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 is a practical and space-saving option for room-sharing new parents.
Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper as it's spacious, with plenty of space for babies to grow and wriggle. It's also bigger than the Moses Basket. It's also simple to put together and comes with a travel bag.
What is a bedside crib?
A bedside cot (also called a side sleeper, bassinet or co-sleeper) is a secure way for your baby to sleep close to you overnight during their first few months. These cribs are attached to your bed and allow you to raise your baby towards you at night for feeding or comforting without the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as a result of traditional bed sharing. They're also a great choice for breastfeeding mothers or mums recovering from a caesarean.
They're typically smaller than a regular cot or cotbed, yet offer plenty of space for your baby to lay down. You can choose from a variety of designs and features according to what you like best. Many bedside cribs have the option of a drop-down or removable side, which makes it easier to reach your baby for feeding at night. They are also available in different sizes to fit the dimensions of your bed.
Some bedside cribs have an adjustable riser that allows you to create an angle to the sleeping area. This can be helpful with reflux. They also come with a zip off side to make cleaning easy. Other cribs have manual rocking functions which can be a soothing distraction for your infant. You'll also require a breathable mattress for your new crib. It must be at least 30cm deep to ensure that your newborn has enough headroom.
You can be sure that your child will be comfortable and safe in a bedside cot. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams, and Gigi Hadid are all big 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 safe sleeping guidelines which recommend that babies are in the same room as their parents for the first six months. However they shouldn't sleep in your bed. This is to lower the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. A bedside crib lets you keep your infant close to you so that you can soothe them to sleep and even feed them at night without having to leave your bed. It's also ideal if you have limited mobility after an operation or are recovering from C-section.
4-in-1 bedside crib for a bedside crib, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 bedside crib for travel is small and folds flat in a matter of seconds to fit into its own bag for travel, so it's perfect for holidays and nights away from home. It's one of the tiniest bedside cot options and has an extremely comfortable mattress, air-flow panels and an tilt setting, and it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another great bedside crib option. It won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has built-in storage and a changing mat, is light (only 10kg) and features an adjustable side that allows for easy access.
Style
A crib for your bed is a blessing for many moms, particularly those recovering from C-sections. They are attached to your bed so that you can easily reach your baby without needing to get up in order to feed them and soothe them quickly. bedside cosleeper for breastfeeding mothers since close proximity can boost the amount of milk they produce.
These bassinets are not only convenient but also stylish. This is why they're so popular. They're typically more spacious than Moses baskets and come in lots of different styles, some having additional features, like a soft reflux incline setting. They're designed to fit right next to your bed and can be moved around the house as your baby grows. Some are portable, which means they're ideal for parents who travel.
When choosing a bedside cot, it's important to look for designs with drop sides that are easy to use. This allows you to lower your infant into the bassinet without lifting 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 highly praised by Mumsnetters and was shortlisted in our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot Crib, Moses or Crib Basket category.
Some models also come with a transparent side, which allows you to always see your baby. This is especially useful when you are tired and sleepy, when one glance could make all the difference. One such option is the Sleepiest BassiNest, which is easy to lower as noted by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
A bedside crib is a great option if you are not yet ready to upgrade to a bigger crib. This bassinet-style cot attaches to the side of your bed so that you can easily reach your baby for evening feeds and also comfort them without disturbing your sleep. It's a great choice for those with restricted movement after an operation such as a C-section. Celebrity moms such as Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen it.
Our Parents Testers loved this new version of the bestselling Chicco crib, which was awarded the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot or Crib. It is spacious and breathable, and comes with six different height settings for babies who are growing. There is also a soft reflux setting. It can also be used as a travel cot and it comes with a handy storage bag.
It can be a challenge to move an upholstered bedside cot throughout the house However, our Parents Testers stated that the Shnuggle Air beside cot was very easy to move. It's one of the lightest options and is small enough to fit in its own travel bag, which means you can take it with you on your travels.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is a highly rated item that's easy to fold and assemble, with many features for an unwinding night's sleep. It has a removable, lift-off bassinet which fits more beds than other cots. The fabric is breathable, and helps to regulate your baby's temperature. It features a soft rocking feature as well as an incline to aid in reflux. It's also light enough to be used as a crib for travel when you are on the move. It's a bit more expensive than other bedside cots but our Parent Testers believe it's worth the extra cash.