5 Killer Quora Answers On Newborn Bedside Cot

newborn bedside crib with changing table cot (link homepage)

A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows newborns to share a room as their parents without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP recommends against due to SIDS and suffocation). It also makes middle-of-the-night nursing sessions and baby care more convenient.

This sleeper comes with a firm mattress that supports babies backs, reducing the risk of SIDS. It can swivel over your adult bed to allow you to lift your baby for nighttime nursing or cuddles at sunrise.

Budget

A bedside crib, also known as a bassinet or cosleeper is a bassinet type crib for babies that attaches to your bed. This allows you to reach your baby quickly and safely for a nighttime feed, comforting, or cuddles. They are a great choice for new parents or mums recovering from a c-section because they provide the baby with easy access and do not require you to get up.

There are lots of different designs on the market that range from basic models with just a drop-down side to more advanced ones that can be adjusted in a variety of ways, including incline and height options. Many can be converted into a standalone crib when your baby grows older and sleeps longer at night.

One of our favourites 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 commented how stylish and modern the design was. She also appreciated the fact that it could be used as a bassinet or a clip to your existing bed for a safe side-by-side sleep. She also appreciated the soft mattress that was able to pass our test of firmness and the fact that it has an automatic rocking feature that can be adjusted to a slight slope for reflux sufferers.

She wasn't a fan of the fact that it had a non mesh panel at the bottom, and considered it too bulky to move around from room to room. It also felt a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs, especially when it was folded up into its bag for travel.

Size

A bedside cot is the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to the side of the bed. It lets you easily reach your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeding, nappies and comforting. It's ideal for mothers recovering from an o-section.

The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separate from you in the first six month, to reduce the risk of SIDS. A bedside rocking crib crib is a safe way to achieve this as it is low-sided and lets you be able to easily access your baby at night.

It is crucial that your baby sleeps on a firm, not an extremely soft mattress. Babies don't have motor control needed to turn and a mattress that is soft could increase the risk of drowning. The mattress is made of skin-friendly and breathable materials. It's comfortable for your baby, yet firm enough to ensure safety.

Mum Jasmin was happy that the crib didn't occupy too much space in her bedroom and thought it was the ideal size for a baby. The mattress she rated as also of good quality, as opposed to others that feel thin and thin. She also likes the fact that it has a storage area underneath for bedding and clothes which other bassinets don't have.

MFM mom home test Mehack is a huge fan of the side wall that is removable that lets you lower it down for easy access to your infant. She also loves the fact that the legs can be put under the bed to make it look less bulky and occupy less floor space. She's also impressed with how it was simple to move around her home in the event of check-ins and feedings during the night.

The CoZee Air crib is a favourite among parents. It was awarded a Gold Award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It is designed with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib and comes with a large storage bin for your baby's toys, blankets and other essentials. It's also easy to put together and light in weight and portable, which is ideal for traveling with your baby.

Safety

It's important to consider the safety aspect when selecting the right crib for your baby's bed. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies should not be sleeping in the bed of their parents due to the risk of overheating, suffocation and a greater chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets for bedside use allow parents to keep their newborns close, which allows for nighttime feedings as well as monitoring without the need to leave their bed.

This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers by allowing them to take care of their infant's needs without waking up in the middle of the night, which can help to keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some cots for bedside cot used have adjustable height features that will help ensure that the bassinet is an ideal height for mother and baby to allow easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or for care.

Many bassinets come with a firm mattress, which is designed to decrease suffocation risk and meets the standards of the industry. It is essential to support the bones of a newborn as they are still soft and not fully formed. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet to reduce the risk of suffocation caused by dust mites and other allergens, and kept clean and free of irritants.

Some bedside cribs can be tilted. This is useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues. But, it should be done slowly and with care. It is also essential to avoid adding pillows, duvets or crib bumpers to the bassinet since they could pose an obstructing risk to your baby and should only be used when the cot is on flat surfaces.

It's also worth thinking about a bassinet with an attached system that is secure and can be easily attached to your bed without the need for tools. This can be especially helpful for parents who may struggle to lift their baby in and out of the cot, or concerned about the possibility of falling asleep. If your bassinet is equipped with secured attachments, it is a good idea to check it frequently. Make sure there are no gaps and that the system is securely attached.

Comfort

If you're expecting your first child, the comfort of your child is definitely one of your top concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that lets you keep your baby close to you in the evening, without the risk of sharing the bed. The infant bedside cot an essentially a bassinet-style crib which is fixed to the bed's side that allows you to lift them out towards you for feeding at night and calming. It also makes a great choice for mums recovering from a c-section, as it reduces the need to bend over too much or even to get out of bed.

A modern bedside cot for newborns should have a sturdy, flat mattress to help in promoting safe sleeping habits and lower the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be simple and consist of only the sheet for the cot and blanket tucked in tightly at the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys, and pillows that could fall on your baby, posing a suffocation risk. If your baby has been used to being swaddled for several weeks, you can use either an swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, it is recommended that this be removed when they have the strength to take them off.

Some cribs with a bedside feature a removable or drop-down side that allows for easy access to your baby to feed and comfort them during the middle of the night. This is a good feature for parents looking to maintain the bond between them and their child, while adhering to NHS safe sleep advice. If you are planning to sleep with your child, it's important to be aware that this practice may increase the chance of SIDS. This is especially the case if a parent is able to roll their infant over when they are asleep.

A fabric that is breathable is an important safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is particularly important if you plan to sleep with your newborn since the chance of being overheated increases when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 features a unique, breathable side panel that helps improve the airflow and keeps your baby comfortable.