Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a tiny sleeper that allows new babies to share a room as their parents without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP cautions against due SIDS and suffocation). It helps you care for your baby and nurse them throughout the night.
This mattress is a firm mattress to support the backs of babies and reduce the chance of SIDS. It can swivel over your adult bed to allow you to carry your baby for nighttime nursing or sunrise cuddles.
Budget
A bedside cot, sometimes referred to as a co-sleeper, is the bassinet-style baby cot that is attached or clipped to your existing bed. This allows you to safely and easily reach your baby for mid-night feeding or comforting cuddles. They are a great choice for new parents or mums recovering from a csection as they offer an easy access to baby and don't require you to get up.
There are many different designs available, from the basic ones that have an upside-down side to more sophisticated models that offer numerous adjustment options, like incline or height. The majority of them can be converted into an independent crib for daytime naps or when your baby is about months old and is sleeping more at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our top picks. It was shortlisted 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 a clip to your existing bed, for a safe side-by-side sleep. She also appreciated its luxurious mattress which has passed our tests for firmness and also that it comes with 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 she thought it was too heavy 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 bag for travel.
Size
A bedside cot is basically the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to the side of the bed. It is easy to reach your baby's mouth to feed them, change nappies, or to comfort them during the night. It's also great for moms recovering from the C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same room with you, but keep them separate from you for the first six months, because this will reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). A crib that is placed near your bed is a secure way to achieve this as it is low-sided and lets you easily reach your baby during the night.
It is crucial that your baby is sleeping on a firm, not a soft mattress. Newborns don't have the motor control to rotate and a soft mattress could increase the chance of being suffocated. The soft, 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 test Jasmin was pleased with the fact that the crib does not take up a lot of space in her bedroom and she found the size perfect for a baby. She also said that the mattress was excellent quality, in contrast to those that feel cheap and thin. She also appreciates that it has a storage space underneath for clothes and bedding which many bassinets do not have.
MFM mum home test Mehack is a fan of the removable side wall that lets you lower it down to give easy access to your baby. She also likes the fact that the legs can be put under the bed to look less bulky and occupy less floor space. She's also amazed by how easy it is to move around the house whenever you want to in the middle of the night, which is convenient for meals and check-ins.
A recipient of an Gold award at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards and the CoZee Air is a popular choice among parents. It has a clever design with four pulleys built-in to raise or lower the crib. It has a large storage basket to store your baby's toys, blankets and other essentials. It's also light and easy to assemble, making it ideal for travel with your baby.
Safety
It's important to consider the safety aspect when selecting the crib for your newborn. Official safe sleep advice from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies do not sleep in parent's beds because of the risks of overheating, suffocation and a higher risk of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bedside bassinets allow parents to keep their infants close, facilitating night time feedings as well as monitoring without having to get up.
This close proximity can help breastfeeding mothers as it lets them attend to the baby's needs while also sleeping. This can help to maintain the supply of milk and also encourage breastfeeding. Some cots with a bedside 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 to mid-night feedings or other care.
A majority of bassinets come with a mattress that is designed to decrease the chance of suffocation and meets industry standards. This is important because a newborn's bones are brittle and not fully developed and require support to avoid damage. The mattress should be encased with a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation from dust mites and other allergens. It should also be kept clean and free of irritants.
Some cribs for bedside use can be tilted. bedside crib co sleeper is helpful for babies with digestive or reflux issues. However, it should be done with care and with caution. Avoid putting pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet. bedside crib co sleeper could create a risk of suffocation for your baby.
It's also worth looking into a bassinet with an attached system that is secure and can be easily attached to your existing bed without the necessity of tools. This feature is especially useful for parents who struggle to get their child in and out of the crib or are worried about their child rolling over while sleeping. If your bassinet has a secure attachment it is a great idea for you to check it frequently. Make sure there are no gaps, and that the system is securely attached.
Comfort
If you are a soon-to-be parent, your baby's comfort is one of your main concerns. Thankfully, there's an innovative sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close to you throughout the night without taking on any of the risks that come with sharing a bed. The infant bedside cot basically a bassinet-style cot which is fixed to the bed's side and allows you to move them towards you to feed them at night and soothe. It's also a great choice for mothers recovering from a C-section since it removes the need to stand up or bend over.
Modern bedside cots for babies should be fitted with a firm, flat mattress to promote safe sleeping practices and reduce the risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The bedding should be simple, with only the sheets for the cot and a blanket tucked in tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows that can fall on your baby, posing an obstructive risk. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can use a swaddle or baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, however this should be removed as soon as you can once they've gained the strength and confidence to pull themselves out of the wrap.
Some cribs for bedside use a removable or drop-down side to make it easy for your baby for feedings in the middle of the night and comforting. This feature is perfect 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 baby it's important to know that this practice has been linked to a higher risk of SIDS particularly if a parent unintentionally falls on their infant during sleep.
A fabric that is breathable will keep your baby cool and cool throughout the night. This is particularly important if you intend to sleep with your newborn, because the risk of overheating during sleep increases. The SnuzPod4 is a unique, mesh side panel that is breathable that helps improve the airflow and keeps your baby comfortable in their bed.