Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot for bedside 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 also makes nursing sessions and care much simpler.
This sleeper features a firm mattress to support the backs of babies and decrease the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled on your adult bed to raise your baby for sunrise cuddles or midnight nursing.
Budget
A bedside cot, also known as a co-sleeper, the bassinet-style baby cot that clips or attaches to your bed. This lets you safely and easily reach your baby during the night for feeding, comforting or cuddles. These are ideal for new parents and mums recovering from a c-section as they allow the baby to be easily accessible without needing to get out of the bed.
There are many different designs available, ranging from basic ones that have the drop-down side, to more sophisticated ones that have multiple adjustment options, including an incline or a height. The majority of them can be converted into a separate crib for daytime naps or when your baby is around a few months old and is sleeping more at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our top picks. It was nominated in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily said she was impressed by how chic and contemporary the design is as well as the possibility of using it as a regular bassinet or connect it to a bed to sleep side-by-side in a safe and secure manner. She also admired the soft mattress, which passed our firmness test and the fact that it features a manual rocking feature that can be set to a slight tilt for those suffering from reflux.
But she wasn't thrilled with the feature of a non-mesh panel at the foot end and felt it was a bit heavy to move from room to room regularly. When folded into its travel bag she found it to be quite heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot resembles the bassinet, which is connected to the side of your bed. It's easy to reach your baby's mouth to feed them, change nappies, or to comfort them during the night. It's perfect for mothers who are recovering from the c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby away from you in the first 6 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. The crib at the bedside with its low sides is a great way to do this. It lets you be able to easily access your baby at night.
It is crucial that your baby sleeps on a firm and not a soft mattress. Babies don't have motor control to rotate and a soft mattress could increase the chance of suffocation. The breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make the mattress comfortable for your baby but sufficient to ensure safety.
Mum Jasmin was pleased that the crib didn't occupy too the entire space in her room and thought it was the ideal size for a baby. She also said that the mattress was of high-quality and not like other mattresses that are thin and fragile. She also likes the fact that it has a storage area beneath for bedding and clothes which many bassinets don't have.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, likes the ability to remove the wall on the side to allow easier access to your baby. She also likes the fact that the legs can be tucked under the bed to make it appear less bulky and take up less space on the floor. She's also impressed with how easy it was to move around her house in the event of feeds and check-ins during the night.
The CoZee Air crib is a favorite among parents. It was awarded a Gold Award at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards. It has a clever design with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib and includes a large storage basket to store your baby's blankets, toys and other necessities. It's also light and easy to put together and is ideal to travel with your baby.
Safety
It is crucial to think about the safety aspect when selecting the crib for your newborn. The official safe sleep guidelines from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies not sleep in parent's beds due to the risk of suffocation, overheating and a higher risk of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bedside bassinets let parents keep their newborn close by and allow for feeding at night and monitoring without having to get up from their beds.
This close proximity can aid breastfeeding mothers since it allows them to be attentive to the needs of their infant while also sleeping. This can help to maintain the supply of milk and encourage breastfeeding. Some cots for bedside crib with changing table have adjustable height options, which can help to ensure that the bassinet is at a comfortable height for both mother and baby, allowing easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or for care.
A majority of bassinets come with a firm mattress that is designed to decrease the risk of suffocation and conforms to industry standards. It is important to provide support for the bones of a newborn as they are still soft and not fully formed. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet to reduce the risk of suffocation due to dust mites and other allergens. It should also be kept clean and free of allergens.
Some cribs on the bed can be tilted. This is beneficial for babies suffering from digestive or reflux issues. But, it should be done with care and with caution. It's also important to avoid putting pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet since they could pose the risk of suffocation for your baby. They should only be used when the cot is on flat surfaces.
It's also worth considering an infant bassinet that has a secure attachment system that can be easily attached to your existing bed without the need for tools. This feature can be particularly beneficial for parents who struggle to get their child in and out of the crib or who are worried about accidentally falling asleep. If your bassinet has an attachment that is secure it is a good idea for you to regularly check it. Check to ensure there are no gaps, and that the system is securely attached.
Comfort
If you're expecting your first child, the safety of your baby is surely one of your top concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that lets you keep your baby close in the evening, without the risk of sharing the bed. The newborn bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib that is attached to the side of your bed and allows you to take them away for feeding at night and calming. It is an excellent option for mothers recovering from a C section as it eliminates the need to stand up or bend over.
A modern newborn bedside crib and cot cot should have a sturdy, flat mattress to help ensure a safe sleep and reduce the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Bedding should be easy with a cot sheet and blanket tucked tightly on the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys, and pillows that can fall onto your baby posing an obstructive risk. If your baby is used to being swaddled for a few weeks then you can use the swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, it is recommended that this be removed when they have the strength to take them off.
Some cribs with a bedside feature a removable or drop-down side that provides easy access to your baby for comforting and feeding in the middle of the night. This is a great feature for parents who wish to maintain a close relationship with their child while still following NHS guidelines for sleep. If you plan to co-sleep with your child, it is important to be aware that this practice can increase the chance of SIDS. This is especially true if a parent accidentally rolls on their infant when they are asleep.
A breathable fabric will keep your baby comfortable and cool throughout the night. This is especially important if you intend to co-sleep your newborn because the risk of overheating when sleeping increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique mesh side panel that is breathable that helps improve the airflow and keeps your baby comfortable in their bed.