Newborn Bedside Cot
A crib for newborns is a tiny sleeping device that lets babies sleep in the same space as their parents without the risks of co-sleeping. (The AAP warns against this due to the risk of SIDS and suffocation.) It makes it easier to care for your baby and nurse them during the night.
This sleeper has a sturdy mattress that is designed to help babies' backs and minimize the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to allow you to carry your baby to the top to cuddle them at sunrise or during midnight nursing.
Budget
A bedside crib cot, also known as a co-sleeper is an infant cot with a bassinet design that is attached or clipped to your existing bed. This lets you reach your baby comfortably and safely for a nighttime feed or cuddles. They are a great choice for new parents or mums recovering from a csection as they offer easy access to baby and don't require you to get up.
There are a variety of designs available, from basic models with only a drop-down side, to more sophisticated models that can be adjusted in multiple ways, including incline and height options. Many can be converted into a standalone crib when your baby is older and has a longer sleep time at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our top picks. It was selected in the best bedside cot Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily commented how stylish and modern the design was. She also liked the fact that it could be used as a bassinet or clipped to your existing bed to ensure safe side-by-side sleeping. She also adored its soft mattress which was able to pass our tests of firmness and it also has an adjustable manual inclining feature for reflux sufferers.
She didn't like the fact that it had a non mesh panel on the bottom and thought it was too bulky to move from room to room. It also felt a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs, especially when folded into a travel bag.
Size
A bedside cot resembles an infant bassinet that is attached to the side of your bed. It allows you to reach your baby during the night for feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's also great for mothers recovering from C-sections.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separate from you for the first six month, to lower the risk of SIDS. A crib for your bed is a safe way to achieve this because it has low sides and allows you to be able to easily access your baby at night.
It is important that your baby sleeps on a firm and not an extremely soft mattress. Babies don't have motor control needed to turn and a mattress that is soft can increase the risk of drowning. The soft, breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress comfortable for your baby but also sufficiently firm to be safe for your baby.
Mum home test Jasmin loved that the crib doesn't take up too much space in her bedroom and she found the size perfect for a newborn. The mattress she rated as also of good quality, as opposed to those that feel cheap and thin. She also appreciates that it has a storage area beneath for blankets and clothes which she believes most bassinets do not have.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, likes that you can take off the wall on the side to allow for easier access to your baby. She also likes that the legs tuck under the bed so it doesn't appear big or take up a lot of floor space. She's also amazed by how easy it was to move around the house when she needed to do checks and feedings during the night.
The winner of an Gold award in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice amongst parents. It is designed with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib and comes with a large storage bin to store your baby's toys, blankets and other essentials. It is also light and easy to put together which makes it perfect for traveling with your baby.
Safety
It is important to think about safety when choosing the crib for your newborn. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS advise that babies not be placed in parents' beds due to the possibility of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bassinets for bedside use allow parents to keep their infants close, facilitating night time feedings as well as monitoring without having to get out of bed.
This close proximity can also help breastfeeding mothers as it allows them to attend to the needs of their infant while still sleeping. This can help maintain milk supply and encourage breastfeeding. Some cots with a bedside are equipped with adjustable height options that can help the mother and child to reach the bassinet to feed or take care of other needs throughout the night.
Many bassinets come with a firm mattress that is designed to decrease the risk of suffocation, and meets industry standards. This is crucial because a newborn's bones are soft and aren't fully developed. They need to be supported to prevent injury. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet to minimize the risk of suffocation caused by dust mites or other allergens. It should also be kept clean and free of irritants.
Some cribs on the bed can be tilted. This is helpful for babies who have reflux or digestive problems. However, it should be done slowly and with caution. Avoid placing pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers inside the bassinet. These could create a risk of suffocation for your baby.
It's also worth considering an adjustable bassinet with a secure attachment system that can be easily attached to your bed without the need for tools. This feature is especially useful for parents who struggle to lift their child into and out of the crib or are worried about their child rolling over while sleeping. If your bassinet is equipped with a secure attachment, it is a good idea for you to check it frequently. Check to ensure there are no gaps and that the system is securely connected.
Comfort
If you're planning to become a parent, the comfort of your child is one of your main concerns. There's a great sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close during the night - without any of the dangers that come with sharing a bed. The baby bedside cot (url) is essentially a bassinet-style cot for bedside which is fixed to the side of your bed that allows you to move them towards you for feeding at night and calming. It is also a great choice for mothers who are recovering from a C-section as it will not require you to stand up or to bend over.
A modern newborn bedside cot should have a sturdy and flat mattress that can ensure a safe sleep and decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be kept simple, with only the sheet for the cot and blanket that is tightly tucked into the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers or pillows since they can be thrown over your baby and pose a suffocation hazard. If your baby is used to being swaddled, you can make use of a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, although this should be removed as soon as possible once they've gained the strength and confidence to unwrap themselves.
Some bedside cribs feature a removable or drop-down side that provides the baby to be easily accessible for comforting and feeding during the middle of the night. This is a good feature for parents looking to keep the bond between them and their child, while adhering to NHS safe sleep advice. However, if you're planning to co-sleep in the same bed as your baby, it's important to understand that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS especially in the event that a parent rolls onto their infant during sleep.
A breathable fabric will keep your baby comfy and cool throughout the night. This is particularly crucial if you intend to co-sleep with your newborn since the chance of being overheated increases during sleep. The SnuzPod4 has a unique mesh side panel that is breathable that aids in improving the airflow and keeps your baby comfortable in their bed.