Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot (reviews over at Fatahal) is a small sleeper that allows new babies to share the same room as their parents, without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP recommends against due to suffocation and SIDS). It makes it easier to care for your baby and give them a bottle during the night.
This mattress is a firm mattress that is designed to support the backs of babies and minimize the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to allow you to carry your child out for midnight cuddles or a sunrise kiss.
Budget
A bedside crib, also known as a bassinet or cosleeper, is a bassinet style crib that can be attached to your existing bed. This allows you to reach your baby quickly and safely for a mid-night feed or cuddles. They are a great choice for new parents or mums recovering from a c-section as they provide the baby with easy access and do not require you to get out of bed.
There are many different designs on the market, from basic models with only a drop-down side, to more sophisticated models that can be adjusted in multiple ways with incline and height options. Many convert to a standalone crib for naps during the day or when your baby is around a few months old and sleeps longer at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our favorites. 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 modern the design was. She also liked the fact that it can be used as a bassinet or clipped to your bed to ensure safe side-by-side sleeping. She also adored its soft mattress that has passed our tests for firmness, and that it has an option to manually tilt it for those suffering from reflux.
She wasn't a fan of the fact that it had a mesh panel on the bottom and considered it 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 once folded into a travel bag.
Size
A bedside cot is basically the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to the side of the bed. It allows you to reach your baby during the night for feeding nappies, comforting and feeding. It's also great for moms recovering from the C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separate from you during the first six month, to decrease the chance of SIDS. A crib that is placed near your bed is a safe way to achieve this because it has low sides and allows you to easily reach your baby at night.
It is crucial that your infant sleeps on a firm bed as it is safer than a soft one. Newborns don't have the motor control to rotate and a mattress that is soft can increase the chance of suffocation. This mattress is made from skin-friendly and air-tight materials. It is comfortable for your baby, but firm enough to be safe.
Mum Jasmin was delighted that the crib didn't take up 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 bedside cot and thin. She also loves the fact that it has a storage compartment underneath for clothes and blankets which she claims many other bassinets lack.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, likes that you can take off the side wall to allow for easier access to your baby. She also appreciates that the legs can be tucked under the bed to make it look less bulky and take up less area on the floor. She's also amazed by how easy it is to move around the house whenever you'd like in the middle of the night, which is convenient for feedings and check-ins.
A winner of an Gold award in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice for parents. It is a clever design with four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. There is also a large basket for blankets, toys and other essentials. It's also light and easy to put together which makes it perfect for travel with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a baby's bedside cot, you must keep safety in your thoughts. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies not sleep in their parents' beds because of the risks of suffocation, heat exhaustion and a higher chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets for bedside use allow parents to keep their newborn close by, facilitating feeding at night and monitoring without having to leave their bed.
This close proximity can also aid breastfeeding mothers since it allows them to be attentive to the baby's needs while they sleep. This can help to maintain the supply of milk and also encourage breastfeeding. Some cots with a bedside cot wooden are equipped with adjustable height options, which can help to ensure that the bassinet is at a comfortable height for both mother and baby for easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or other care.
Many bassinets come with mattresses that are firm, which is designed to minimize the risk of suffocation, and also meets industry standards. It is crucial to support the bones of a newborn because they are still squishy and aren't fully formed. The mattress should be encased in a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation due to dust mites or other allergens, and kept clean and free of irritants.
Some cribs for bedside use can be tilted. This is useful for babies with reflux or digestive problems. However, this should be done slowly and with care. Avoid placing pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers inside the bassinet. These can pose the risk of suffocation your baby.
You should also think about the bassinet with a secure attachment system. This can be attached to your bed without the need for tools. This can be especially helpful for parents who may struggle to get their child into and out of the crib or who are concerned about rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet is equipped with a secure attachment system it's recommended to regularly check that it's securely attached and that there aren't any gaps or loose parts that could cause danger.
Comfort
If you're a soon-to-be parent, the comfort of your child is one of your main concerns. There's a brand new sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close to you at night without the risk of bed-sharing. The infant bedside crib is a cot that resembles a bassinet that is attached to the side of the bed. It lets you safely carry your baby to you for night feedings and soothing. It also makes a great choice for mums recovering from a c-section, since it makes it less necessary to bend too much or even to get out of the bed.
A modern bedside travel cot cot for newborns should have a sturdy and flat mattress that can in promoting safe sleeping habits and decrease the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Bedding should be simple with a cot sheet and a blanket tightly tucked at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers or pillows as these could be thrown over your baby and pose a 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 it should be removed as soon as you can once they've gained the strength to unwrap themselves.
Some cribs with a bedside have an open or removable side for easy access to your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeds and comforting. This is a good option for parents who wish to keep a strong bond with their child while still following NHS safe sleep guidelines. However, if you're planning to co-sleep in the same bed with your child it's important to know that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS especially when a parent accidentally rolls onto their infant during sleep.
A fabric that is breathable is an essential safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is particularly crucial if you intend to sleep with your newborn because the risk of being overheated increases during sleep. The SnuzPod4 comes with a unique breathable side panel that aids in improving airflow, keeping your baby warm.