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 practical and space-saving for parents who share a room.
Mumsnetters adore the co-sleeper because it is spacious, with plenty of space for babies to grow and wiggle. It's also bigger than a Moses Basket. It's also easy to assemble and comes with a travel bag.
What is a bedside cot?
Bedside cots (also known as side sleepers, bassinets or co-sleepers) are an effective and safe method for your baby to be close to you during the first few months. These cribs fix to your bed and allow you to lift your baby out towards you to feed them at night or for comforting without the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome that is a result of traditional bed-sharing. They're also a great option for breastfeeding mothers or mums recovering from a caesarean.
These cots are typically smaller than standard cots but they provide plenty of space for your baby to rest. You can pick from a variety of designs and features depending on what your preference is. A lot of cribs for bedside use an adjustable or drop-down side, which makes it easier to reach your baby during feeding time at night. small bedside cot come in various heights based on the size of your bed.
Some cribs for bedside use a riser which allows you to create an incline in the sleeping area. This can help with reflux. They also come with a zip off side to make cleaning easy. Some cribs come with manual rocking options that can provide a relaxing distractor for your infant. You'll require a mattress that's breathable to go with your crib. It should be at least 30cm thick to allow your baby plenty of headroom.
You can be confident that your child will be safe and comfortable in a bedside cot. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi hadid are all fans of SNOO's bedside crib. It is definitely worth a look as an alternative to the Moses basket.
Safety
The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS, has issued official guidelines for safe sleep that advise that babies 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 decrease the risk of suffocation, or sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed lets you keep your infant close to you to help comfort them and night feed them without leaving your bed. This 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 travel cot bedside crib is compact and folds down in seconds to fit into its own bag for travel, which makes it perfect for trips to the beach and nights away from home. It's among the lightest options for a bedside crib and features a comfortable deep foam mattress with mesh panels which allow air to flow. It also has an option for incline. Plus, it won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Moses Basket or Cot Crib.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another fantastic bedside crib. It won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in changing mat and storage solution It weighs just 10kg, and comes with an adjustable side that drops down for easy access.
twin bedside cot for your bed is a blessing for many mums, especially those recovering from C-sections. They are attached to your bed so that you can easily reach your baby without needing to get out of bed and letting you feed them and comfort them quickly. Being close to the baby can also help increase milk production for mothers who are breastfeeding.
Bassinets aren't just functional, but also stylish. This is the reason they're so popular. They are larger than Moses Baskets and some even have additional features like a gentle reflux incline. They're designed to sit next to your bed and can be moved around the house as your baby grows. Some are portable so they're great for parents who travel.
When you are choosing a bedside cot it is important to look for designs that have drop sides that are simple to use. This lets you lower your child into the bassinet, without having to lift them up into your arms. This can be a hassle for mothers with mobility issues. One such model is the Chicco Next2Me Magic which has been praised by Mumsnetters and was shortlisted in our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards' Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category.
Some models also have a translucent side, which allows you to be able to always view your baby. This is especially useful during bleary-eyed 3am feeds where a quick glance can make all the difference. One of these options is the Sleepiest BassiNest, which is easy to lower as noted by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
If you're not ready to move to a full-sized cot, an infant crib on your bed could be a great option. The crib is attached to your bed, so you can easily reach your baby for feedings at night or cuddle them without disturbing yourself. It's also a great choice for those with restricted movement following a C-section, and is a popular choice with celeb mums including Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.
Our Parent Testers loved the new model of this well-loved crib from Chicco that won the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. It's spacious and breathable and comes with six height options to accommodate babies who are growing, and a gentle reflux setting for incline. It can also be used as a travel cot. Additionally, it comes with an easy-to-store storage bag.
It can be a challenge to move an upholstered bedside cot throughout the home, but our Parent Testers reported that the Shnuggle Air beside cot was very easy to maneuver. It's one of the lightest alternatives and is small enough to fit into its own travel bag which means you can carry it with you on your travels.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is another highly rated item that's easy to put together and fold away, with many features for an unwinding night's sleep. It comes with a lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than any other cot and its breathable fabric helps your baby to regulate their temperature. It has a gentle rocking feature and an incline to help with reflux. It's also light enough to be used as a crib for travel when you are on the move. It's more expensive than other bedside cots, but our Parent Testers affirm that it's worth the extra cash.