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 love this co-sleeper because it's spacious with lots of room for babies to grow and wriggle and far more substantial than the size of a Moses basket. It's also easy to assemble and comes with a bag for travel.
What is a bedside cot?
bedside cot reviews cribs (also known as bassinets, side sleepers, or co-sleepers) are an effective and safe method for your baby to sleep near you during the first few months. These cribs are attached to your bed and let you lift your child to you to feed them at night or for comforting. These cribs are also ideal for mothers who are breastfeeding or recovering from a Cesarean Section.
They're often slightly smaller than a standard cot, but provide plenty of space for your baby to rest. You can choose from a variety of styles and features, depending on what you prefer. Many bedside cribs have a drop down or removable side, which makes it easier to reach your baby for night feeds and are also available in different sizes to fit the dimensions of your bed.
Some bedside cribs have a riser which allows you to add an angle to the sleep area. This can be helpful with reflux. They also come with a zip off side for easy cleaning. Some have manual rocking features which can be a soothing distraction for your infant. You'll need a mattress that is breathable to go with your crib. It should be at least 30cm thick to allow your baby plenty of headroom.
You can be sure that your baby will be safe and secure in a cot that is positioned at the
bedside cot newborn. With stars like Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all being fans of the SNOO bedside crib, it's definitely worth looking into this elegant alternative to a moses basket.
Safety
The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS has issued official safe sleeping guidelines which recommend that babies stay in the same bedroom as their parents for the first six months. However, they should not sleep in your bed. This is to decrease the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. A bedside crib is an excellent option that lets your baby safely be close enough for you to night feed them and help them return to sleep without needing to leave your own bed. It's also a great option if you are recovering from an operation or C-section and have limited mobility.
Our top choice for a bedside cot the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1
travel cot bedside crib is small and folds flat in seconds to fit into its own travel bag so it's perfect for holidays and nights away from home. It's one of the tiniest bedside cot options and has a comfy deep foam mattress, air-flow panels and an tilting setting, and it was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Crib, Cot, or Moses Basket.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another great
bedside cot crib crib option. It won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in changing mat and storage system, is lightweight at 10kg, and has an adjustable side that can be lowered down to make it easy to access.
Style
A bedside crib can be a lifesaver for many mothers, particularly those recovering from C-sections. You can easily reach your baby without having to get out of your bed. This lets you soothe and feed your infant during the night. The close proximity to your baby can also increase milk production for mothers who are breastfeeding.
In addition to being extremely convenient, these bassinets can look pretty stylish too which is the reason they're so sought-after. They are larger than Moses Baskets and some even have additional features like a gentle reflux incline. Designed to fit by your bed, they are able to be moved around your home when the baby grows older. Additionally, some are portable enough to take with you on the go making them perfect for new parents travelling.
When choosing a bedside cot it is important to choose a model that have easy-to-use drop sides. This allows you to lower your infant into the bassinet without having to lift them up into your arms. This can be difficult for mothers who have limited mobility. One of them 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, allowing you to see your baby. This is especially useful when you're exhausted at 3am and you need to feed your child. A quick glance could make a huge difference. One of these options is the Sleepiest BassiNest that is easy to lower, as outlined by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
If you're not quite ready to make the leap to a full-sized cot, the bedside crib could be a great option. The bassinet-style crib is attached to the bed's side so you can easily reach your baby for feedings at night and soothe them without disrupting your sleep. It's an excellent choice for those with restricted movement following a C-section. Celebrity moms like Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen this model.
Our Parents Testers loved this latest version of the popular Chicco crib, which took home the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Cot or Crib. It is spacious comfortable, breathable, and comes with six different height settings suitable for growing babies. There is also a gentle reflux setting. It can also be used as a travel cot and it comes with an excellent storage bag.
A bedside crib can be difficult to move around the home however our Parent Testers found the Shnuggle Air beside crib really easy to maneuver. It is one of the lightest options and can be packed into its own
travel cot bedside crib bag.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is another highly rated product that's easy to assemble and fold, 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 can help keep your baby's temperature in check. It also has a gentle rocking feature and an incline setting to help with reflux, and is lightweight enough to be used as a travel cot if you're out and about. It's a bit more expensive than other cribs for bed but Parents Testers agree that it's worth the extra expense.