Morning, sleepy head. You've just opened up Cosleepy Dispatch #009, your field notes for the week of July 13, 2026.
Here's what I've gathered for you...
- ๐ฌ Do you know how to DIY a sidecar crib?
- ๐คฏ An extra-special 30% off discount code for a new mattress
- ๐ค A glimpse into cosleeping with a neurodivergent baby
- ๐ Three "summer" novels for July contact naps
Especially excited for #2 on the list because it is the perfect follow-up to last week's deep dive on mattress firmness!
Hope this email helps start off your week in an encouraging way. If you're like me and you get down this time of year, we're halfway there! Fall will be here before we know it.
Now make yourself something good to drink, get off your feet, and start scrolling.
๐ฌ COSLEEPY MAILBOX
Do you know how to DIY a sidecar crib?
I love getting mail from you! Last week, I got an email from a pregnant cosleepy mom named Daria that made me think:
Thanks so much for your content! It really helped me as I navigated cosleeping with my first (which was definitely not my original plan!) and will continue to help as we prepare to welcome our second baby this month.
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I was wondering if you have any resources youโd recommend about converting a crib into a sidecar safely, or if you would consider creating a resource about that. We have an Armโs Reach bassinet to protect that side of the bed currently, but Iโm weighing our options for once the bassinet is outgrown. I think the sidecar crib might be a good option for us, since we would prefer to not have the bed on the floor again if possible.
I want to point out a few things. First, the bassinet she mentioned happens to be my favorite bassinet co-sleeper for the early weeks with baby. (Here's my full list.) If you're not 100% comfortable bedsharing, one of these is a great Plan B.
And I love how Daria's thinking! A sidecar crib is a brilliant idea for cosleepy families who are transitioning from one child to two. It'll give the new baby a designated, safe space any time it's needed. (And, yes, it'll prevent roll-offs on that side of the bed.)
I have talked about sidecar cribs on Insta throughout the years, but I'm wondering if Daria is onto something. Should I create an actual resource on this?
The amount of clicks will show me if it'd be useful for the whole community, or just a couple families. Thank you so much!
๐ข JUST FOR US
The firmest mattress on the market
I'm asked for mattress recs every single day โ which ones are flat enough, firm enough (and will stay firm through toddlerhood), and which ones I'd choose for my own family bed.
Plank has been on my shortlist for many years now.
Plank calls itself the firmest mattress on the market, and in my experience that's no exaggeration โ it is as close to a tatami mat as you could get. In fact, the brand has gone all in on firmness and only sells two models total. Talk about quality over quantity!
I wanted to give this already-affordable brand a special shout-out today because they've made us a special 30% off discount code! ๐คฏ
If a new family bed has been on your mind, consider this your sign! Through Thursday, enter code COSLEEPY at checkout for 30% off your new Plank mattress. #partner
๐ IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Cosleeping with a neurodivergent baby
LAUREN SLOAN (late-30s) lives in Kansas and is mom to three boys spanning in age from 3 to 17. She transitioned from her career as a nurse to supporting highly-sensitive neurodivergent babies/toddlers after her harrowing experience with her youngest son.
My son was born in 2021, at the height of ongoing pandemic-related restrictions. The world was still locked down in so many ways, and that isolation became the backdrop of my postpartum experience.
From the very first moments of his life, I noticed things that feltโฆ different. He averted his gaze from the start, resisted skin-to-skin contact, and seemed utterly overwhelmed by stillness or quiet. He needed constant motion โ rocking, bouncing, walking โ just to maintain a fragile sense of regulation.
But at the time, I didnโt have language for any of that. I only knew that I couldnโt put him down. Not for sleep, not for a shower, not even for a few minutes without a complete nervous system unraveling.
Even in the hospital, the messaging was loud and unwavering: โDo not sleep with your baby. Under any circumstance.โ
Nurses reminded me constantly, some gently, some more firmly.
๐ NAP-TRAPPED
Three "summer" books for July
As mentioned, summer is not my favorite. But for you, dear reader, I tried out three popular "summer" novels. And overall, I think any of them would be a fun way to spend some of your contact naps this month (even if you're one of our friends in the southern hemisphere! ๐).
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โThese Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
It's as if HBO's "Succession" were a romance/mystery novel. I couldn't put it down! Try it if you like billionaires, private islands, mansions, inheritance games, isolated settings and enemies-to-lovers tropes.
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โSummer in the City by Alex Aster
It's summer in New York City and a screenwriter with writer's block and a tech CEO (also a billionaire) end up as neighbors for the summer. Tropes: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating.
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โOne Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
No billionaires in this one. You'll recognize the love interest as the bad boy big brother from Every Summer After, and the next season of "Every Year After" is about this book. So read up! The tropes are forced proximity and friends-to-lovers.
DID YOU KNOW? I have read hundreds of books on my phone over the last few years while lying beside my sleeping boys through the Libby app. All for free. Download the app, enter your library card, find a good book, and dive in!โ
(You can send the book to your e-reader, if youโd prefer!)