Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside crib is a tiny sleeper that lets babies sleep in the same room as their parents, without the dangers of co-sleeping. (The AAP warns against this due to the risk of SIDS and the risk of suffocation.) It makes it easier to take care of your baby and nurse them throughout the night.
This sleeper has an extremely firm mattress that can support babies' backs, reducing the chance of SIDS. It can slide over the bed of your adult to allow you to get your baby for nighttime nursing or sunrise cuddles.
Budget
A bedside crib, also referred to as a bassinet or co-sleeper is a bassinet type baby cot that clips to your existing bed. This allows you to safely and easily reach your baby during the night for feeding or comforting cuddles. They are a great choice for new parents or mums recovering from a csection as they offer the baby with easy access and do not require you to get out of bed.
There are bedside crib or cot of styles that are available, from the simple ones with an upside-down side to more sophisticated ones that offer various adjustment options, such as the ability to tilt or raise. The majority of them can be converted into a separate crib for naps during the day or when your baby is a few months old and is sleeping more at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our favorites. It was selected 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 appreciated the fact that it could be used as a bassinet or attached to your existing bed, to ensure safe side-by-side sleeping. She also adored its soft mattress, which passed our firmness tests, and that it has a manual inclining function for those who suffer from reflux.
She didn't like that it had a non mesh panel at the bottom, and she thought it was too heavy to move from room to room. When it was folded into its travel bag she found it to be a bit heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot is basically an upholstered bassinet that is fixed to your side of the bed. You can easily reach your baby's mouth to feed them, change nappies, or to comfort them in the middle of the night. It's also great for moms recovering from a C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise you to keep your baby in the same room as you, but separated from you for the first six months, since this will help decrease the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The bedside crib, with its low sides, is a great method to do this. It lets you be able to easily access your baby during the night.
It's important that your newborn sleeps on a firm bed as it is safer than a mattress that is soft. A soft mattress can increase the risk of suffocation for infants as they lack the motor control necessary to turn. The breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress comfortable for your baby but also sufficiently firm to be safe for your baby.
Mum Jasmin was happy that the crib didn't occupy too much space in her room and found it to be the perfect size for a newborn. She also said that the mattress was also good quality, unlike others that feel thin and thin. She also likes the fact that it has a storage space beneath for bedding and clothes which many bassinets don't.
MFM mom home tester Mehack is a big fan of the side wall with a removable design that lets you lower it down for easy access to your infant. She also likes the fact that legs can be placed under the bed to make it look less bulky and take up less floor space. She's also impressed with how it was easy to move around her home when she needed to do checks and feedings in the middle of the night.
The CoZee Air crib is a favourite among parents. It won the Gold Award in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards. It is a clever design with four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. There's also an enormous basket that can be used to store toys, blankets, and other essentials. It is also lightweight and easy to put together, making it ideal for travel with your baby.
Safety
It is important to think about safety when choosing the right crib for your baby's bed. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS, recommend that babies not be placed in parents bed due to the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome. Bedside bassinets enable parents to keep their newborns close to them, facilitating nighttime feedings as well as monitoring without the need to get out of bed.
This close proximity can help breastfeeding mothers as it allows them to attend to the needs of their infant while also sleeping. This can help to maintain the supply of milk and also encourage breastfeeding. Some cots for bedside use adjustable height features that can help the mother and child to reach the bassinet for feedings or other activities during the night.
Many bassinets are equipped with a firm mattress, which is designed to reduce the risk of suffocation, and also meets the standards of the industry. This is important because a newborn's bones are soft and aren't fully developed. They need to be supported to prevent damage. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet to decrease the risk that dust mites or other allergens, can cause a child to be suffocated. It should also be kept clean and free of irritants.
Some cribs for bedside use can be tilted. This is useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues. But, it should only be done gently and with care. It's also important to stay clear of adding pillows, duvets or crib bumpers to the bassinet as they can create an obstructing risk to your baby and should only be used when the cot is set on a flat surface.
It's also worth thinking about an adjustable bassinet with an attachment system that is secure and can be easily fixed to your existing bed without the need for tools. This feature is especially useful for parents who find it difficult to get their child in and out of the crib or are concerned about their child rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet does have an attachment system that is secure it's an excellent idea to periodically ensure that it's securely secured and that there aren't gaps or loose components which could cause danger.
Comfort
If you're a soon-to-be parent, the comfort of your child is among your top concerns. Thankfully, there's an innovative sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close to you throughout the night without taking on any of the risks associated with bed-sharing. The infant bedside cot basically a bassinet-style cot which is fixed to the bed's side and allows you to lift them out towards you to feed them at night and soothe. It also makes an excellent choice for mothers recovering from a c-section since it makes it less necessary to bend down too far or even take a step out of the bed.
A modern newborn bedside cot should have a firm, flat mattress to help promote safe sleeping practices and lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Bedding should be simple with a cot sheet and blanket tucked tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows as these could be thrown over your baby and create a danger of suffocation. If your baby is familiar with being swaddled, you can make use of a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, however it should be removed as soon as you can once they've gained the strength to take off their wraps.
Some cribs for bedside use an option to remove or drop down the side that allows for the baby to be easily accessible for feeding and comfort in the middle of the night. This is a wonderful option for parents who wish to maintain a strong bond with their child, while adhering to NHS safe sleep guidelines. However, if you're planning to sleep in the same bed with your child it's important to know that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS particularly in the event that a parent rolls onto their infant during sleep.
A fabric that is breathable will keep your baby cool and cool throughout the night. This is especially important if you intend to sleep with your newborn, because the risk of overheating during sleep increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique breathable mesh side panel, which helps to improve the flow of air and keep your baby warm in their bed.