Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a small sleeper that allows newborns to share the same room as their parents, without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP recommends against due to SIDS and suffocation). It also makes nursing sessions and child care more convenient.
This sleeper has a firm mattress that supports babies backs, reducing the risk of SIDS. It can swivel over your bed to make it easier for you to lift your baby out for midnight cuddles or a sunrise kiss.
Budget
A bedside crib, also called a co-sleeper or bassinet is a bassinet-style baby cot that clips to your bed. This allows you to comfortably and safely reach your baby for mid-night feeding or cuddles. They are a great option for mums or new parents recovering from a csection as they offer easy access to baby and do not require you to get out of bed.
There are many different designs on the market, from basic models with just a drop-down side to more sophisticated ones that can be adjusted in multiple ways with incline and height options. The majority of them can be converted into an independent crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is around a few months old and sleeping longer at night.
One of our favorites is the Maxi-Cosi Lura, which was nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, best bedside cot uk Cot, or Moses Basket. MFM home tester Emily said she was impressed by how chic and modern the design was. She also appreciated the fact that it can be used as a bassinet, or clipped to your existing bed to ensure safe side-by-side sleeping. She also liked the plush mattress, which passed our firmness test and the fact that it features a manual rocking feature that can be set to a slight incline for reflux sufferers.
She didn't like the fact that it had a non-mesh panel at the bottom and thought it was too bulky to move around from room to room. She also found it to be a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs, especially when it was folded up into its bag for travel.
Size
A bedside crib vs cot cot is basically a bassinet-style cot that fixes to your side of the bed. It allows you to reach your baby during the night for feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's perfect for mothers recovering from an o-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separated from you for the first six months, to lower the risk of SIDS. A bedside crib that turns into cot crib is a safe method to achieve this as it is low-sided and allows you to easily access your newborn throughout the night.
It is important that your baby is sleeping on a firm and not an extremely soft mattress. A mattress that is soft increases the risk of suffocation in newborns, as they lack the motor control needed to turn. The mattress is made of skin-friendly and breathable materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby, yet firm enough to ensure safety.
Mum home test Jasmin was pleased with the fact that the crib doesn't take up too much space in her bedroom and she found the size perfect for a newborn. She also noted that the mattress was of good quality and not like other mattresses that feel thin and flimsy. She also loves the fact that it has storage space underneath for bedding and clothes - something many other bassinets do not have.
MFM mum home test Mehack is a fan of the side wall with a removable design that lets you drop it to make it easier access to your newborn. She also loves that the legs tuck under the bed so that it doesn't look heavy or take up a lot of floor space. She is also impressed by how easy it was to move around the house when she needed to do feeds and check-ins in the middle of the night.
The CoZee Air crib is a favorite among parents. It won a Gold Award in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a clever design that has four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. There's also an ample basket for toys, blankets, and other essentials. It's also easy to put together and light and portable, which is ideal for travelling with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a baby's bedside cot, it is important to keep the safety of your baby in mind. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS recommend that babies do not sleep in the parents bed because of the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bassinets for bedside use allow parents to keep their babies close, facilitating night time feedings as well as monitoring without having to get out of bed.
This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to the needs of their infant without having to wake up in the middle of the night and can help maintain milk supply and support the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside travel crib cots come with adjustable height features that help both the mother and baby to get into the bassinet for feedings or other care at night.
Many bassinets have a firm mattress that is designed to minimize the risk of suffocation, and conforms to industry standards. It is essential to provide support for the bones of a newborn, as they are still soft and are not fully formed. The mattress should be encased in a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation due to dust mites and other allergens and kept hygienically clean and free of allergens.
Some cots for bedside use have the capability of being tilted, which can be useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues, however this should always be done with extreme caution and at a gentle angle. Avoid adding pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet. These can pose the risk of suffocation your baby.
It's also worth looking into an infant bassinet that has an attachment system that is secure and can be easily attached to your bed without the necessity of tools. This is particularly beneficial for parents who have difficulty get their child in and out of the crib or are concerned about their child falling asleep. If your bassinet has secured attachments, it is a good idea for you to regularly check it. Make sure there are no gaps and that the system is securely attached.
Comfort
If you're a parent-to-be and you're worried about the safety of your baby is surely one of your top priorities. There's a great sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close during the night without taking on any of the dangers that come with bed-sharing. The newborn bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib that fixes to the side of your bed, allowing you to safely lift them out towards you for night feeding and soothing. It is also a great choice for mothers recovering from a C-section since it will not require you to stand or bend over.
Modern bedside cots for newborns should have a flat, firm mattress to promote safe sleeping habits and lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The bedding should be kept as simple as possible with just the cot sheet and a blanket that is tightly tucked into the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers or pillows because they can be thrown over your baby and cause suffocation hazard. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can make use of a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, however it is best to remove it as soon as you can once they've developed the strength to take off their wraps.
Some cribs for bedside use a removable or drop-down side that allows for the baby to be easily accessible for comforting and feeding in the middle of the night. This is a good feature for parents looking to maintain an intimate relationship with their child while still following NHS safe sleep advice. If you plan to co-sleep with your child, it is important to know that this practice may increase the risk of SIDS. This is especially the case if a parent falls on their child when they are asleep.
A fabric that is breathable will keep your baby comfy and cool throughout the night. This is particularly important if you intend to co-sleep your newborn because the risk of overheating during sleep increases. The SnuzPod4 comes with a unique breathable side panel, which helps increase the flow of air, keeping your baby warm.