How do you choose a safe co-sleeper?

As a parent, you want your little one to sleep safely. A co-sleeper offers closeness and security, but only if you know what to look for. In this blog post, we explain the safety requirements for a co-sleeper and how to use it safely.

What makes a co-sleeper safe?

European safety standard EN 1130
This European safety standard is specific to children's furniture and cribs. It guarantees that a co-sleeper or crib meets strict safety requirements before it is marketed.

Firm attachment
Fixing straps prevent a gap between the co-sleeper and your bed—the biggest safety risk. The co-sleeper comes with two to four long, adjustable straps. Place these straps under your mattress and thread them through the co-sleeper's frame. Tighten the straps until the co-sleeper fits snugly against your bed without any slack.

Always test by shaking the co-sleeper: it should not move even a millimeter. Pay attention to the strap length for different bed types. For a bed frame with a wooden frame, standard straps of 150-200 cm are fine. If you have a box spring, you'll need longer straps of 300-400 cm, as these must go around the entire mattress and box spring.

Good mattress height
The co-sleeper's mattress should be at least 12 cm lower than your mattress. This margin prevents your baby from rolling into your bed or you from accidentally falling into the co-sleeper while sleeping. Measure from the floor to the top of your mattress, subtract 12 cm, and adjust the co-sleeper accordingly.

Sturdy side walls
Side walls should be at least 30 cm high to prevent rollout. The fold-down side should operate smoothly but always be closed during sleep, unless you are actively working with your baby.

Safe co-sleeping: do's and don'ts

✅ Do's:

• Always place the co-sleeper on the mother's side (for breastfeeding)
• Use the co-sleeper on a flat surface
• Close the side wall when you are not in bed
• Keep the room at 16-20°C
• Use a well-fitting fitted sheet
  

❌ Don'ts:

• Never put pillows, blankets or cuddly toys in the co-sleeper
• Do not use if baby can roll/pull up (±6 months)
• Never place the co-sleeper on a waterbed
• Do not use if there is space between the co-sleeper and your bed.
• Smoke-free environment (increases risk of cot death)

Which co-sleeper types are generally the safest?

Foldable wooden co-sleepers (such as Bednest )

• Very stable, widely adjustable (42-78 cm)
• Sturdy mounting system
• Heavier and sturdier, but less mobile

Co-sleepers with rocking function (such as Chicco )

• Multiple height positions, wide mattress
• Reflux possible (reflux is the backflow of stomach contents)
• Please note: Make sure the rocking function is blocked during sleep.

At Tiny Library, we only rent co-sleepers that comply with the European safety standard EN 1130. Each product is professionally cleaned and inspected for damage before renting (you can also always purchase or rent a new mattress if you prefer). This way, you can be sure your baby sleeps safely. You can rent or buy co-sleepers with us, with a money-back guarantee. View our top co-sleepers.