How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk
Both the NHS and Lullaby Trust have issued official safe sleeping guidelines that suggest that infants sleep in their own Moses basket or cot. A crib that is placed near the bed can be practical and space-saving for parents who share a room.
Mumsnetters adore the co-sleeper because it's spacious, with plenty of room for baby's to grow and wiggle. It's also larger than a Moses Basket. It's also easy to put together, and comes with a carry bag.
What is a bedside cot?
A bedside cot (also called a bassinet, side sleeper or co-sleeper) is a secure way for your newborn to sleep near you during their first few months. These cribs fix to your bed and let you raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or for comforting without the threat of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome associated with traditional bed-sharing. They're also a great choice for mothers who are breastfeeding or recovering from a caesarean.
These cots are often a little smaller than standard cots, but still offer plenty of room for your baby to rest. You can choose from different styles and features based on your preferences. Many bedside cribs come with the option of removing or dropping down the side that makes it easier to reach your baby during the night to feed them. They are also available in different heights, based on your bed size.
Some cribs for bedside use a riser which allows you to create an angle to the sleeping area. This can aid in reducing reflux. They also come with an open side to make cleaning easy. Some cribs have manual rocking options that can be a soothing distraction for your baby. You'll also require a comfortable mattress to match your crib. It must be at least 30cm deep to ensure that your newborn has enough headroom.
You can rest assured that your baby will be comfortable and safe in a bedside cot. With stars like Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all being fans of the SNOO bedside crib, it's definitely worth considering this fashionable alternative to moses basket.
Safety
The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS has released official safe sleeping guidelines that advise that babies are in the same room as their parents for the first six months. However they should not be sleeping in your bed. This is to lower the risk of suffocation, or sudden infant death syndrome. A bedside crib lets you keep your baby close to you to calm them down and even feed them at night without leaving your bed. It's also great for those who have a limited mobility following an operation or recovering from a C-section.
Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3 in 1 travel cot bedside Crib is our top pick for a crib to sleep in. It's compact and folds down flat to fit in its bag for travel and is perfect for holidays or nights away from home. It's one of the tiniest bedside cot options and has an extremely comfortable 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.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another excellent bedside crib. It was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in changing mat and storage solutions and weighs only 10kg. It is light at 10kg, and has an adjustable side that slides down to make it easy to access.
Style
For a lot of moms, especially those who are recovering from C-sections A crib that is placed near the bed could prove to an absolute blessing. You can easily reach your baby without getting out of your bed. This allows you to soothe and feed your infant at night. The close proximity to your baby can also help increase the amount of milk produced by mothers who are breastfeeding.
As well as being incredibly practical, these bassinets can also look stylish too and that's why they're so popular. They're typically larger than Moses baskets and come in lots of different styles, some having additional features such as a gentle tilting of the reflux. They are designed to fit right next to your bed and can be moved around the house as baby grows. Some are portable, so they're great for parents who travel.
It's important to choose an cot with bedside that is easy to use drop-sides. These let you lower your infant into the bassinet without needing to lift them into your arms, which can be difficult for mums who have limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of the models that has been highly praised and was shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of Best Cot or Crib Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
Some models also come with a transparent side, allowing you to be able to always view your baby. This is especially helpful when you are tired and sleepy where one glance could make all the difference. One such option is the Sleepiest BassiNest, which is simple to lower, as noted by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
If you're still not ready to make the transition to a larger cot, a bedside crib may be a great option. The cot is attached to the side of your bed so you can easily reach your baby for evening feeds and also comfort them without disrupting your sleep. It's also a great option for those with restricted movement following a C-section and is a popular option for celeb moms like Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.
Our Parents Testers loved the new version of this well-loved crib from Chicco which was awarded the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. It's large and breathable, and comes with six different height settings suitable for growing babies. There is also a gentle reflux setting. bedside cot wooden cots4tots can be used as a crib for travel and comes with a storage case that is convenient for storage.
A bedside crib can be tricky to move around the home, but our Parents Testers found the Shnuggle Air on the side of the crib easy to move around. It's one of the smallest alternatives and is small enough to fit in its own travel bag which means you can take it along with you on your trip.
The SnuzPod is another highly rated bedside cot that's easy to put together and fold away and packed with features to ensure a good night's sleep. It comes with a removable, lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than other cots. The fabric is breathable and can help regulate your baby's temperature. It has a gentle rocking feature, as well as an incline for reflux. It is also lightweight enough to use as a crib for travel when you're on the move. It's a bit more expensive than other bedside cots but our Parent Testers affirm that it's worth the extra cash.