Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a tiny sleeper that allows babies to share a room as their parents without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP advises against due to suffocation and SIDS). It also makes middle-of-the-night nursing sessions and child care more convenient.
This sleeper comes with an extremely firm mattress that can support babies backs, which reduces the chance of SIDS. It can swivel over your adult bed to make it easier for you to get your baby for nighttime nursing or sunrise cuddles.
Budget
A bedside crib, also called a bassinet or cosleeper is a bassinet-style crib that can be attached to your existing bed. This allows you to reach your baby comfortably and safely for a nighttime feed or comforting cuddle. These are ideal for new parents and mums recovering from a c-section because they allow the baby to be easily accessible without needing to get out of the bed.
There are many different designs that are available, from the simple ones with a drop down side to more sophisticated ones that have multiple adjustment options, including the ability to tilt or raise. Many convert to a standalone crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is about months old and is sleeping more at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is among our top picks. It was shortlisted in the best bedside cots Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily expressed her delight at how stylish and modern the design as well as the feature that you can use it as a regular bassinet, or connect it to a bed to ensure that you can sleep side-by-side. She also admired the soft mattress, which was able to pass our test of firmness and also the fact that it features a manual rocking function that can be adjusted to a slight slope for reflux sufferers.
She wasn't a fan of the fact that it had a mesh panel at the bottom and considered it too bulky to move from room to room. It also felt a little heavy to carry up and down the stairs when folded away into its travel bag.
Size
A bedside cot bed cot is the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to your side of the bed. It's easy to reach your baby's mouth for feedings, changing nappies, or to comfort them in the middle of the night. It's also great for mothers recovering from the C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same room as you but separate from you for the first six months, because this will reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The crib that is placed beside your bed with its low sides, is a great way to achieve this. It lets you access your baby easily at night.
It's important that your newborn sleeps on a firm mattress since this is safer than a soft one. A mattress that is soft can increase the risk of suffocation in newborns, since they do not have the motor control required to turn. This mattress is made from skin-friendly and breathe-able materials. It's comfortable for your baby, yet sufficient to be secure.
Mum Jasmin was pleased that the crib didn't occupy too much space in her bedroom and thought it was the ideal size for a baby. She said the mattress was excellent quality, in contrast to others that feel thin and thin. She also likes the fact that it has a storage area beneath to store blankets and clothing which she claims many bassinets don't have.
MFM mom home tester Mehack is a huge fan of the side wall that is removable that allows you to drop it down for easy access to your infant. She also likes that the legs tuck into the bed so it does not look big or take up a lot of floor space. She's also impressed by the ease of being able to move around the house as you want to, for convenience during middle-of-the-night feedings and check-ins.
The CoZee Air crib is a popular choice for parents. It was awarded a Gold Award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It is a clever design with four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. There is also an enormous basket that can be used to store blankets, toys and other items. It's also light and easy to assemble, making it ideal for traveling with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a baby's bedside travel cot cot, you must keep the safety of your baby in your mind. Official safe sleep advice from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies should not sleep in parent's beds due to the dangers of suffocation, overheating and a higher chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets for bedside use allow parents to keep their newborn close by and allow for nighttime feedings as well as monitoring and comforting without needing to leave their bed.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers as they can take care of their infant's needs without waking up in the middle of the night and can help keep milk supply steady and enhance the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cots come with adjustable height features that aid mother and child to access the bassinet for feedings or other care during the night.
Many bassinets are equipped with a firm mattress, which is designed to minimize the risk of suffocation, and also meets industry standards. This is essential because baby's bones are fragile and not fully developed and require support to prevent injury. The mattress should be encased with a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation from dust mites or other allergens and kept hygienically clean and free from irritants.
Some cots for bedside cot crib use have the ability to be tilted, which is useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues, but it should be done with extreme caution and at a moderate angle. It is also essential to avoid adding pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet since they can create an obstructing risk to your baby and should only be used when the cot is on flat surfaces.
It's also worth thinking about a bassinet with an attached system that is secure and can be easily fixed to your existing bed without the need for tools. This feature can be particularly helpful for parents who may struggle to lift their child into and out of the cot or who are worried about accidentally rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet is equipped with a secure attachment system, it's an excellent idea to periodically check that it's securely attached and that there are no gaps or loose components that could cause danger.
Comfort
If you are a soon-to-be parent, your baby's comfort is among your top concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that lets you keep your baby close at night, without the danger of sharing a bed. The newborn bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib that fixes to the side of your bed that allows you to lift them out towards you for feeding at night and calming. It is also a great option for mothers who are recovering from a C section as it will not require you to get up or sit up.
Modern cots for infants should have a flat, firm mattress to promote safe sleeping habits and reduce the risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Bedding should be easy with a cot sheet and a blanket tightly tucked on the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers or pillows as these could be thrown over your baby and create a suffocation hazard. If your baby is used to being swaddled for several weeks and you want to use a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag. However, this should be removed after they are strong enough to unwrap them.
Some cribs for bedside use an option to remove or drop down the side that provides the baby to be easily accessible to feed and comfort them in the middle of the night. This feature is ideal for parents who wish to maintain a close relationship with their child, while adhering to NHS guidelines on sleep. If you're planning to sleep in the same bed with your child it's important to recognize that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS particularly if a parent unintentionally falls on their infant while they 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 important if you plan to sleep with your baby as the risk of overheating when sleeping increases. The SnuzPod4 has a unique breathable mesh side panel, which helps to improve the airflow and keeps your baby warm in their mattress.