additionally, it's important to cover any sharp edges with a corner pad, which I'll also link here for your convenience!

4 Inch Bed Frame King Size Low Profile, CHECK OUT HERE: https://amzn.to/3Vbttdl

Furniture Edge and Corner Guards | 20.4ft Protective Foam Cushion, CHECK OUT HERE: https://amzn.to/3yyqmmU

#9 Child proofing for outlets, bathrooms

Considering a toddler's ability to crawl out of bed, it's crucial to childproof the entire room. Ensure outlets are covered and cords are kept up and away! Here are some outlet covers that provided peace of mind in our cosleeping environment.

Safety Innovations Twin Door Baby Safety Outlet Cover Box for Babyproofing Outlets, CHECK OUT HERE: https://amzn.to/4bK7mjt

#10 Soft Floor Pad

Here's a crucial addition to our cosleeping setup: a thick floor pad. Why is it needed, you might wonder? It serves as a safety net in case your toddler moves out of bed unexpectedly. While I recommend this specific floor bed, you can cover it with a cute washable accent rug! When not in use for sleeping, you can easily slide it back under the bed. You have the option to choose a waterproof version or a foldable twin mattress. Personally, I prefer the foldable twin mattress because it's versatile; great for vacations, building forts in the living room, and can serve as a mattress when transitioning them into their own room.

Dynarex Bedside Bi-Fold Foam Floor Mat - Waterproof Safety Floor Mat, CHECK OUT HERE: https://amzn.to/3UUkkEA

Lazyzizi Folding Mattress, 4 Inch Memory Foam Tri-fold Mattress, CHECK OUT HERE:

https://amzn.to/44UQkx2

Cosleeping CAN be safe if done with careful planning, preparation, and proper setup of the space. The key is to minimize the sleeping area, childproof the space thoroughly, transition to a low-profile bed or mattress, and provide extra padding on the nearby floor. Always remember to remove any excess pillows and blankets too.

I hope these tips help! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I'm here to assist you with any concerns or queries you may have!

XOXO Kerry

You may be asking yourself, "How to get your baby to sleep through the night?" Well, here is what worked for my family...

Let me make one thing clear: this is a HOT debate in the parenting community. Who knew? Before having kids, I had no idea infant sleep was a challenge or was as controversial as politics.

Here is one thing I know for sure, though: both my children have slept through the night since the day they were born. No, I am not kidding, and no, I am not just "lucky". And no, I am NOT selling you any program to sleep train your baby. Cosleeping has allowed me to get the most rest as well as my children, I have been able to have a new branch to our relationship/bond I wouldn't have without bedsharing and I rest assured knowing they are safe and healthy.

Here is another thing I want to set straight: I have never left my child to cry, either. Well, how did we do this? Disclaimer: Let me begin by explaining that this has worked for MY family and many others that I know. I advocate for parents supporting their children safely however that may look. Neither of my children have health concerns and are in a healthy, stable condition.

Here is how I get my children to sleep:

1. Establish a routine: after dinner, we do bath/shower, brushing teeth, stories, then we snuggle into bed together (I nurse my infant to sleep, my toddler is cuddled next to dad).

2. Nursing to sleep in a safe sleep space: (see more below) When they wake, I return to the bed and nurse back to sleep while lying next to them. Then I ninja roll out of there!

It is really that simple: walk them through their bedtime routine, support them to sleep, and continue to support any wakings. Here is where you may be asking yourself, "Jeez, that sounds like a lot of work to support them each time they wake up?" Here is my response: no, it is not, and here is why: when my baby wakes, I nurse them in bed and they fall back to sleep quickly because they are being given exactly what they need, which is their mother's comfort. Once they are back to sleep and the nursing has changed to more of a sleepy nursing rhythm, I can leave the bed safely and get back to what I was doing before. When I am ready to go to bed, I will either lay next to them at a safe distance and fall asleep then resume the C curl position when they wake next. If I decide to fall asleep while nursing them, I just remain in the C curl position.

Now you may also be asking:

- If I continue to support them to sleep, how will they learn to fall asleep on their own or when will they sleep through the night? Answer: they WILL learn this skill, and very early on they will sleep through the night with the exceptions of developmental leaps and sleep regressions. What are those? Stay tuned... or google it! They will wake to nurse several times through the night, but this is a breeze because as soon as they stir, I sense it, help them nurse while in the C curl position, and once they are established on the breast, I drift back to sleep and so do they. When they are done nursing, they usually lift their head slightly then use the breast as a pillow! It's wild how adorable that actually is!

- Will supporting my baby to sleep cause them to be dependent on me forever? Answer: NO! Sleep training culture wants you to believe supporting your baby will make them need you to sleep forever, and that is so not true. Like riding a bike or teaching them a new skill, they need parental support to encourage them and show them the ropes, so why is sleep handled so differently? Well, I'm sad to say it's because supporting babies to sleep can be inconvenient for the parent. I do not see supporting my children as an inconvenience; whether it's during the day or night, my job as a mother does not stop when the sun goes down like others would like to make you believe.

- Does this mean you don't sleep in your own room? Answer: I do sleep in my own room with my husband AND my kids! There is nothing wrong with this; it works for our family, and my marital relationship is strong enough to handle sharing our sleep space. Sleep trainers want to push this ancient agenda that the marital bed is only for husband and wife... ew, just typing that out is gross; it sounds so geared towards a misogynist male agenda that wants women available to them "during the night" for "marital relations" (literally about to vomit currently, anyone else?) The roots of the sleep training culture were created by men and continue to be popular because it promotes this "easy version" of parenting. Sorry to burst the bubble, but raising kids is the most amazing challenge you will ever have, and no, it's not convenient!

- When will your kids ever sleep in their own room? Answer: I am not going to let a calendar dictate when my child is ready for their own sleep space. I was raised co-sleeping with my parents in their room and think it was around 5 or so when I transitioned to starting the night in my room; if I would wake and be scared or felt the need for comfort, I was always allowed to climb into my parents' bed. So when we are able to talk with them and they share they are ready and want to sleep in their own bed, I will support them with that AND always let them know they can sleep in my bed with me as long as they want. This time moves so fast; this won't be forever, and I will always cherish these memories; I have no need to rush this time.

- Aren't you scared of hurting your baby in your sleep? Answer: NO, NEVER, NOT EVEN A LITTLE! I am not under the influence; I am not suffering from any health concerns; I have a safe sleep setup; I am nursing my baby; my bed is firm; the room is childproofed; the bed is on the floor; no heavy blankets, no excess pillows, gaps against the wall are filled; no pets are in the room; cords are put away; no choking hazards are in the bed or room. Please do your research on safe bedsharing and cosleeping arrangements. The safe sleep 7 are key.

Again, I must make clear: this is how my family approaches sleep. What your family does will look different. I share this post to continue to make bedsharing have a more public presence. Families that co-sleep/bed share usually are afraid to say anything to family, friends, doctors because of the backlash of tending to our babies "too much". Just the idea of that really is insane that we could be criticized for prioritizing our child's needs and responding accordingly, it makes me feel like I am living in an alternate reality where common sense is not common.. oh wait I think that is reality now.

All jokes aside, I am a full-time working mom who wants to respect my child's needs day and night, I don't buy into the mantra that:

• supporting needs has to be inconvenient when you're tired

• you shouldn't spoil your babies

• you have to set them down in their own sleep space drowsy but awake

• they must sleep alone in their own room

• you should sleep train because that is what the pediatrician recommend at 3 months

• you should ignore your babies cry

• parents need to force independence on an infant

Sleep training is the FIRST results when you google how to get your baby to sleep....I am on a journey to change the dialogue of mainstream infant sleep; I want baby-led sleep methods/respectful methods to be the gold standard of parenting. I want to grow the Let Me Love My Baby (LMLMB) community and make change with large corporations that speak to a larger audience.

Aside from from the 30 year plan, as a new mother I was also left with a-lot of other questions:

• what the heck is drowsy but awake?

• can babies really self soothe? Answer- no!!

• who created sleep training and why?

• why do so many sleep training programs try to sell a no tears sleep training method or Cry It Out (CIO) method ?

• why am i seeing people being told not to make eye contact with their babies?

• why are people rocking their baby from outside the bassinet with a blanket on their face?

• why are parents inconvenienced by their helpless infants?

• why do large corporations like Huggies, Pampers and What To Expect promote sleep training?

• how is sleep training not a form of neglect when they are telling you to ignore your babies cries?

• why are people told babies are manipulating them?

• how do you respectfully teach your babies to self soothe one day?

If you are like me and are left with the same questions and feel the same surrounding infant sleep please come back to this community, subscribe to be updated with newest blog posts. Check out my instragram page for more conversation surrounding these topics as well for a peak inside my life as a cosleeping mom of 2. Thank you for reading this and please continue to love your babies!

Welcome!

Hello there! My name is Kerry, and I'm a mom of two, navigating the challenges of parenting in the desert of Arizona alongside my husband. I created this page as a haven for other cosleeping/working families who might feel isolated in their parenting choices. When I first became a mom, I felt like I was the only one in my circle practicing cosleeping, and I had countless questions swirling in my mind. It wasn't until I discovered the larger community of cosleeping parents that I realized I wasn't alone.

Through my blog, I aim to amplify the voices of this community, raise awareness, and dispel the misconceptions surrounding cosleeping. Whether you're curious about our day-to-day life or seeking tips and tricks I've picked up along the way, I invite you to join me on this journey. Stay tuned for insightful content, and welcome to our community!