Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows babies to sleep in the same room as their parents without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP cautions against due SIDS and suffocation). It also makes mid-night nursing sessions and baby care more convenient.
This mattress is a firm mattress that is designed to support the backs of babies and minimize the chance of SIDS. It can swivel over the bed of your adult to make it easier for you to carry your baby for nighttime nursing or cuddles at sunrise.
Budget
A bedside cot, also known as a co-sleeper, is a bassinet-style baby cot that can be attached to your existing bed. This allows you to reach your baby comfortably and safely for a nighttime feed or cuddles. They are a great option for mothers or new parents recovering from a csection as they provide an easy access to baby and do not require you to get up.
There are many different designs that are available, from the basic ones that have the drop-down side, to more sophisticated models that have numerous adjustment options, like the ability to tilt or raise. Many can be converted into a separate crib when your baby is older and is sleeping longer at night.
One of our favourites is the Maxi-Cosi Lora, which was shortlisted for 2021 Mother&Baby awards, including 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 possibility of using it as a regular bassinet, or attach it to your existing bed for safe side-by-side sleeping. She also appreciated the soft mattress that was able to pass our test of firmness and the fact that it has a manual rocking feature that can be set to a slight incline for those suffering from reflux.
She didn't like the fact that it had a non-mesh panel at the bottom, and considered it too bulky to move around from room to room. When folded into its travel bag, she found it to be a bit heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot is similar to a bassinet that is attached to the side of your bed. It lets you easily reach your baby during the night for feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's great for mothers recovering from the c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same room as you, but separated from you for the first six months since this will help decrease the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The bedside crib with its low sides is a great way to do this. It lets you be able to easily access your baby at night.
It's important that your newborn sleeps on a firm mattress since this is safer than a mattress that is soft. Babies don't have motor control to turn over and a soft mattress could increase the risk of drowning. The breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress comfortable for your baby but sufficient to ensure safety.
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 baby. The mattress she rated as also of good quality, as opposed to those that feel cheap and thin. She also loves the fact that it has a storage space beneath for bedding and clothes which other bassinets do not have.
Mehack is an MFM mother who has tested the product at home, is thrilled that you can remove the wall on the side to make it easier to access your baby. She also loves that legs slide into the bed so it does not look heavy or take up a lot of floor space. She's also impressed by how easy it is to move around the house whenever you want to in the middle of the night, which is convenient for feedings and check-ins.
The CoZee Air crib is a favourite among parents. It won a Gold Award in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It is a clever design with four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. There is also an ample basket for toys, blankets, and other necessities. It is also light and easy to assemble and is ideal for travel with your baby.
Safety
When selecting a newborn bedside cot, it is important to keep safety in your mind. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS, recommend that babies not be placed in parents bed due to the risk of suffocation as well as sudden infant death syndrome. Bassinets that are placed in bed let parents keep their baby close to help with nighttime feedings and monitoring without having to get up from their beds.
This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to their baby's needs without having to wake up in the middle of the night, which can help to maintain milk supply and support the breastfeeding experience. Some cots with a bedside are equipped with adjustable height features that will help ensure that the bassinet is an ideal height for mother and baby to allow ease of access during feedings or for care.
Many bassinets come with mattresses that are firm. This is designed to reduce the risk of suffocation, and also meets industry standards. It is crucial to provide support for the bones of a newborn because they are still squishy and are not fully formed. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet in order to reduce the risk that dust mites, as well as other allergens, can suffocate a child. small bedside cot should be kept free of allergens and clean.
Some bedside cribs can be tilted. This is useful for babies suffering from reflux or digestive issues. However, it should be done with care and with caution. It's also important to avoid putting pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet as they can create the risk of suffocation for your baby. They should only be used when the cot is placed on flat surfaces.
You should also think about a bassinet that has an attachment system that is secure. This can be attached to your existing bed easily without the need of tools. This can be especially helpful for parents who may struggle to get their child in and out of the crib or concerned about the possibility of falling asleep. If your bassinet does have a secure attachment system it's an excellent idea to periodically ensure that it's securely secured and that there are no gaps or loose parts that could pose a hazard.
Comfort
If you are a soon-to-be parent, your baby's safety is among your top concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that allows you to keep your baby close to you at night without the risk of bed-sharing. The newborn bedside crib is a cot that resembles a bassinet that attaches to the side of the bed. It allows you to safely lift your baby out towards you for feedings and comfort. It is also an excellent choice for mothers recovering from a c-section 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, flat mattress to help ensure a safe sleep and decrease the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be kept simple and consist of only the sheet for the cot and blanket tucked tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows since they could be thrown over your baby and cause suffocation hazard. If your baby is used to being swaddled during a few weeks and you want to use an swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, this should be removed after they have the strength to unwrap them.
Some cribs for bedside use a removable or drop-down side that gives you an easy access to your baby for feeding and comfort during the middle of the night. This is a wonderful feature for parents who want to keep an intimate relationship with their child, but still adhere to NHS safe sleep advice. However, if you're considering sleeping in the same bed with your child, it's important to understand that this practice has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS especially when a parent accidentally rolls onto their infant during sleep.
A breathable fabric is another important safety factor, since it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is particularly important if you plan to co-sleep with your newborn since the chance of being overheated increases when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 features a unique side panel made of breathable mesh that aids in improving the flow of air and keep your baby comfortable in their mattress.