So You ve Bought Newborn Bedside Cot ... Now What
Newborn small bedside cot Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows babies to share the same room as their parents without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP recommends against due to SIDS and suffocation). It also makes middle-of-the-night nursing sessions and child care simpler.
This sleeper comes with an extremely firm mattress that can support babies backs, reducing the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to raise your baby to cuddle them at sunrise or during nighttime nursing.
Budget
A bedside crib, also known as a bassinet or cosleeper is a bassinet-style crib for babies that attaches to your bed. This lets you easily and safely reach your baby during the night for feeding or comforting cuddles. They are a great choice for mums or new parents recovering from a csection as they offer easy access to baby 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 multiple adjustment options, including the ability to tilt or raise. The majority of them can be converted into an independent crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is around a few months old and is sleeping more at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our favorites. It was selected in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily expressed her delight at how stylish and modern the design is, while she appreciated the fact that you can use it as a regular bassinet or clip it to your existing bed to sleep side-by-side in a safe and secure manner. She also appreciated its luxurious mattress that was able to pass our tests of firmness and also that it comes with an option to manually tilt it for those who suffer from reflux.
She didn't like that it had a non-mesh panel at the bottom and she thought it was too heavy to move around from room to room. When folded into its travel bag, she found it somewhat heavy to carry up the stairs.
Size
A bedside cot resembles the bassinet, which is attached to the side of your bed. It is easy to reach your baby's side for feedings, changing nappies or comforting during the night. It's perfect for mothers recovering from an o-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise you to keep your baby in the same space as you, but separated from you for the first six months as this can help reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). A crib for your bed is a safe method to achieve this as it has low sides and allows you to be able to easily access your baby bedside crib throughout the night.
It is essential that your baby sleeps on a firm and not an extremely soft mattress. A mattress that is soft can increase the risk of suffocation in newborns, since they lack the motor control necessary to turn. The soft, breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress comfortable for your baby, but firm enough for safety.
Mum home tester Jasmin was pleased with the fact that the crib does not take up a lot of space in her bedroom and she found the size to be perfect for a baby. She also said that the mattress was of high-quality unlike other cribs that are thin and fragile. She also appreciates that it has a storage area underneath for clothes and bedding which many bassinets don't have.
MFM mom home test Mehack is a fan of the removable side wall that lets you drop it to make it easier access to your infant. She also likes the fact that legs can be placed under the bed to make it appear less bulky and take up less area on the floor. She is also impressed by how it was easy to move around her house when she needed to for feeds and check-ins in the middle of the night.
The CoZee Air crib is a favorite among parents. It was awarded the Gold Award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a clever design with four pulleys built-in to raise or lower the crib. It also includes a large storage basket for your baby's toys, blankets and other essentials. It's also easy to assemble and light that is great for traveling with your baby.
Safety
It is important to think about the safety aspect when selecting a newborn bedside cot crib crib. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS advise that babies not sleep in the parents bed because of the risk of suffocation as well as sudden infant death syndrome. Bedside bassinets allow parents to keep their infants close, facilitating night time feedings as well as monitoring without the need to leave their bed.
This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers by allowing them to attend to their baby's needs without waking up in the middle of the night and can help maintain milk supply and support the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cots have adjustable height features that will help ensure that the bassinet is an ideal height for mother and baby, allowing easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or care.
Many bassinets come with mattresses that are firm, which is designed to reduce suffocation risk and meets the standards of the industry. This is important because a newborn's bones are soft and not fully developed, and require support to prevent damage. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet to minimize the chance that dust mites, as well as other allergens, will cause a child to be suffocated. It should also be kept clean and free of allergens.
Some bedside cots have the capability of being tilted, which can be useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues, but it should be done with great caution and at a gentle angle. It is also essential to avoid adding pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet since they can create a suffocation risk for your baby. They should only be used when the cot is set on an even surface.
It is also recommended to consider a bassinet that has an attachment system that is secure. It can be attached to your existing bed easily without the use of tools. This feature is especially beneficial for parents who have difficulty lift their child into and out of the crib or are concerned about their child accidentally falling asleep. If your bassinet does have an attachment system that is secure it's a good idea to regularly make sure it's secure and that there are no gaps or loose parts that could cause danger.
Comfort
If you're a parent-to-be and you're worried about the safety of your child is definitely one of your top priorities. There's a new solution to sleep that allows you to keep your baby close at night without the risk of sharing a bed. The infant bedside crib is a bassinet-style cot that can be attached to the side of the bed. It allows you to safely lift your baby out towards you for feedings and soothing. It also makes a great choice for mums recovering from a c-section, since it makes it less necessary to bend down too far or even to get out of the bed.
Modern bedside cots for newborns should be fitted with a firm, flat mattress to encourage safe sleeping practices and reduce the risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The bedding should be simple and consist of only the sheet for the cot and blanket that is tightly tucked into the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows that may be thrown over your baby, creating an obstructive risk. If your baby is used to being swaddled, you can make use of a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag for the initial few weeks, but this should be removed as soon as you can once they've developed the strength to unwrap themselves.
Some cribs for bedside use an option to remove or drop down the side that provides an easy access to your baby for feeding and comfort during the middle of the night. This is a great option for parents who wish to keep a strong bond with their child, but still adhere to NHS safe sleep guidelines. If you are planning to sleep with your child, it's important to be aware that this practice could increase the risk of SIDS. This is especially the case if a parent is able to roll their infant over when they are asleep.
A breathable fabric is another important safety factor, since it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is especially important if you plan to co-sleep with your newborn, as the risk of overheating increases when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 features a unique mesh side panel that is breathable, which helps to improve the airflow and keeps your baby warm in their mattress.