Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a small sleeper that allows new babies to sleep in the same room as their parents without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP cautions against due suffocation and SIDS). It helps you care for 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 risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your bed to make it easier for you to lift your baby out for midnight nursing or cuddles at sunrise.
Budget
A bedside cot newborn cot, also referred to as a co-sleeper, is an infant cot with a bassinet design that clips or attaches to your existing bed. This lets you comfortably and safely reach your baby during the night for feeding or comforting cuddles. They are a great option for new parents or mums recovering from a c-section because they allow an easy access to baby and don't require you to get out of bed.
There are lots of different designs available starting with basic models that have only a drop-down side, to more sophisticated models that can be adjusted in a variety of ways including height and incline options. Most convert to a standalone crib for daytime naps or when your baby is about months old and sleeping longer at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our top picks. It was selected in the best bedside cot Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily said she was impressed by how chic and modern the design is, while she appreciated the feature that you can use it as a regular bassinet or attach it to a bed to sleep side-by-side in a safe and secure manner. She also appreciated the soft mattress, which has passed our test for firmness, and the fact that it comes with a manual rocking feature that can be set to a slight incline for those suffering from reflux.
However, she wasn't a fan of the feature of a non-mesh panel at its bottom and felt it was a bit bulky to move from room room regularly. It also felt a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs once folded away into its bag for travel.
Size
A bedside cot resembles the bassinet, which is attached to the bed's side. It lets you easily reach your baby for mid-night feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's ideal for mothers who are recovering from the c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby away from you during the first 6 months to decrease the chance of SIDS. A crib for your bed is a safe way to accomplish this since it is low-sided and allows you to easily reach your baby during the night.
It is crucial that your baby is sleeping on a firm and not an extremely soft mattress. Babies don't have motor control to turn over and a mattress that is soft can increase the risk of drowning. The mattress is made of skin-friendly and air-tight materials. It's comfortable for your baby, yet firm enough to be safe.
Mum home tester Jasmin was pleased with the fact that the crib doesn't take up too much space in her bedroom. Also, she found the size to be perfect for a baby. She also stated that the mattress was of good quality and not like other mattresses that are thin and fragile. She also loves the fact that it has a storage space beneath for bedding and clothes which other bassinets do not have.
Mehack, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, is thrilled that you can take off the wall on the side to allow for easier access to your baby. She also loves the fact that the legs can be tucked under the bed to make it look less bulky and occupy less area on the floor. She's also impressed by how easy it is to move around the house when you need to for ease during late-night feedings and check-ins.
A recipient of the Gold award in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards The CoZee Air is a popular choice for parents. It is designed with four pulleys that are built-in to raise or lower the crib. It comes with a large storage bin for your baby's blankets, toys and other essentials. It's also simple to put together and light, which is useful to travel with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a new baby's bedside crib co sleeper cot, you must keep the safety aspect in your mind. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies do not be sleeping in the bed of their parents due to the dangers of overheating, suffocation and a higher chance of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets that are placed in bed let parents keep their newborn close by and allow for night-time feedings and monitoring without the need to get up from their beds.
This close proximity can help breastfeeding mothers as it lets them attend to the baby's needs while they sleep. This can help maintain the supply of milk and also encourage breastfeeding. Some cots for bedside cot 6 months plus have adjustable height options, which can help to ensure that the bassinet is at an ideal height for mother and baby for easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or for care.
A majority of bassinets come with mattresses that are firm and designed to minimize the risk of suffocation and conforms to industry standards. It is important to support the bones of a newborn as they are still soft and aren't fully formed. The mattress should be encased with a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation caused by dust mites or other allergens, and kept clean and free of allergens.
Some cribs on the bed can be tilted. This is helpful for babies with digestive or reflux issues. But, it should only be done gently and with care. Avoid adding pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers inside the bassinet. They could pose a risk of suffocation for your baby.
You should also think about the bassinet with a secure attachment system. It can be connected to your bed without the use of tools. This feature is especially beneficial for parents who find it difficult to carry their child into and out of the crib or are concerned about their child rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet is equipped with an attachment system that is secure it's an excellent idea to periodically make sure it's secure and that there are no gaps or loose components that could cause danger.
Comfort
If you're expecting your first child and you're worried about the safety of your baby is surely one of your top concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that allows you to keep your baby close at night, without the danger of bed-sharing. The baby bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib that fixes to the bed's side that allows you to move them towards you for feeding at night and calming. It is also an excellent choice for mothers recovering from a c-section as it reduces the need to bend down too far or even take a step out of the bed.
A modern newborn bedside cot should have a sturdy, flat mattress to help promote safe sleeping practices and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be simple and consist of only the cot sheet and a blanket that is tightly tucked into the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys, and pillows that can be thrown over your baby, creating a suffocation risk. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can use a swaddle or baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, however it is best to remove it as soon as possible once they've developed the strength to take off their wraps.
Some cribs with a bedside have a drop-down or removable side that allows easy access to your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeds and comforting. This feature is ideal for parents who want to keep a close relationship with their child, while adhering to NHS sleep guidelines. However, if you're considering sleeping in the same bed with your child it's important to know that this practice has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS, particularly in the event that a parent is able to roll onto 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 important if you plan to co-sleep with your newborn because the risk of being overheated increases during sleep. The SnuzPod4 comes with an exclusive breathable side panel that aids in improving airflow, keeping your baby comfortable.