Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside crib is a tiny sleeper that allows babies to sleep in the same room with their parents, without the dangers of co-sleeping. (The AAP warns against this because of the risk of SIDS and inhalation.) It also makes mid-night nursing sessions and care much more convenient.
This sleeper has a sturdy mattress to support the backs of babies and reduce the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled on your adult bed to allow you to lift your baby to snuggle them at sunrise or for nighttime nursing.
Budget
A bedside cot, sometimes referred to as a co-sleeper is a bassinet-style baby cot that clips or attaches to your existing bed. This allows you to reach your baby easily and safely for a mid-night feed or cuddles. These are ideal for mothers and new parents recovering after a c section as they allow easy access to the baby without having to get up from the bed.
There are lots of different designs available, from basic models with only a drop-down side, to more sophisticated ones that can be adjusted in a variety of ways with incline and height options. Most can be converted into a separate crib when your baby is older and sleeps longer at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our favorites. It was nominated in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily expressed her delight at how stylish and modern the design, while she appreciated the possibility of using it as a regular bassinet or attach it to your existing bed for safe side-by-side sleeping. She also liked the plush mattress, which was able to pass our test of firmness, and the fact that it comes with an automatic rocking feature that can be set to a slight tilt for reflux sufferers.
However, she didn't like the fact that it had a non-mesh panel at its foot end and felt it was a bit bulky to move from room room often. When it was folded into its travel bag, she found it to be a bit heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot is basically the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to your side of the bed. It allows you to easily reach your baby for mid-night feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's also great for mums recovering from the C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you keep your baby in the same room with you, but keep them separate from you for the first six months, because this will reduce the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). A crib that is placed near your bed is a safe method to achieve this because it has low sides and allows you to be able to easily access your baby throughout the night.
It is crucial that your baby is sleeping on a firm, not an extremely soft mattress. Infants don't have the motor control needed to turn and a mattress that is soft could increase the risk of drowning. This mattress is made of skin-friendly and breathable materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby, yet sufficient to be secure.
Mum Jasmin was happy that the crib didn't occupy too much space in her bedroom and thought it was the perfect size for a newborn. She also stated that the mattress was of good quality unlike other cribs that seem thin and flimsy. She also loves the fact that it has a storage area beneath for blankets and clothes which she believes most bassinets do not have.
MFM mom home tester Mehack is a big fan of the removable side wall that allows you to drop it down for easy access to your baby. She also likes that legs slide into the bed so it doesn't look big or take up a lot of floor space. She's also amazed by how it was simple to move around the house in the event of feeds and check-ins in the middle of the night.
The CoZee Air crib is a favourite among parents. It won the Gold Award at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards. It features a smart design with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib. It also comes with a large storage bin to store your baby's toys, blankets and other essentials. It's also easy to put together and lightweight that is great for traveling with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a new baby's bedside cot, you must keep safety in your mind. Official safe sleep advice from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies do not sleep in parent's beds due to the dangers of suffocation, overheating and a greater chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets that are placed in bed allow parents to keep their baby close, facilitating feeding at night as well as monitoring and comforting without needing to leave their bed.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to the needs of their infant without having to get up at all times, which can help to keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some cots for bedside use adjustable height options that can aid both the mother and baby to get into the bassinet for feedings or other care at night.
A lot of bassinets have a firm mattress, which is designed to minimize the risk of suffocation, and also meets the standards of the industry. This is crucial because a newborn's bones are brittle and not fully developed and must be supported to prevent injury. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet in order to reduce the risk that dust mites, as well as other allergens, can choke a child. It should also be kept clean and free of allergens.
Some cribs on the bed can be tilted. This is helpful for babies suffering from reflux or digestive problems. However, it should be done with care and with caution. Avoid placing pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet. They could pose a risk of suffocation for your baby.
It's also worth thinking about an adjustable bassinet with an attached system that is secure and can be easily fixed to your existing bed without the need for tools. This feature is especially useful for parents who have difficulty lift their child into and out of the crib or are worried about their baby accidentally rolling over while sleeping. If your bassinet is equipped with an attachment that is secure it is a good idea to regularly check it. Make sure there are no gaps and that the system is securely attached.
Comfort
If you're planning to become a parent, your baby's comfort is among your top concerns. There's a brand new sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close at night without the risk of sharing the bed. bedside crib travel cot cot essentially a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of your bed that allows you to take them away for feeding at night and calming. It's also the perfect choice for mothers recovering from a csection, since it makes it less necessary to bend down too far or even take a step out of bed.
Modern bedside cots for babies should have a flat, firm mattress to encourage safe sleep habits and lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The bedding should be kept as simple as possible and consist of only the sheets for the cot and a blanket tucked tightly at the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys and pillows that could fall on your baby, posing a suffocation risk. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can use a swaddle or a baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, although it should be removed when possible after they've gained the strength and confidence to take off their wraps.
Some cribs with a bedside have a removable or drop-down side for easy access to your baby for feedings in the middle of the night and comforting. This feature is ideal for parents who want to maintain a close relationship with their child, while adhering to NHS sleep guidelines. If you're planning to co-sleep in the same bed with your baby, it's important to understand that this practice has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS particularly in the event that a parent rolls onto their infant while they sleep.
A breathable fabric is another important safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is especially crucial if you intend to sleep with your baby, as the risk of being overheated increases during sleep. The SnuzPod4 features a unique breathable side panel, which helps increase the flow of air, keeping your baby cool.