Sidecaring a crib is a way some parents choose to room share. It involves attaching the crib securely to the side of the parent's bed, creating a sleep space that is both separate and connected. It is generally thought of as an arrangement that combines the convenience of bedsharing with some of the safety measures of a separate sleep space.

When set up, parents can easily roll over to access their baby for nighttime soothing, but the baby is not sleeping on the family bed – they are on their adjacent mattress within the crib.

This is one big reason it can be safer than bedsharing; the type of mattress we sleep on as adults is too soft, and a family bed is typically filled with too much bedding. In a sidecar crib, baby can be placed on a firm mattress without all the extra pillows or bedding, significantly minimizing the risk of SIDS or suffocation.

It can be safer than bedsharing, but it has its own risks to know

Many sleep experts still recommend a separate sleep surface, like a bassinet or standalone crib that does not attach. This is mainly due to the risk of poor attachment from crib to bed, in which gaps could form. Gaps between mattresses would be a suffocation hazard. So, if it’s a setup you decide to try, it’s crucial to ensure no gaps between your baby’s mattress and your mattress.

Before setting up a new sleep arrangement in your home, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician or connect with a sleep specialist to individualize a nighttime arrangement that maximizes sleep and safety.