Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a tiny sleeper that allows new babies to sleep in the same space as their parents without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP advises against due to SIDS and suffocation). It helps you care for your baby and give them a bottle during the night.
This sleeper features a firm mattress that is designed to support babies' backs and decrease the risk of SIDS. It can swivel over your adult bed to allow you to get your baby out for midnight nursing or sunrise cuddles.
Budget
A bedside cot, also referred to as a co-sleeper, is an infant cot with a bassinet design that clips or attaches to your bed. This allows you to safely and easily reach your baby during the night for feeding, comforting or cuddles. These are ideal for new parents and mums recovering after a c section because they provide the baby to be easily accessible without having to get up from bed.
There are lots of different designs available that range from basic models with just a drop-down option to more advanced ones that can be adjusted in multiple ways with incline and height options. Most can be converted into an independent crib once your baby is older and sleeps longer in the night.
One of our favourites is the Maxi-Cosi Lura, which was shortlisted for 2021 Mother&Baby awards in the categories of Best Cot Crib, Best Cot, or Moses Basket. MFM home tester Emily commented on how stylish and modern the design and she was impressed by the fact that you can use it as a regular bassinet, or attach it onto your bed to sleep side-by-side in a safe and secure manner. She also admired the soft mattress, which passed our firmness test, and the fact that it has a manual rocking function that can be adjusted to a slight slope for reflux sufferers.
However, she wasn't a fan of the fact that it had a non-mesh panel on the bottom and felt it was a bit bulky to move from room to room frequently. She also found it to be a little heavy to carry up and down the stairs, especially when folded away into its travel bag.
Size
A bedside cot is the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to the side of your bed. You can easily reach your baby's side to feed them, change nappies or comforting in the middle of the night. It's also great for moms recovering from a C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separate from you during the first six months, to lower the risk of SIDS. The bedside crib with its low sides is a great way to do this. It allows you to access your baby easily at night.
It is crucial that your baby is sleeping on a firm and not an extremely soft mattress. Newborns don't have the motor control to turn over and a soft mattress could increase the risk of drowning. This mattress is made from skin-friendly and air-tight materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby, yet firm enough to be safe.
Mum Jasmin was delighted that the crib didn't take up the entire space in her room and thought it was the perfect size 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 bedding and clothes which many bassinets do not have.
Mehack, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, loves that you can remove the wall on the side to make it easier to access your baby. She also likes that legs fold under the bed so it does not look heavy or take up too much floor space. She's also impressed with how easy it is to move around the house whenever you'd like in the middle of the night, which is convenient for feedings and check-ins.
The winner of a Gold award at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards and the CoZee Air is a popular choice for parents. It features a unique design with four pulleys which 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 that is great to travel with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a baby's bedside cot, you must keep the safety aspect in your thoughts. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS recommend that babies not be placed in parents' beds due to the possibility of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bedside bassinets allow parents to keep their babies close to them, facilitating nighttime feedings as well as monitoring without the need to get out of bed.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to the needs of their infant without waking up at all times and help keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some cots for bedside have adjustable height options, which can help to ensure that the bassinet is at an ideal height for mother and baby to allow ease of access during feedings or care.
Many bassinets are equipped with mattresses that are firm, which is designed to decrease suffocation risk and meets the standards of the industry. It is important to provide support for the bones of a newborn since they are still fragile and not fully formed. The mattress should be encased with a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation due to dust mites and other allergens, and kept clean and free of allergens.
bedside co sleeper have the capability of being tilted, which can be beneficial for babies with reflux or digestive issues, however it should be done with extreme caution and at a moderate angle. It's also important to avoid putting pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet as these can pose an obstructing risk to your baby. They should only be used when the cot is placed on an even surface.
It is also recommended to consider a bassinet that has an attachment system that is secure. It can be connected to your bed without the need for tools. This can be especially beneficial for parents who struggle to get their child into and out of the crib or who are worried about accidentally rolling over in the night. If your bassinet is equipped with secured attachments it is a great idea to check it regularly. Make sure there aren't any gaps and that the system is securely attached.
Comfort
If you're expecting a child, the safety of your baby is surely one of your top priorities. There's a new sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close in the evening, without the risk of bed-sharing. The newborn bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib that fixes to the bed's side, allowing you to safely lift them out towards you for night feeding and soothing. It's also a great choice for mothers who are recovering from a C section as it removes the need to stand up or sit up.
A modern bedside cot for newborns should have a firm flat mattress to ensure a safe sleep and decrease 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 since they can fall on your baby and pose a danger of suffocation. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can use a swaddle or a baby sleep bag for the initial few weeks, but it is best to remove it as soon as possible once they've developed the strength to unwrap themselves.
Some bedside cribs feature an adjustable or drop-down side that gives you easy access to your baby to feed and comfort them in the middle of the night. This feature is ideal for parents who wish to maintain a close bond with their child but still adhere to NHS guidelines on sleep. If you plan to co-sleep with your child, it's important to know that this practice may increase the chance of SIDS. This is especially when a parent accidentally rolls on their infant while sleeping.
A fabric that is breathable is an important safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is particularly crucial if you plan to co-sleep your newborn as the risk of overheating during sleep increases. The SnuzPod4 comes with a unique, breathable side panel, which helps increase the flow of air, keeping your baby warm.