How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk
Official guidelines for safe sleep from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own crib or Moses basket. A bedside crib is a practical and space-saving option for parents who live together.
Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper as it's spacious, with plenty of room for baby's to grow and wiggle. It is also much bigger than the Moses Basket. It's also easy to assemble and comes with a carry-on bag.
What is a bedside crib?
A bedside cot (also called a bassinet, side-sleeper or co-sleeper) is a secure way for your baby to rest close to you overnight during the first few months of their life. These cribs can be attached to your bed and let you lift your child to you for night-feeding or comforting. They're also a great choice for mothers who are breastfeeding or recovering from a Caesarean section.
These cots are often a little smaller than a standard cot however, they still provide plenty of room for your baby to relax. You can pick from different designs and features based on your preferences. Many bedside cribs have a drop down or removable side that makes it easier to reach your baby's feeding at night. They are also available in different heights to suit the size of your bed.
Some cribs with a bedside have a riser which allows you to build an angle to the sleeping area. This can be helpful with reflux. They also have a zip off side to make cleaning easy. Some cribs come with manual rocking features that can be a soothing distraction for your baby. You'll also require a breathable mattress to go with your new crib. It should be a minimum of 30cm deep to ensure your baby has enough head space.
A bedside cot is an investment, but you can be certain that your newborn will get a peaceful and safe night's sleep. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams, and Gigi Hadid are all avid users of SNOO's bedside crib. It is definitely worth a look as an alternative to a Moses basket.
Safety
Official guidelines for safe sleep from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that newborn babies should be placed in the same bed as you during the first six months but not in your bed, to decrease the risk of suffocation and to reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed is a fantastic option that allows your child to safely be close enough for you to feed them at night and soothe them back to sleep without having to get out of your own bed. It is also a great option for when you are recovering from an operation or a C-section, and have limited mobility.
Our top pick for a bedside cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib [take a look at the site here] is small and folds flat in a matter of seconds and fits into a travel bag which makes it perfect for trips to the beach and nights away from home. It's among the lightest bedside crib and travel cot cots available and comes with a a comfy deep foam mattress, air-flow panels, and an tilting setting, and it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket.
Another great bedside cot is the Chicco Next2me Magic bedside crib that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in storage solution and changing mat, is light (only 10kg) and comes with an adjustable side that makes it easy to access.
Style
For many mothers, particularly those who have had a C-section A crib for bedside can be an absolute godsend. You can easily reach your baby without getting out of the bed. This allows you to soothe and feed your infant during the night. Being close to the baby can also aid in increasing milk production for mothers who breastfeed.
These bassinets are not only practical, but also fashionable. This is why they are so popular. Some are bigger than Moses Baskets and some even have additional features like a gentle reflux and incline. They are designed to be placed near your bed, they can be moved around your home when the baby grows older. Additionally, some are able to be taken on the go too which makes them ideal for parents who are new to traveling.
It is important to choose a bedside crib vs cot cot that has easy-to-use drop-sides. These let you lower your baby into the bassinet without having to lift them into your arms, which can be difficult for moms with mobility issues. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of these models that has been praised and shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of Best Cot or Crib, or Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.
Another useful feature that a few models come with is a translucent side that lets you be able to see your baby at all times. This is especially useful when you are tired and sleepy where just a glance can make all the difference. As was noted by Emily who is our MFM home tester Sleepiest BassiNest is a great option. It is simple to lower.
Budget
If you're still not ready to make the transition to a larger cot a bedside crib may be a great option. The bassinet-style crib is attached to the side of your bed so that you can easily reach your baby for evening feeds and also comfort them without disturbing your own sleep. It's an excellent choice for those with restricted movement after the C-section. Celeb mums like Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen this model.
Our Parent Testers loved this new version of the popular Chicco crib, which won 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot or Crib. It's afclimatizing and spacious and has six height settings to accommodate babies who are growing, and a gentle reflux incline setting. It can also be used as a crib for travel and comes with a convenient storage case.
It can be a challenge to move a bedside cot around the house, but our Parents Testers reported that the Shnuggle Air alongside the cot was simple to move. It's one of the lightest options and compact enough to fit into its own bag for travel, which means you can carry it with you when you travel.
The SnuzPod is a different highly rated bedside cot that's simple to put together and fold away and comes with a variety of features to ensure the best night's rest. It has a removable lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than other cots. The fabric is breathable and helps keep your baby's temperature in check. It has a gentle rocking feature, as well as an incline to aid in reflux. It is also lightweight enough to be used as a travel crib when you're traveling. It's a bit more expensive than other bedside cot bed cots but our Parents Testers say it's well worth the extra cost.