The following is how we turned our crib and  adult bed into a side car arrangement.

Each family should decide for themselves what sleeping arrangement is best and safest for them and their children.

This is what works for our family.

We started out with an ordinary crib, with just one side removed (we took off ( left off) the side that goes up and down)

we attached the frame of the crib to the mattress using bungi cords. I hooked them to the slats of the crib and ran them under our mattress and hooked them on the other side to the mattress handles of our adult size bed. This keeps the two mattresses from moving apart. We also have the crib pushed tighly between the wall and our bed.

 See the following photos

Next we added "high density" foam we purchased at the craft store, with out it there is a gap between the crib matress and the crib railing when the crib and adult mattresses are pushed together (from having the  crib side removed) this ensures the crib mattress is pushed TIGHT against the adult mattress. We've heard of others using folded blankets and bumper railings and pool noodles as well- I like the "high density" foam best because it's very firm.  I left it bare for the photo but as you will see in later photos I wrapped in tightly in a sheet.

Our next step may not be necessary for some....Our crib only has two height settings and neither brought the mattress level with our mattress...there are many ways to get the two mattresses level... from taking off the casters on the adult bed to adjust the height, some lay blankets, foam or plywood under the baby mattress to lift it up and some cribs have many heights so there isn't an issue at all. We were about to go with a layer of the "high denisty" foam (comes in many different widths) under the crib mattress when we realized we had a second crib mattress that was a hand me down from the boys' cousin so we used two mattesses and the height came out perfect.

This picture is with just one mattress.Way too low!

Here (below) with two mattress the height is just right ( flush with the adult mattress and the foam on the side)

Now baby has a place to sleep that is "seperate" but still close to mommy. We will be able to enjoy the many benefits of cosleeping and not fear that Steve's sleep apnea ( or more specifically his CPAP) will be a danger to baby.

The pad David is sleeping on in this photo, I made as a mattress protector to soak up diaper leaks and mommy milk leaks too.  It also covers the seam of the two matresses that both David and now Baby Sam seem to like to sleep on- it's not a necessary addition but it is convenient

Night Nursing is a breeze!

Just have to throw this in for giggles.....

What Davey did with poor daddy's CPAP when he got ahold of it!

photo taken on a  vacation

The Little One pictured in the photos above is our second son, Davey (now 3 yrs old) we now have another bundle of joy to take his turn in the sidecar crib...

After the baby arrived, the sidecar provided more space for our little ones, so we could cosleep with them both, until Davey was ready to make his transition to his big boy bed.

 Sammy sound asleep beside his mommy, right where he belongs!

Check out FAQ, Tips and photos from other sidecar families here

Also check the photo album

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Below are some of my favorite links, I hope you find them helpful!

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