7 Things About Newborn Bedside Cot You'll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing
Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows new babies to share a room as their parents, without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP recommends against due to SIDS and suffocation). It helps you care for your baby and give them a bottle during the night.
This mattress is a firm mattress that can support the backs of babies and minimize the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to lift your baby to snuggle them at sunrise or for late night nursing.
Budget
A bedside crib, also known as a co-sleeper or bassinet, is a bassinet style crib that can be attached to your bed. This allows you to reach your baby comfortably and safely for a nighttime feed, comforting, or cuddles. They are a great choice for mothers or new parents recovering from a c-section as they allow the baby with easy access and don't require you to get up.
There are many different designs that are available, from the basic ones with just a drop down side to more sophisticated models that have numerous adjustment options, like an incline or a height. The majority of them can be converted to a separate crib when your baby is older and has a longer sleep time in the night.
One of our top picks is the Maxi-Cosi Lora which was nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards, including the categories of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. MFM home tester Emily expressed her delight at how stylish and modern the design, while she appreciated the feature that you can use it as a regular bassinet or connect it onto your bed for safe side-by-side sleeping. She also adored its soft mattress that was able to pass our tests of firmness and it also has an option to manually tilt it for those who suffer from reflux.
However, she didn't like the feature of a non-mesh panel on the lower end, and thought it was a bit bulky to move from room room often. When it was folded into its travel bag she found it to be somewhat heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot is the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to the side of the bed. It allows you to reach your baby for mid-night feeding, nappies and comforting. It's great for mothers who are recovering from a c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you keep your baby in the same space as you, but keep them separate from you for the first six months because this will reduce the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The bedside crib, with its low sides is a great way to achieve this. It lets you access your baby easily at night.
It is essential that your baby sleeps on a firm, not an extremely soft mattress. A mattress that is soft increases the risk of suffocation for newborns, as they lack the motor control necessary to turn. This mattress is made of skin-friendly and breathe-able materials. It's comfortable for your baby, yet firm enough to ensure safety.
Mum Jasmin was happy that the crib didn't take up the entire space in her room and found it to be the ideal size for a baby. She also said that the mattress was also good quality, unlike others that feel thin and thin. She also appreciates that it has a storage area beneath for bedding and clothes which many bassinets do not have.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM mother who has tested the product at home, loves that you can take off the wall on the side to allow easier access to your baby. She also likes the fact that the legs tuck into the bed so it doesn't look heavy or take up a lot of floor space. She's also impressed with how easy it is to move around the house as you need to for ease during late-night meals and check-ins.
A recipient of a Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards The CoZee Air is a popular choice for parents. It features a unique design with four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. It also comes with an enormous basket that can be used to store blankets, toys and other necessities. It is also lightweight and easy to assemble and is ideal for traveling with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a baby's bedside cot, you must keep the safety of your baby in your mind. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies do not be sleeping in the bed of their parents due to the dangers of suffocation, heat exhaustion and a greater chance of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bedside bassinets allow parents to keep their babies close, facilitating night time feedings as well as monitoring without needing to leave their bed.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers by allowing them to attend to the needs of their infant without having to get up in the middle of the night and help keep milk supply steady and enhance the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cots have adjustable height features, which will help ensure that the bassinet is a comfortable height for both mother and baby to allow ease of access during feedings or other care.
Many bassinets have a firm mattress that is designed to minimize the chance of suffocation and conforms to industry standards. It is crucial to provide support for the bones of a newborn, as they are still soft and are not fully formed. The mattress should be covered with an appropriate sheet to decrease the risk that dust mites, as well as other allergens, could suffocate a child. It must also be kept clean and free of allergens.
Some cots with a bedside have the ability to be tilted. This can be beneficial for babies suffering from reflux or digestive issues, but it should be done with a lot of care and at a gentle angle. Avoid placing pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers in the bassinet. These could create the risk of suffocation your baby.
It is also recommended to consider an infant bassinet with an attachment system that is secure. It can be connected to your bed without the need for tools. This feature is especially useful for parents who struggle to lift their child into and out of the crib or are worried about their baby accidentally rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet is equipped with an attachment that is secure it is a good idea to check it regularly. Make sure there are no gaps, and that the system is securely connected.
Comfort
If you're expecting your first child, the comfort of your baby is surely one of your main concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that allows you to keep your baby close at night, without the danger of sharing the bed. The baby bedside cot is essentially a bassinet-style cot which is fixed to the bed's side that allows you to take them away for night feeding and soothing. It also makes a great choice for mums recovering from a c-section as it reduces the need to bend down too far or even to get out of bed.
A modern newborn bedside cot should have a firm and flat mattress that can promote safe sleeping practices and decrease the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be simple, with a cot sheet and a blanket tightly tucked on the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys and pillows that could fall on your baby, posing the risk of suffocation. If your baby is used to being swaddled for a few weeks then you can use the swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, it is recommended that this be removed after they are strong enough to take them off.
Some cribs for bedside use an option to remove or drop down the side that allows for an easy access to your baby to feed and comfort them in the middle of the night. This feature is ideal for parents who wish to maintain a close bond with their child but still adhere to NHS guidelines on sleep. If you are planning to sleep with your child, it's important to know that this practice could increase the chance of SIDS. This is particularly the case if a parent is able to roll their infant over when they are asleep.
bedside crib travel will keep your baby comfy and cool throughout the night. This is particularly important if you plan to sleep with your newborn, since the risk of being overheated when sleeping increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique mesh side panel that is breathable that aids in improving the flow of air and keep your baby comfortable in their mattress.