Five Killer Quora Answers On Newborn Bedside Cot
Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a small sleeper that allows newborns to sleep in the same room as their parents, without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP cautions against due suffocation and SIDS). It makes it easier to care for your baby and give them a bottle during the night.
This mattress has a firm mattress that supports babies backs, reducing the risk of SIDS. It can swivel over the bed of your adult to allow you to carry your child out for midnight cuddles or a sunrise kiss.
Budget
A bedside travel cot crib, also known as a bassinet or cosleeper, is a bassinet style crib for babies that attaches to your bed. This allows you to easily and safely reach your baby for mid-night feeding or cuddles. These are great for mothers and new parents recovering from a csection as they allow easy access to the baby without needing to get out of bed.
There are a variety of designs available, ranging from basic ones with just a drop down side to more sophisticated models that offer multiple adjustment options, including the ability to tilt or raise. The majority of them can be converted to a standalone crib when your baby is older and has a longer sleep time in the night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our favorites. It was nominated in the best bedside cot for newborn Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily said she was impressed by how chic and modern the design is and she was impressed by the fact that you can use it as a regular bassinet, or attach it to a bed for safe side-by-side sleeping. She also appreciated the soft mattress, which was able to pass our test of firmness and the fact that it features a manual rocking feature that can be adjusted to a slight slope for reflux sufferers.
She didn't like that it had a mesh panel on the bottom and thought it was too bulky to move from room to room. It also felt a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs, especially when folded away into its bag for travel.
Size
A bedside cot resembles the bassinet, which is connected to the side of your bed. You can easily reach your baby for feedings, changing nappies or just to soothe them in the middle of the night. It's perfect for mothers who are recovering from the c-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby away from you for the first six month, to decrease the chance of SIDS. The crib that is placed beside your bed, with its low sides is a great way to accomplish this. It allows you to access your baby easily throughout the night.
It's important that your newborn sleeps on a firm bed as it is more secure than a mattress that is soft. Babies don't have motor control to rotate and a soft mattress could increase the chance of being suffocated. The soft, breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress comfortable for your baby but also firm enough for safety.
Mum home tester Jasmin loved that the crib doesn't take up too much space in her bedroom, and she found the size perfect for a newborn. She said the mattress was 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 - something many other bassinets don't.
MFM mom home tester Mehack is a huge fan of the removable side wall that lets you lower it down to give easy access to your infant. She also likes the fact that the legs can be tucked under the bed to make it appear less bulky and take up less floor space. She's also amazed by how easy it is to move around the house when you need to, for convenience during middle-of-the-night feedings and check-ins.
A recipient of an Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice for parents. It is designed with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib and includes a large bedside crib storage basket for toys, blankets and other essentials. It is also light and easy to put together and is ideal for travel with your baby.
Safety
It is crucial to think about the safety aspect when selecting a newborn bedside crib vs cot crib. Official safe sleep advice from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies should not be sleeping in the bed of their parents due to the dangers of suffocation, heat exhaustion and a higher chance of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bassinets that are placed in bed let parents keep their newborn close by and allow for feeding at night and monitoring without the need to leave their bed.
This close proximity can also support breastfeeding mothers, as it lets them attend to the baby's needs while also sleeping. This can help maintain the supply of milk and also encourage breastfeeding. Some cots with a bedside are equipped with adjustable height features that can help to ensure that the bassinet is a comfortable height for both mother and baby, allowing ease of access during feedings or other care.
Many bassinets have mattresses that are firm and designed to reduce the risk of suffocation and is in line with industry standards. It is crucial to support the bones of a newborn, because they are still squishy and are not fully formed. The mattress should be encased in a fitted sheet to minimize the risk of suffocation due to dust mites and other allergens, and kept clean and free from irritants.
Some cribs for bedside use can be tilted. This is helpful for babies suffering from reflux or digestive issues. However, it should be done with care and with caution. Avoid putting pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers in the bassinet. These could create a risk of suffocation for your baby.
It's also worth thinking about an infant bassinet that has an attached system that is secure and can be easily attached to your existing bed without the need for tools. This is particularly beneficial for parents who find it difficult to carry their child into and out of the crib or are concerned about their baby accidentally rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet has secured attachments it is a great idea for you to regularly check it. Make sure there are no gaps and that the system is securely attached.
Comfort
If you're a soon-to-be parent, your baby's safety is one of your primary concerns. Thankfully, there's an innovative sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close to you throughout the night - without any of the dangers that come with bed-sharing. The newborn bedside cot is essentially a bassinet-style cot which is fixed to the bed's side, allowing you to safely lift them out towards you for feeding at night and calming. It's also a great choice for mothers recovering from a C section as it eliminates the need to stand or to bend over.
A modern cot for infants should have a sturdy, flat mattress to help promote safe sleeping practices and decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be kept simple and consist of only the sheet for the cot and blanket that is tightly tucked into the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows as these could fall on your baby and cause suffocation hazard. If your baby is used to being swaddled for a few weeks then you can use an swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, this should be removed when they are strong enough to unwrap them.
Some cribs with a bedside crib that turns into cot have a removable or drop-down side to make it easy for your baby for feedings in the middle of the night and comforting. This is a good option for parents who wish to maintain a strong bond with their child while still following NHS safe sleep guidelines. If you're planning to sleep with your child, it is important to be aware that this practice may increase the risk of SIDS. This is particularly when a parent accidentally falls on their child while sleeping.
A fabric that is breathable will keep your baby comfortable and cool throughout the night. This is especially crucial if you plan to co-sleep your newborn since the risk of being overheated during sleep increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique side panel made of breathable mesh that helps improve airflow and keep your baby snug in their bed.