Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a tiny sleeper that allows newborns to share a room as their parents, without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP recommends against due to SIDS and suffocation). It also makes middle-of-the-night nursing sessions and child care easier.
This sleeper comes with an extremely firm mattress that can support babies' backs, reducing the chance of SIDS. It can be rotated over your adult bed so that you can lift your baby to snuggle them at sunrise or for midnight 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 lets you safely and easily reach your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeding, comforting or cuddles. These are great for mothers and new parents recovering from a c-section because they allow easy access to the baby without needing to get out of the bed.
There are a variety of styles available, ranging from simple ones with the drop-down side, to more sophisticated ones with various adjustment options, such as incline or height. Many convert to an independent crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is a few months old and sleeps longer at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is among our favorites. It was selected in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily commented how stylish and modern the design was. She also liked the fact that it could be used as a bassinet, or a clip to your existing bed for safe side-byside sleeping. She also liked its plush mattress that was able to pass our tests of firmness and it also has an option to manually tilt it for those who suffer from reflux.
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. When it was folded into its travel bag, she found it to be quite heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot is basically an upholstered bassinet that is fixed to the side of your bed. You can easily reach your baby to feed them, change nappies, or to comfort them during the night. It's ideal for mothers recovering from a c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separate from you for the first 6 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. A crib for your bed is a secure way to accomplish this since it has low sides and allows you to easily reach your baby during the night.
It is important that your baby sleeps on a firm, not a soft mattress. A mattress that is soft can increase the risk of suffocation in infants as they lack the motor control needed to turn. The mattress is made of skin-friendly and breathable materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby, but firm enough to ensure safety.
Mum home tester Jasmin liked that this crib does not take up a lot of space in her bedroom, and she found the size to be perfect for a newborn. She also said that the mattress was also of good quality, as opposed to those that feel cheap and thin. She also appreciates that it has storage space underneath for bedding and clothes which other bassinets don't.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM mother who has tested the product at home, loves that you can take off the wall on the side to allow easier access to your baby. She also loves the fact that the legs can be tucked under the bed to look less bulky and take up less area on the floor. describes it 's also impressed by the ease of being able to move around the house when you'd like in the middle of the night, which is convenient for feedings and check-ins.
The CoZee Air crib is a favorite among parents. It won a Gold Award in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards. It features a smart design with four pulleys built-in to raise or lower the crib. It also comes with a large storage bin to store your baby's toys, blankets and other necessities. It's also light and easy to put together which makes it perfect to travel with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a baby's bedside cot, you must keep safety in mind. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS advise that babies don't sleep in their parents bed due to the possibility of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bassinets for bedside use let parents keep their infant close, facilitating feeding at night, comforting and monitoring without having to get out of bed.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers by allowing them to attend to their baby's needs without having to get up in the middle of the night, which can help to keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cots come with adjustable height features that can help mother and child to access the bassinet to feed or take care of other needs during the night.
A lot of bassinets have mattresses that are firm, which is designed to reduce the risk of suffocation and is in line with industry standards. It is crucial to support the bones of a newborn since they are still fragile and aren't fully formed. The mattress should be covered in a fitted cover to minimize the risk of suffocation caused by dust mites and other allergens. It should also be kept clean and free of allergens.
Some cots with a bedside have the ability to be tilted, which can be beneficial for babies suffering from reflux or digestive issues, but it should be done with a lot of care and at a moderate angle. It is also essential to stay clear of adding pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet, as these can pose a suffocation risk for your baby. They should only be used when the cot is set on an even surface.
It's also worth looking into an adjustable bassinet with an attached system that is secure and can be easily attached to your existing bed without the need for tools. This is particularly beneficial for parents who have difficulty lift their child into and out of the crib or are concerned about their child accidentally falling asleep. If your bassinet has an attachment system that is secure, it's recommended to regularly check that it's securely attached and that there are no gaps or loose parts which could cause danger.
Comfort
If you are a soon-to-be parent, your baby's safety is one of your main 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 infant bedside cot essentially a bassinet-style cot that is attached to the bed's side, allowing you to safely take them away for feeding at night and calming. It also makes an excellent choice for mothers recovering from a c-section, since it makes it less necessary to bend down too far or even take a step out of bed.
A modern bedside cot for newborns should have a sturdy flat mattress to promote safe sleeping practices and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be simple, with only the cot sheet and a blanket tucked tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows because they could be thrown over your baby and cause suffocation hazard. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can make use of a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, although this should be removed as soon as possible once they've gained the strength to unwrap themselves.
Some bedside cribs feature an adjustable or drop-down side that allows for the baby to be easily accessible for feeding and comfort during the middle of the night. This is a wonderful option for parents who wish to maintain a strong bond with their child while still following NHS safe sleep guidelines. If you're planning to sleep with your child, it is important to be aware that this practice may increase the chance of SIDS. This is especially true if a parent accidentally is able to roll their infant over when they are asleep.
A fabric that breathes will keep your baby comfortable and cool throughout the night. This is particularly crucial if you plan to sleep with your newborn, since the risk of being overheated when sleeping increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique, breathable side panel, which helps increase airflow, keeping your baby cool.