Newborn Bedside Cot

A newborn bedside cot bedside is a compact sleeper that allows babies to share the same room as their parents without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP cautions against due suffocation and SIDS). It helps you care for your baby and give them a bottle throughout the night.

This sleeper has an extremely firm mattress that can support babies backs, which reduces the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled on your adult bed so that you can carry your baby to the top to cuddle them at sunrise or during midnight nursing.

Budget

A bedside crib, also referred to as a bassinet or co-sleeper, is a bassinet style crib that can be attached to your bed. This allows you to safely and easily reach your baby during the night for feeding or cuddles. These are ideal for moms and babies recovering from a csection because they provide the baby to be easily accessible without needing to get out of the bed.

There are a variety of designs available, from the simple ones with the drop-down side, to more sophisticated ones that offer numerous adjustment options, like the ability to tilt or raise. Many can be converted into an independent crib once your baby grows older and has a longer sleep time 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 commented how stylish and modern the design was. She also liked the fact that it could be used as a bassinet, or clipped to your existing bed, for a safe side-by-side sleep. She also appreciated the soft mattress that was able to pass our test of firmness and also the fact that it comes with an automatic rocking feature that can be set to a slight tilt for reflux sufferers.

However, she wasn't a fan of the design of the non-mesh panel on the lower end, and felt it was a bit heavy to move from room room frequently. When folded into a travel bag she found it quite heavy to carry up the stairs.

Size

A bedside sleeper cot cot resembles an infant bassinet that is attached to the bed's side. It allows you to reach your baby for mid-night feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's also great for mothers recovering from a C-section.

The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same space as you, but keep them separate from you for the first six months as this can help reduce the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). A crib that is placed near your bed is a safe method to achieve this because it is low-sided and allows you to easily reach your baby throughout the night.

It is essential that your baby is sleeping on a firm, not an extremely soft mattress. A mattress that is soft increases the risk of suffocation in newborns, as they lack the motor control needed to turn. The mattress is made of skin-friendly and air-tight materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby, but firm enough to ensure safety.

Mum Jasmin was happy that the crib didn't take up much space in her bedroom and thought it was the perfect size for a newborn. She also noted that the mattress was of good quality unlike other cribs that seem thin and flimsy. She also likes that it has a storage space underneath for clothes and blankets which she believes most bassinets do not have.

MFM mum home test Mehack is a fan of the removable side wall that lets you lower it to make it easier access to your infant. She also likes that legs fold under the bed so that it doesn't appear heavy or take up too much floor space. She's also amazed by how easy it was to move around her home in the event of checks and feedings during the night.

A winner of an Gold award at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice among parents. 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 necessities. It's also light and easy to put together and is ideal to travel with your baby.

Safety

When selecting a newborn bedside cot, you must keep the safety aspect in your mind. The official safe sleep guidelines from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies not sleep in their parents' beds because of the risks of suffocation, heat exhaustion and a greater chance of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets for bedside co sleeper cot use allow parents to keep their infant close, facilitating night-time feedings as well as monitoring and comforting without having to get out of bed.

This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to the needs of their infant without waking up completely and help keep milk supply steady and enhance the breastfeeding experience. Some cots with a bedside sleeper cot are equipped with adjustable height options that can help both the mother and baby to get into the bassinet to feed or take care of other needs during the night.

A lot of bassinets have mattresses that are firm. This is designed to reduce the risk of suffocation and is in line with the standards of the industry. It is important to support the bones of a newborn because they are still squishy and not fully formed. The mattress should be encased with a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation caused by dust mites and other allergens and kept hygienically clean and free from irritants.

Some cribs for bedside use can be tilted. This is beneficial for babies with digestive or reflux issues. But, it should be done slowly and with caution. It's also important to avoid adding pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet since they could pose a suffocation risk for 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 attached to your existing bed easily without the need of tools. This feature is especially useful for parents who struggle to lift their child into and out of the crib or are concerned about their child rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet does have a secure attachment system it's an excellent idea to periodically make sure it's secure and that there aren't gaps or loose components that could cause danger.

Comfort

If you're expecting your first 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 at night, without the danger of sharing the bed. The newborn bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib which is fixed to the side of your bed, allowing you to safely move them towards you for night feeding and soothing. It also makes the perfect choice for mothers recovering from a c-section because it eliminates the need to bend too much or even to get out of bed.

A modern bedside cot for newborns should have a firm and flat mattress that can promote safe sleeping practices and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be kept simple with just the sheet for the cot and blanket tucked in tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows as these can fall on your baby and cause 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 should be removed as soon as you can once they've gained the strength to pull themselves out of the wrap.

Some bedside cribs feature an option to remove or drop down the side that provides the baby to be easily accessible for feeding and comfort during the middle of the night. This feature is ideal for parents who wish to maintain a close bond with their child while adhering to NHS sleep guidelines. If you're planning to sleep with your child, it's important to be aware that this practice may increase the risk of SIDS. This is particularly the case if a parent falls on their child during sleep.

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 important if you plan to sleep with your newborn because the risk of overheating is higher 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 mattress.