20 Myths About Best Bedside Cot Uk: Busted

How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk

Official guidelines for safe sleep 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 the co-sleeper as it is spacious, with plenty of space for babies to grow and wriggle. It is also much larger than a Moses Basket. It's also easy to put together and comes with a bag for travel.

What is a bedside cot?

A bedside baby bed cot (also known as a bassinet, side sleeper or co-sleeper) is a safe way for your baby to sleep close to you overnight during the first few months of their life. These cribs are attached to your bed and let you lift your baby out towards you at night for feeding or comforting without the threat of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome associated with traditional bed-sharing. They're also a great option for breastfeeding mothers or mothers recovering from a Caesarean section.

They're typically smaller than a regular cot or cotbed, but offer plenty of space for your baby to lay down. You can choose from a wide range of designs and features according to what your preference is. A lot of cribs with a bedside feature a drop down or removable side that allows you to reach your baby for feeding at night. They are available in a variety of heights to accommodate the size of your bed.

Some cribs for bedside use an adjustable riser that allows you to create an incline to the sleeping area. This can be helpful with reflux. They also have an open side to make cleaning easy. Others have manual rocking functions that can provide a relaxing distraction for your infant. You'll need a mattress that is breathable to go with your crib. It should be at least 30cm deep to give your baby enough headroom.

A bedside crib or cot crib is a major investment, but you can rest assured that your baby will have a peaceful and safe night's sleep. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams, and Gigi hadid are all fans of SNOO's bedside crib. It is definitely worth a look as an alternative to the Moses basket.

Safety

Official safe sleeping guidelines from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that newborns be in the same room as you during the first six months, but not in your bed, to decrease the risk of suffocation, and to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed lets you keep your baby close to soothe them to sleep and feed them at night without having to leave your bed. It's also ideal when you are unable to move after an operation or are recovering from C-section.

Our top choice for a bedside cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib (next) is compact and folds flat in seconds to fit into its own travel bag making it ideal for travel and nights away from home. It's one the lightest options for a bedside crib and features a comfortable deep foam mattress with mesh panels that allow air to flow. It also comes with an incline option that can be added. Plus, it won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Cot Crib or Moses basket.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another fantastic bedside crib. It was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It comes with a built-in changing mat and storage solutions and weighs only 10kg. It is light at 10kg, and comes with an adjustable side that drops down for easy access.

Style

For many mums, particularly those recovering from a C-section A crib that is placed near the bed can be a blessing in disguise. They attach to your bed so you can reach your baby easily without needing to get up and letting you feed them and soothe them quickly. They are also a great choice for breastfeeding mothers since their close proximity will help boost the amount of milk they produce.

Bassinets aren't just practical, but also fashionable. This is why they're so popular. Some are more spacious than Moses Baskets and some come with additional features like a gentle reflux and incline. They are designed to fit next to your bed and can be moved around the home as baby grows. Some are portable, so they're great for parents who travel.

When selecting a cot for your bedside, it's important to select a model with drop sides that are easy to use. This lets you lower your child into the bassinet, without lifting them up into your arms. This can be difficult for mothers with mobility issues. One of these models is the Chicco Next2Me Magic which has been praised by Mumsnetters and was shortlisted in our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards' Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category.

Another useful feature that a few models come with is a translucent side that allows you to be able to see your baby at all times. This is especially helpful when you are groggy at 3am and have to feed your baby. A quick glance can make a huge difference. As mentioned by Emily, our MFM home tester, the Sleepiest BassiNest is a great option. It is simple to lower.

Budget

If you're not ready to make the leap to a larger cot, the bedside co sleeper cot crib could be a great option. The bassinet-style crib is attached to the bed's side to allow you to easily reach your baby for night feeds and comfort them without disturbing your own sleep. It's a great choice for those who have limited movement following a C-section. Celebrity moms such as Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen it.

Our Parents Testers loved the new version of the well-loved Chicco crib, which was awarded the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the best bedside cots Cot or Crib. It's large and breathable, and comes with six height settings to accommodate growing babies, and a gentle reflux incline setting. You can also use it as a travel cot, and it comes with a handy storage bag.

It can be difficult to move a bedside crib co sleeper cot around the house, but our Parent Testers said that the Shnuggle Air next to the cot was easy to maneuver. It's one of the smallest options and compact enough to fit into its own travel bag, which means you can take it with you on your travels.

The SnuzPod is another highly-rated bedside cot that's simple to put together and fold away, with plenty of features for an enjoyable night's sleep. It has a removable lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than any other cot and its breathable fabric can help your baby to regulate their temperature. It also has a soft rocking function, as well as an incline setting for reflux, and is lightweight enough to be used as a travel cot if you're on the move. It's a little more expensive than other cribs for bed however, Parent Testers agree that it's worth the extra cost.