Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a small sleeper that allows new babies to share the same room as their parents, without the dangers of co-sleeping (which the AAP cautions against due SIDS and suffocation). It helps you take care of your baby and nurse them in the middle of the night.
This mattress has an extremely firm mattress that can support babies' backs, reducing the chance of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to raise your baby to cuddle them at sunrise or during midnight nursing.
Budget
A bedside co sleeper cot crib, also referred to as a bassinet or co-sleeper, is a bassinet style baby cot that clips to your existing bed. This lets you easily and safely reach your baby for mid-night feeding or comforting cuddles. They are a great choice for mothers or new parents recovering from a c-section as they offer the baby with easy access and don't require you to get out of bed.
There are a variety of designs that are available, from the simple ones with the drop-down side, to more sophisticated models with various adjustment options, such as incline or height. The majority of them can be converted into an independent crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is a few months old and sleeps longer at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our top picks. It was selected in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily commented on how stylish and modern the design is and she was impressed by the fact that you can use it as a regular bassinet, or clip it onto your bed to sleep side-by-side in a safe and secure manner. She also liked its plush mattress that has passed our tests for firmness, and that it has a manual inclining function for reflux sufferers.
She didn't like that it had a non mesh panel at the bottom, and she thought it was too heavy to move around from room to room. When it was folded into its travel bag she found it somewhat heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside rocking crib cot is similar to the bassinet, which is connected to the bed's side. It is easy to reach your baby's mouth to feed them, change nappies or just to soothe them in the middle of the night. It's also great for mothers recovering from C-sections.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separated from you for the first 6 months to lower the risk of SIDS. The crib at the bedside with its low sides, is a great method to achieve this. It lets you access your baby easily throughout the night.
It is essential that your baby sleeps on a firm, not a soft mattress. Newborns don't have the motor control to rotate and a mattress that is soft could increase the risk of being suffocated. The soft, breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make the mattress comfortable for your baby but firm enough for safety.
Mum Jasmin was pleased that the crib didn't take up the entire space in her room and found it to be the ideal size for a newborn. The mattress she rated as also good quality, unlike others that feel thin and thin. She also likes the fact that it has a storage area beneath for blankets and clothes which she believes many bassinets don't have.
MFM mom home tester Mehack is a big fan of the removable side wall that allows you to drop it to make it easier access to your baby. She also loves the fact that legs can be placed under the bed to make it appear less bulky and occupy less floor space. She's also amazed by how easy it was to move around her house in the event of feeds and check-ins in the middle of the night.
The winner of the Gold award in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice for parents. It has a clever design with four pulleys built-in to raise or lower the crib. It has a large storage basket to store your baby's blankets, toys and other essentials. It's also easy to put together and lightweight, which is useful to travel with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a new baby's bedside cot it's important to keep safety in mind. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS recommend that babies do not sleep in the parents bed due to the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bedside bassinets let parents keep their newborn close by and allow for feeding at night and monitoring without needing to get out of bed.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to the needs of their infant without having to wake up in the middle of the night and help keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some cots for bedside use adjustable height features that can help the mother and child to reach the bassinet for feedings or other activities at night.
Many bassinets have a mattress that is designed to minimize the risk of suffocation, and meets industry standards. This is crucial because a newborn's bones are brittle and not fully developed, and must be supported to avoid damage. The mattress should be encased in a fitted sheet to reduce the risk of suffocation due to dust mites or other allergens. It should also be kept clean and free from irritants.
Some cots for bedside use can be tilted. This can be useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues, however this should always be done with extreme caution and at a moderate angle. Avoid placing pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers in the bassinet. These could create the risk of suffocation your baby.
It's also worth considering an infant bassinet that has a secure attachment system that can be easily fixed to your bed without the need for tools. This is particularly beneficial for parents who find it difficult to get their child in and out of the crib or are concerned about their baby accidentally falling asleep. If your bassinet has a secure attachment it is a great idea to regularly check it. Check to ensure there aren't any gaps and that the system is securely connected.
Comfort
If you're expecting your first child, the comfort of your child is definitely one of your top priorities. Thankfully, there's an innovative sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close to you throughout the night, without any of the risks that come with sharing a bed. The baby bedside cot is basically a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of your bed that allows you to move them towards you for feeding at night and calming. It is also a great choice for mums recovering from a c-section since it makes it less necessary to bend over too much or even to get out of bed.
A modern newborn bedside cot should have a sturdy flat mattress to ensure a safe sleep and decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be kept as simple as possible and consist of only the sheet for the cot and blanket that is tightly tucked into the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers or pillows as these could fall on your baby and cause risk of suffocation. If your baby is used to being swaddled for several weeks then you can use an swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, it is recommended that this be removed once they are strong enough to unwrap them.
Some cribs for twin bedside cot use an option to remove or drop down the side that gives you easy access to your baby for feeding and comfort in the middle of the night. This is a great feature for parents looking to keep a strong bond with their child while still following NHS safe sleep guidelines. However, if you're planning to sleep in the same bed with your baby, it's important to understand that this practice has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS, particularly when a parent accidentally falls on their infant while they sleep.
A breathable fabric is another essential safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is especially crucial if you intend to sleep with your newborn since the chance of being overheated increases during sleep. The SnuzPod4 features a unique mesh side panel that is breathable, which helps to improve airflow and keep your baby snug in their mattress.