Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows new babies to share the same room as their parents, without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP recommends against due to suffocation and SIDS). It also makes nursing sessions and child care more convenient.
This sleeper features a firm mattress that can support the backs of babies and minimize the chance of SIDS. It can slide over the bed of your adult to make it easier for you to carry your baby for nighttime nursing or cuddles at sunrise.
Budget
A bedside crib, also known as a co-sleeper or bassinet, is a bassinet style baby cot that clips to your existing bed. This lets you reach your baby comfortably and safely for a late-night feed or cuddles. They are a great choice for new parents or mums recovering from a c-section because they provide easy access to baby and don't require you to get up.
There are lots of different designs available starting with basic models that have just a drop-down option to more advanced ones that can be adjusted in multiple ways including height and incline options. Many convert to a standalone crib for daytime naps or when your baby is a few months old and sleeping longer at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is among our favorites. It was nominated in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily expressed her delight at how stylish and modern the design, while she appreciated the feature that you can use it as a regular bassinet, or clip it onto your bed to ensure that you can sleep side-by-side. She also admired the soft mattress that passed our firmness test, and the fact that it features an automatic rocking feature that can be adjusted to a slight slope for those suffering from reflux.
However, she didn't like the fact that it had a non-mesh panel on the bottom and thought it was a bit heavy to move from room room often. She also found it a little heavy to carry up and down the stairs when folded away into its travel bedside crib bag.
Size
A bedside travel crib cot is similar to a bassinet that is placed on the bed's side. It lets you easily reach your baby for mid-night feeding nappies, comforting and feeding. It's perfect for mothers who are recovering from a c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby away from you for the first 6 months to decrease the chance of SIDS. A crib that is placed near your bed is a safe way to achieve this as it has low sides and allows you to easily reach your baby throughout the night.
It is crucial that your infant sleeps on a firm mattress as it is more secure than a mattress that is soft. A mattress that is soft can increase the risk of suffocation for newborns, as they lack the motor control needed to turn. This mattress is made of skin-friendly and breathe-able materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby but sufficient to be secure.
Mum home test Jasmin was pleased with the fact that the crib does not take up a lot of space in her bedroom. Also, she found the size perfect for a baby. She also noted that the mattress was of good quality unlike other cribs that feel thin and flimsy. She also likes the fact that it has a storage area underneath for clothes and bedding - something many other bassinets don't have.
Mehack, a MFM mom who tried the product at home, loves the ability to remove the side wall to make it easier to access your baby. She also likes that legs fold under the bed so that it doesn't look big or take up too much floor space. She's also impressed with how easy it is to move around the house whenever you want to, for convenience during middle-of-the-night meals and check-ins.
The CoZee Air crib is a popular choice for parents. It was awarded the Gold Award in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards. It has a clever design with four pulleys which can be used to raise or lower your crib. There's also a large basket for toys, blankets, and other necessities. It's also easy to assemble and light in weight and portable, which is ideal to travel cot bedside with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a new baby's bedside cot it's important to keep safety in your mind. Official safe sleep advice from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies not sleep in their parents' beds due to the dangers of overheating, suffocation and a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets for bedside use let parents keep their newborn close by to help with feeding at night, comforting and monitoring without needing to get up from their beds.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers as they can take care of their infant's needs without having to get up in the middle of the night and can help keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cots have adjustable height options, which can help to ensure that the bassinet is an ideal height for mother and baby for easy access to mid-night feedings or care.
A lot of bassinets have mattresses that are firm. This is designed to minimize suffocation risk and meets industry standards. It is important to support the bones of a newborn, because they are still squishy and are not fully formed. The mattress should be covered in a fitted cover to minimize the risk of suffocation caused by dust mites and other allergens and kept hygienically clean and free of irritants.
Some bedside cribs can be tilted. This is useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues. However, it should be done with care and with care. It is also important to avoid putting pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet as they can create a suffocation risk for your baby and should only be used when the cot is placed on a flat surface.
It's also worth thinking about an infant bassinet that has a secure attachment system that can be easily fixed to your bed without the need for tools. This feature can be particularly beneficial for parents who struggle to lift their child into and out of the cot, or concerned about the possibility of falling asleep. If your bassinet is equipped with an attachment system that is secure, it's an excellent idea to periodically check that it's securely attached and that there aren't any gaps or loose components that could pose a hazard.
Comfort
If you're expecting a child, the safety of your infant is undoubtedly one of your top priorities. There's a new solution to sleep that lets you keep your baby close to you in the evening, without the risk of bed-sharing. The newborn bedside cot is basically a bassinet-style cot which is fixed to the bed's side that allows you to lift them out towards you for night feeding and soothing. It's an excellent option for mothers recovering from a C-section as it will not require you to stand up or sit up.
A modern bedside cot mattress cot for newborns should have a firm flat mattress to ensure a safe sleep and reduce the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be kept as simple as possible with just the sheet for the cot and blanket tucked in tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows because they could be thrown over your baby and cause risk of suffocation. If your baby is used to being swaddled you can use a swaddle or a baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, however this should be removed as soon as you can once they've gained the strength and confidence to unwrap themselves.
Some bedside cribs feature a removable or drop-down side that provides easy access to your baby for comforting and feeding during the middle of the night. This is a great feature for parents who wish to maintain a close bond with their child while adhering to NHS guidelines on sleep. If you are planning to sleep with your child, it's crucial to be aware that this practice can increase the risk of SIDS. This is especially the case if a parent rolls on their infant when they are asleep.
A fabric that is breathable is an important safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is particularly important if you plan to sleep with your newborn, because the risk of overheating in the night increases. The SnuzPod4 comes with a unique breathable side panel, which helps increase the flow of air, keeping your baby cool.