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 recommends against due to suffocation and SIDS). It also makes middle-of-the-night nursing sessions and child care easier.
This sleeper features a firm mattress that is designed to help babies' backs and reduce the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to lift your baby to cuddle them at sunrise or during late night nursing.
Budget
A bedside cot, also known as a co-sleeper, is the bassinet-style baby cot that clips or attaches to your existing bed. This lets you safely and easily reach your baby for mid-night feeding, comforting or cuddles. They are a great choice for mums or new parents recovering from a c-section as they allow easy access to baby and don't require you to get up from your bed.
There are a variety of styles available, from basic models with just a drop-down option to more sophisticated models that can be adjusted in several ways with incline and height options. Most convert to a separate crib for napping during the daytime 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 shortlisted in the best bedside cot for newborn cot bedside category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily commented on how stylish and modern the design, while she appreciated the fact 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 appreciated the soft mattress that passed our firmness test and also the fact that it features a manual rocking feature that can be set to a slight tilt for those suffering from reflux.
She didn't like the fact that it had a mesh panel at the bottom, and thought it was too bulky to move around from room to room. When folded into a travel bag she found it a bit heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A large bedside crib cot is basically a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of the bed. It lets you easily reach your baby during the night for feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's also great for moms recovering from the C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separated from you during the first six month, to lower the risk of SIDS. A bedside crib is a safe method to achieve this because it has low sides and lets you easily reach your baby at night.
It is crucial that your baby sleeps on a firm and not an extremely soft mattress. A soft mattress can increase the risk of suffocation in infants 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 sufficient to be secure.
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 newborn. She said the mattress was excellent quality, in contrast to those that feel cheap and thin. She also loves the fact that it has a storage area underneath for bedding and clothes which many bassinets don't.
Mehack is an MFM mother who has tested the product at home, is thrilled the ability to remove the side wall to allow for easier access to your baby. She also loves that legs fold under the bed so that it doesn't appear big or take up a lot of floor space. She is also impressed by how it was simple to move around her house when she needed to do feeds and check-ins in the middle of the night.
The winner of the Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice among parents. It is designed with four pulleys that are built-in to raise or lower the crib and includes a large bedside Crib storage basket to store your baby's blankets, toys and other essentials. It's also light and easy to put together, making it ideal to travel with your baby.
Safety
When selecting a newborn bedside cot, it is important to keep the safety aspect in your thoughts. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies should not be sleeping in the bed of their parents due to the dangers of overheating, suffocation and a greater chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bedside bassinets enable parents to keep their babies close to them, facilitating nighttime feedings as well as monitoring without having to leave their bed.
This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers as they can take care of their infant's needs without having to get up completely, which can help to keep milk supply steady and enhance the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cots come with adjustable height features that help the mother and child to reach the bassinet for feedings or other activities throughout the night.
Many bassinets are equipped with a firm mattress, which is designed to decrease suffocation risk and meets industry standards. This is important because a baby's bones are fragile and aren't fully developed. They require support to prevent damage. The mattress should be encased with a fitted sheet to reduce the risk of suffocation caused by dust mites or other allergens and kept hygienically clean and free of allergens.
Some best bedside cot uk cots have the ability to be tilted, which can be beneficial for babies with reflux or digestive issues, but this should be done with a lot of care and at a gentle angle. Avoid placing pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers inside the bassinet. They could pose the risk of suffocation to your baby.
It's also worth considering an adjustable bassinet with an attachment system that is secure and can be easily attached to your bed without the necessity of tools. This can be especially useful for parents who struggle to lift their child into and out of the crib or concerned about the possibility of rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet is equipped with a secure attachment system it's a good idea to regularly make sure it's secure and that there aren't gaps or loose components that could cause danger.
Comfort
If you're a soon-to-be parent, your baby's safety is one of your main concerns. Thankfully, there's an innovative sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close throughout the night, without any of the risks that come with sharing a bed. The infant bedside cot an essentially a bassinet-style crib which is fixed to the side of your bed and allows you to move them towards you to feed them at night and soothe. It's also an excellent choice for mothers recovering from a csection, since it makes it less necessary to bend too much or even to get out of bed.
Modern bedside cots for babies should be fitted with a firm, flat 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 only the sheet for the cot and blanket tucked in tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows that may fall onto your baby posing the risk of suffocation. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can use a swaddle or baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, however it should be removed as soon as possible once they've developed the strength to pull themselves out of the wrap.
Some wooden bedside cot cribs feature an adjustable or drop-down side that provides the baby to be easily accessible for feeding and comfort in the middle of the night. This is a good option for parents who wish to keep a strong bond with their child, but still adhere to NHS safe sleep guidelines. However, if you're considering sleeping in the same bed as your baby it's important to recognize that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS, particularly when a parent accidentally rolls onto their infant during sleep.
A fabric that breathes will keep your baby comfortable and cool throughout the night. This is especially important if you plan to co-sleep with your newborn, as the risk of overheating is higher when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 has a unique, breathable side panel that helps improve the airflow and keeps your baby warm.