So you've heard all the news stories. Babies suffocating, parenting rolling over onto them. They're horror stories for sure. But you also have that frend or co-working who swears by cosleeping, references other cultures, and looks irritatingly refreshed every morning.

How do you find the middle ground? Try co-sleeping with a device specifically made to keep the baby safe. Co-sleepers can attach to the side of your bed, or can be used on the bed itself thanks to small barriers. Many of the in-bed versions feature great additions like nighlights and little compartments to keep things like baby bottles or burb cloths.

We found that the Arm's Reach brand served our purposes the best. The generous yet compact size allowed for more than three months of bassinet-style co-sleeping. The tiny crib attaches to the side of the bed, but can also be rolled around the house. (This became very useful as prime time television kicked into gear in the fall.)

This sort of cosleeping brings you peace of mind and convenience at a surprisingly low cost. Mothers who breastfeed find that modified cosleeping can offer a great advantage--you don't have to go far to ease your sleeping newborn back into her safe place to rest. And you don't have too far to go the next time she wakes up loud and hungry.

1. Be sure that any adults sleeping near the baby are aware of the co-sleeping situation.

2. Never cosleep or interact with your newborn when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

3. Read assembly and usage instructions thoroughly.

4. Try white noise if your baby reacts to you shifting or moving in bed.

5. Always keep pillows, comforters, etc. well away from your newborn and the cosleeping device.