Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows babies to share a room as their parents, without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP advises against due to suffocation and SIDS). It also makes mid-night nursing sessions and care much easier.
This sleeper has an extremely firm mattress that can support babies backs, reducing the chance of SIDS. It can be rotated over your adult bed to lift your baby for sunrise cuddles or late night nursing.
Budget
A bedside crib, also known as a bassinet or co-sleeper is a bassinet-style crib for babies that attaches to your existing bed. This allows you to easily and safely reach your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeding, comforting or cuddles. These are perfect for moms and babies recovering from a csection because they allow easy access to the baby without needing to get out of the bed.
There are many different designs available starting with basic models that have just a drop-down side to more advanced ones that can be adjusted in multiple ways including height and incline options. The majority of them can be converted to a separate crib when your baby is older and sleeps longer at night.
One of our top picks is the Maxi-Cosi Lura, which was nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards in the categories of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. MFM home tester Emily expressed her delight at how stylish and modern the design is, 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 its luxurious mattress that passed our firmness tests, and that it has an option to manually tilt it for reflux sufferers.
She didn't like the fact that it had a non-mesh panel at the bottom, and considered it too bulky to move from room to room. She also found it a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs, especially when folded away into its travel bag.
Size
A bedside cot is basically a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of your bed. bedside crib travel to reach your baby for feedings, changing nappies or comforting in the middle of the night. It's great for mothers who are recovering from a c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separate from you in the first six months, to decrease the chance of SIDS. The crib that is placed beside your bed, with its low sides, is a great method to accomplish this. It allows you to access your baby easily at night.
It is important that your baby sleeps on a firm, not a soft mattress. Infants don't have the motor control to rotate and a mattress that is soft can increase the chance of being suffocated. The breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress a comfortable one for your baby but sufficiently firm to be safe for your baby.
Mum home tester Jasmin was pleased with the fact that the crib doesn't take up too much space in her bedroom, and she found it to be the perfect size for a newborn. She also said that the mattress was also good quality, unlike others that feel thin and thin. She also likes that it has a storage space beneath to store blankets and clothing - something she says many bassinets don't have.
MFM mum home tester Mehack is a fan of the removable side wall that lets you lower it down for easy access to your infant. She also likes the fact that legs fold into the bed so it doesn't look bulky or take up a lot of floor space. She's also impressed with how it was easy to move around the house in the event of feeds and check-ins in the middle of the night.
A winner of an Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards and 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 necessities. It's also light and easy to assemble, making it ideal for travel with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a new baby's bedside cot, it is important to keep the safety of your baby in 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 suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets for bedside use allow parents to keep their babies close to them, facilitating nighttime feedings as well as monitoring without needing to get out of bed.
This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers by allowing them to attend to their baby's needs without waking up in the middle of the night and can help keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cots have adjustable height features, which can ensure that the bassinet is at an ideal height for mother and baby to allow easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or care.
Many bassinets have a firm mattress that is designed to decrease the risk of suffocation, and meets industry standards. It is crucial to support the bones of a newborn since they are still fragile and are not fully formed. The mattress should be covered in a fitted cover to decrease the chance of suffocation from dust mites and other allergens and kept hygienically clean and free of irritants.
Some cots with a bedside can be tilted. This can be beneficial for babies suffering from reflux or digestive issues, however it should be done with extreme caution and at a moderate angle. Avoid placing pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet. These could create the risk of suffocation to your baby.
It's also worth looking into a bassinet with a secure attachment system that can be easily fixed to your bed without the necessity of tools. This is particularly beneficial for parents who struggle to get their child in and out of the crib or are concerned about their baby accidentally falling asleep. If your bassinet does have an attachment system that is secure, it's a good idea to regularly ensure that it's securely secured and that there aren't any gaps or loose parts that could pose a hazard.
Comfort
If you're a soon-to-be parent, the comfort of your child is among your top concerns. There's a brand new sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close in the evening, without the risk of bed-sharing. The newborn bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib which is fixed to the bed's side that allows you to lift them out towards you for feeding at night and calming. It's also a great choice for mums recovering from a c-section, since it makes it less necessary to bend down too far or even to get out of the bed.
Modern bedside cots for babies should include a firm, flat mattress to promote safe sleeping practices and reduce the risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The bedding should be simple, with just a cot sheet and a blanket tightly tucked at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows that can be thrown over your baby, creating a suffocation risk. If your baby is used to being swaddled, you can use a swaddle or baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, although this should be removed as soon as you can once they've developed the strength to unwrap themselves.
Some cribs for bedside use a removable or drop-down side to make it easy for your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeds and comforting. This feature is perfect for parents who want to maintain a close bond with their child, but still adhere to NHS guidelines for sleep. If you're planning to sleep in the same bed as your baby, it's important to understand that this practice has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS especially when a parent accidentally is able to roll onto their child during sleep.
A fabric that is breathable is an important safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is especially important if you intend to co-sleep your newborn since the risk of being overheated during sleep increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique, breathable side panel that helps improve the flow of air, keeping your baby comfortable.