20 Tips To Help You Be Better At Newborn Bedside Cot
Newborn Bedside Cot
A newborn bedside cot is a tiny sleeper that allows babies to share a room as their parents without the dangers of co-sleeping (which the AAP advises against due to suffocation and SIDS). It makes it easier to take care of your baby and give them a bottle in the middle of the night.
This sleeper features a firm mattress to support the backs of babies and decrease the chance of SIDS. It can be rotated over your adult bed to carry your baby to the top to snuggle them at sunrise or for late night nursing.
Budget
A bedside baby sleeper cot, sometimes referred to as a co-sleeper is a bassinet-style baby cot that clips or 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 option for new parents or mums recovering from a csection as they allow easy access to baby and don't require you to get up.
There are many different designs available, ranging from basic ones with just an upside-down side to more sophisticated ones with multiple adjustment options, including incline or height. The majority of them can be converted into an independent crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is a few months old and is sleeping more at night.
Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our favorites. It was nominated 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 and she was impressed by the possibility of using it as a regular bassinet or connect it to a bed for safe side-by-side sleeping. She also liked the plush mattress that passed our firmness test and also the fact that it features an automatic rocking feature that can be set to a slight incline for those suffering from reflux.
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 from room to room. It also felt a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs once folded away into its bag for travel.
Size
A bedside cot is essentially the bassinet style cot that can be fixed to your side of the bed. It's easy to reach your baby's mouth for feedings, changing nappies, or to comfort them during the night. It's also great for mothers recovering from the C-section.
The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same room as you, but separated from you for the first six months, as this can help reduce the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). A crib that is placed near your bed is a safe method to achieve this because it is low-sided and allows you to easily reach your baby throughout the night.
It is important that your baby sleeps on a firm, not a soft mattress. Infants don't have the motor control needed to turn and a mattress that is soft can increase the risk of drowning. This mattress is made of skin-friendly and air-tight materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby, yet sufficient to be secure.
Mum home test Jasmin liked that this crib does not take up a lot of space in her bedroom, and she found the size perfect for a newborn. She also said that the mattress was excellent quality, in contrast to those that feel cheap and thin. She also appreciates that it has a storage space beneath for blankets and clothes which she believes many bassinets don't have.
Mehack, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, loves that you can remove the wall on the side to allow easier access to your baby. She also loves that legs slide into the bed so it doesn't look heavy or take up too much floor space. She is also impressed by how it was simple to move around her house in the event of feeds and check-ins during the night.
A winner of the Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards and the CoZee Air is a popular choice for parents. It features a smart design with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib and comes with a Large bedside Crib storage bin to store your baby's toys, blankets and other essentials. It's also simple to put together and lightweight that is great for traveling with your baby.
Safety
When choosing a baby's bedside cots for newborns cot, it is important to keep the safety aspect in mind. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS, recommend that babies don't sleep in their parents bed due to the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bassinets that are placed in bed let parents keep their infant close, facilitating feeding at night as well as monitoring and comforting without having to get up from their beds.
This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to the needs of their infant without waking up in the middle of the night and can help maintain milk supply and support the breastfeeding experience. Some cots for bedside use adjustable height features that make it easier for both the mother and baby to get into the bassinet to feed or take care of other needs during the night.
A majority of bassinets come with a firm mattress that is designed to reduce the risk of suffocation and meets industry standards. It is important to provide support for the bones of a newborn as they are still soft and are not fully formed. The mattress should be encased with a fitted sheet to minimize the risk of suffocation from dust mites or other allergens and kept hygienically clean and free of allergens.
Some cribs for bedside crib travel cot use can be tilted. This is beneficial for babies with digestive or reflux issues. However, this should be done slowly and with caution. It's also important to avoid adding pillows, duvets or crib bumpers to the bassinet, as they could pose an obstructing risk to your baby and should only be used when the cot is set on a flat surface.
You should also consider the bassinet with a secure attachment system. This can be attached to your existing bed easily without the need of tools. This is especially beneficial for parents who struggle to lift their child in and out of the cot or who are concerned about falling asleep. If your bassinet is equipped with a secure attachment system, it's recommended to regularly make sure it's secure and that there aren't gaps or loose components that could cause danger.
Comfort
If you're expecting your first child and you're worried about the safety of your baby is surely one of your top concerns. There's a great sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close during the night - without any of the risks that come with sharing beds. The infant bedside crib is a bassinet-style cot that attaches to the side of the bed. It allows you to safely carry your baby to you for night feedings and calming. It is also 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 newborn bedside baby bed cot bedside 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 sheets for the cot and a blanket that is tightly tucked into the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys or pillows because they can be thrown over your baby and cause risk of suffocation. 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 once they are strong enough to unwrap them.
Some cribs for bedside use a removable or drop-down side that gives you an easy access to your baby for feeding and comfort in the middle of the night. This is a great feature for parents who want to maintain an intimate relationship with their child, but still adhere to NHS safe sleep advice. However, if you're considering sleeping in the same bed with your baby it's important to recognize that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS especially when a parent accidentally is able to roll onto their child during sleep.
A breathable fabric will keep your baby comfy and cool throughout the night. This is especially crucial if you intend to co-sleep with your newborn since the chance of overheating increases when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 features a unique mesh side panel that is breathable that aids in improving airflow and keep your baby comfortable in their mattress.