Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows new babies to share a room as their parents without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP recommends against due to suffocation and SIDS). It also makes mid-night nursing sessions and baby care more convenient.
This sleeper comes with an extremely firm mattress that can support babies backs, which reduces the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled on your adult bed to allow you to carry your baby to the top to snuggle them at sunrise or for midnight nursing.
Budget
A bedside cot, also referred to as a co-sleeper, is a bassinet-style baby cot that clips or attaches to your existing bed. This allows you to safely and easily reach your baby during the night for feeding, comforting or cuddles. These are great for moms and babies recovering from a c-section as they allow the baby to be easily accessible without having to get up from bed.
There are lots of different designs available, from basic models with just a drop-down option to more sophisticated ones that can be adjusted in a variety of ways including height and incline options. The majority of them can be converted to an independent crib once your baby gets older and has a longer sleep time at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our favorites. It was nominated in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily said she was impressed by how chic and contemporary the design is and she was impressed by the possibility of using it as a regular bassinet, or connect it to your existing bed to sleep side-by-side in a safe and secure manner. She also appreciated the soft mattress that was able to pass our test of firmness and also the fact that it comes with a manual rocking feature that can be set to a slight tilt for reflux sufferers.
She didn't like the fact that it had a mesh panel at the bottom, and she thought it was too heavy to move around from room to room. When folded into bedside cot for twins , she found it a bit heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot is the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to your side of the bed. It is easy to reach your baby to feed them, change nappies or comforting during the night. It's ideal for mothers who are recovering from an o-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same room with you, but separated from you for the first six months, as this can help reduce the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The crib that is placed beside your bed with its low sides, is a great method to accomplish this. It lets you be able to easily access your baby throughout the night.
It's important that your newborn sleeps on a firm bed as this is safer than a soft one. Newborns don't have the motor control to turn over and a soft mattress could increase the risk of drowning. 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 liked that this crib does not take up much space in her bedroom, and she found the size to be perfect for a newborn. She also said that the mattress was of high-quality unlike other cribs that are thin and fragile. She also appreciates that it has a storage space underneath for clothes and bedding which other bassinets do not have.
MFM mum home tester Mehack is a big fan of the removable side wall that lets you drop it down for easy access to your baby. She also likes the fact that legs can be placed under the bed to make it appear less bulky and take up less area on the floor. She's also amazed by how it was simple to move around the house in the event of checks and feedings in the middle of the night.
The CoZee Air crib is a favourite among parents. It was awarded a Gold Award in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards. It features a unique 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 toys, blankets, and other essentials. It's also easy to assemble and lightweight and portable, which is ideal to travel with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a new baby's bedside cot, you must keep the safety aspect in your mind. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies not be sleeping in the bed of their parents because of the risks of suffocation, heat exhaustion and a greater chance of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets that are placed in bed allow parents to keep their newborn close by, facilitating feeding at night and monitoring without having to leave their bed.
This close proximity can support breastfeeding mothers, as it allows them to attend to the needs of their infant while they sleep. This can help to maintain the supply of milk and encourage breastfeeding. Some bedside cots have adjustable height features that will help ensure that the bassinet is an appropriate height for mother and baby, allowing easy access to mid-night feedings or for care.
Many bassinets come with mattresses that are firm and designed to reduce the risk of suffocation and is in line with industry standards. It is essential 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 decrease the risk that dust mites or other allergens, will 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 with digestive or reflux issues. However, it should only be done gently and with care. It is also essential 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 an even surface.
You should also consider an infant bassinet with a secure attachment system. It can be attached to your existing bed easily without the need of tools. This feature can be particularly useful for parents who struggle to get their child in and out of the cot or who are worried about accidentally falling asleep. If your bassinet is equipped with an attachment that is secure it is a good idea to regularly check it. Make sure there aren't any gaps and that the system is securely attached.
Comfort
If you're a soon-to-be parent, your baby's comfort is among your top concerns. Thankfully, there's an innovative sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close throughout the night, without any of the dangers that come with bed-sharing. The newborn 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 for feeding at night and calming. It's also a great choice for mothers recovering from a C-section since it removes the need to stand up or sit up.
Modern cots for infants should be fitted with a firm, flat mattress to encourage safe sleeping habits and lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The bedding should be simple, comprising a cot sheets and blanket tucked tightly on the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys, and pillows that may fall on your baby, posing the risk of suffocation. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can use a swaddle or baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, although it is best to remove it as soon as possible once they've gained the strength to unwrap themselves.
Some cribs with a bedside feature an option to remove or drop down the side that gives you an easy access to your baby to feed and comfort them during the middle of the night. This feature is ideal for parents who wish to keep a close relationship with their child, while still following NHS guidelines on sleep. If you're considering sleeping in the same bed as your baby it's important to know that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS particularly when a parent accidentally rolls onto their infant during sleep.
A breathable fabric will keep your baby cool and cool throughout the night. This is particularly important if you plan to sleep with your newborn since the chance of overheating increases when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 has a unique breathable mesh side panel that aids in improving the flow of air and keep your baby warm in their bed.