How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk
Official safety sleeping guidelines from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own crib or Moses basket. A bedside crib can be a space-saving and practical option for parents who live in a room together.
Mumsnetters adore the co-sleeper because it is spacious, with plenty of room for baby's to grow and play. It's also bigger than the Moses Basket. It's also simple to put together and comes with a bag for travel.
What is a bedside cot?
Bedside cribs (also called bassinets, side sleepers, or co-sleepers) are an effective and safe method for your baby to sleep near you in the first few months. These cribs are attached to your bed, allowing you to lift your child towards you for night-feeding or comforting. They're also a great option for breastfeeding mothers or mothers recovering from a Caesarean section.
They're often slightly smaller than a regular cot, but they provide ample space for your baby to lay down. You can pick from a variety of styles and features depending on your preferences. A majority of cribs for bedside use a drop down or removable side, which makes it easier to reach your baby's night feeds and are also available in various sizes to fit the dimensions of your bed.
Some cribs for bedside use an adjustable riser that allows you to add a slight rise to the sleep space which can aid in reflux and the ability to zip off the sides for easy cleaning. Some cribs feature manual rocking options that can be a soothing distractor for your infant. You'll require a mattress that's air-conditioned to match your crib. It must be at least 30cm in depth to give your baby enough headroom.
A bedside cot is an investment, but you can be certain that your baby will have a peaceful and safe night's sleep. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams, and Gigi hadid are all fans of SNOO's crib for babies. It is definitely worth considering as an alternative to a Moses basket.
Safety
The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS has issued official guidelines for safe sleep that recommend that newborns sleep in the same bedroom as their parents for the first six months. However they should not be sleeping in your bed. This is to reduce the chance of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome. A crib for bed lets you keep your baby close to help comfort them and night feed them without leaving your bed. It is also a great option for when you are recovering from an operation or C-section, and have limited mobility.
Our top pick for a bedside cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 bedside crib for travel is small and folds flat in seconds to fit into a travel bag making it ideal for travel and nights away from home. It's among the lightest bedside cots available and comes with a the most comfortable deep foam mattress, air-flow panels, an optional tilting setting, and it was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Crib, Cot, or Moses Basket.
Another fab bedside cot option is the Chicco Next2me Magic bedside crib which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in storage solution and changing mat, is light (only 10kg) and comes with an adjustable side that allows for easy access.
Style
A bedside crib is a blessing for many moms, particularly those who are recovering from C-sections. They can be attached to your bed so you can easily reach your baby without having to get out of bed in order to feed them and soothe them quickly. The close proximity to the baby can also aid in increasing the production of milk for mothers who breastfeed.
In addition to being extremely practical, these bassinets are elegant and that's why they're so sought-after. They're typically more spacious than Moses baskets and are available in many different styles, with some featuring extra features, like a soft tilt to the reflux. They're designed to sit close to your bed and can be moved around the house as baby grows. foldable bedside crib are portable, which means they're great for parents who travel.
When you are choosing a bedside cot, it's important to look for designs that have drop sides that are simple to use. co sleeper bedside cot allows you to lower your child into the bassinet, without lifting them up into your arms. This can be a challenge for mothers with limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of these models that has been highly praised and was shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of the best Cot or Crib Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.
Some models also have a transparent side, which allows you to be able to always view your baby. This is especially helpful when you're exhausted at 3am and need to feed your baby. A quick glance could make a huge difference. One of these options is the Sleepiest BassiNest that is easy to lower, as was noted by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
If you're not quite ready to move to a larger cot, an infant crib on your bed could be the perfect solution. The bassinet-style crib can be attached to your bed, so you can easily reach your baby to feed them at night or even comfort them without causing any disturbance to yourself. It's also a great choice for those who suffer from restricted movement following an operation, and is a popular option for celeb moms like Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.
Our Parents Testers loved the new model of this well-loved crib from Chicco that won the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It's large and breathable, and has six height settings to accommodate growing babies and a gentle reflux setting for the incline. It can also be used as a travel crib and comes with a handy storage case.
It can be a challenge to move an upholstered bedside cot throughout the house, but our Parents Testers said that the Shnuggle Air next to the cot was simple to move. It's among the lightest options and is small enough to fit into its own travel bag which means you can take it along with you on your trip.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is another highly rated item that's easy to put together and fold away with plenty of features for an unwinding night's sleep. It has a removable, adjustable bassinet that lifts off, which can fit more beds than other cots. The fabric is breathable and can help keep your baby's temperature in check. It features a soft rocking feature and an incline to aid in reflux. It is also lightweight enough to be used as a crib for travel when you're out and about. It's a little more expensive than other cots for bed however our Parents Testers say it's well worth the extra cash.