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 suffocation.) It helps you care for your baby and nurse them throughout the night.
This mattress is a firm mattress to help babies' backs and minimize the chance of SIDS. It can slide over the bed of your adult to allow you to get your child out for midnight nursing or cuddles at sunrise.
Budget
A bedside cot, also known as a co-sleeper, an infant cot with a bassinet design that is attached or clipped to your bed. This allows you to comfortably and safely reach your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeding, comforting or cuddles. They are a great option for new parents or mums recovering from a c-section as they provide the baby with easy access and do not require you to get up.
There are lots of different designs on the market that range from basic models with only a drop-down side, to more sophisticated ones that can be adjusted in a variety of ways including height and incline options. Many convert to an independent crib for daytime naps or when your baby is around a few months old and sleeps longer at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is among our favorites. It was shortlisted in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily noted how stylish and modern the design was. She also appreciated 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 appreciated the soft mattress that has passed our test for firmness and the fact that it features a manual rocking function that can be adjusted to a slight slope for reflux sufferers.
She didn't like the fact that it had a mesh panel on the bottom and she thought it was too heavy to move from room to room. She also found it to be a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs when folded into a travel bag.
Size
A bedside cot is a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of the bed. It is easy to reach your baby's side to feed them, change nappies or just to soothe them during the night. It's also great for mums recovering from the C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separated from you in the first six month, to reduce the risk of SIDS. The crib that is placed beside your bed with its low sides is a great option to achieve this. It lets you access your baby easily throughout the night.
It is crucial that your infant sleeps on a firm mattress since it is safer than a mattress that is soft. A soft mattress can increase the risk of suffocation in infants as they lack the motor control necessary to turn. The breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress a comfortable one for your baby but also sufficient to ensure safety.
Mum Jasmin was pleased that the crib didn't occupy too much space in her room and thought it was the ideal size for a baby. She also said that the mattress was of high-quality, unlike others which seem thin and flimsy. She also appreciates that it has storage space underneath for clothes and bedding - something many other bassinets don't have.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, loves the ability to remove the wall on the side to allow for easier access to your baby. She also loves the fact that legs can be placed under the bed to make it appear less bulky and occupy less space on the floor. She's also impressed with the ease of being able to move around the house whenever you'd like for ease during late-night feedings and check-ins.
The CoZee Air crib is a favorite among parents. It was awarded a Gold Award at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards. It has a clever design with four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. It also comes with an enormous basket that can be used to store blankets, toys and other items. It's also easy to put together and light in weight and portable, which is ideal to travel with your baby.
Safety
When selecting a newborn bedside cot, it is important to keep the safety of your baby in your mind. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies should not be sleeping in the bed of their parents due to the risk of suffocation, overheating and a higher chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets for bedside use allow parents to keep their baby close to help with feeding at night as well as monitoring and comforting without needing to get up from their beds.
This close proximity also helps breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to their baby's needs without waking up at all times and help maintain milk supply and support the breastfeeding experience. Some cots for bedside have adjustable height features, which can ensure that the bassinet is an ideal height for mother and baby to allow easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or care.
Many bassinets are equipped with mattresses that are firm, which is designed to decrease the risk of suffocation and is in line with the standards of the industry. It is essential to provide support for the bones of a newborn, because they are still squishy and not fully formed. The mattress should be covered with an appropriate sheet to reduce the risk that dust mites or other allergens, could choke a child. It must also be kept clean and free of irritants.
Some bedside cribs can be tilted. This is beneficial for babies with reflux or digestive problems. But, it should only be done gently and with care. It's also important to avoid adding pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet as they can create an obstructing risk to your baby and should only be used when the cot is on a flat surface.
It's also worth considering a bassinet with a secure attachment system that can be easily fixed to your existing bed without the necessity of tools. This can be especially beneficial for parents who struggle to get their child in and out of the cot, or who are concerned about rolling over in the night. If your bassinet is equipped with secured attachments it is a great idea to check it frequently. Make sure there are no gaps and that the system is securely connected.
Comfort
If you're a soon-to-be parent, your baby's comfort is among your top concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that allows you to keep your baby close at night without the risk of sharing a bed. The baby bedside cot is essentially a bassinet-style cot that is attached to the side of your bed and allows you to move them towards you to feed them at night and soothe. It's also a great choice for mums recovering from a csection, as it reduces the need to bend down too far or even to get out of the bed.
A modern newborn bedside cot should have a firm and flat mattress that can promote safe sleeping practices and lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be simple and consist of only the sheet for the cot and blanket tucked tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows that could fall onto your baby posing a suffocation risk. If your baby is used to being swaddled during a few weeks, you can use either the swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, this should be removed when they are strong enough to take them off.
Some cribs with a bedside have a drop-down or removable side to make it easy for 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 but still adhere to NHS sleep guidelines. If you are planning to sleep with your child, it's crucial to be aware that this practice may increase the risk of SIDS. This is particularly the case if a parent falls on their child while sleeping.
A breathable fabric is another important safety factor, since it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is especially crucial if you plan to sleep with your newborn, since the risk of being overheated when sleeping increases. The SnuzPod4 has a unique breathable mesh side panel that helps improve airflow and keep your baby warm in their mattress.