4 Dirty Little Secrets About The Best Bedside Cot Uk Industry

How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk

Official safety sleeping guidelines from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own crib or Moses basket. A crib that is placed near the bed is a practical and space-saving option for parents who share a room.

Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper because it's big and has plenty of space for babies to grow and play. It is also much larger than a Moses Basket. It's also easy to assemble, and comes with a bag for carrying.

What is a bedside baby sleeper cot?

A bedside cot (also called a bassinet, side sleeper or co-sleeper) is a safe method for your newborn to sleep close to you throughout their first few months. These cribs can be attached to your bed and allow you to pull your child towards you to feed them at night or even comfort them. These cribs are also ideal for mothers who are nursing or recovering from a Cesarean Section.

These cots are typically smaller than a standard cot, but still offer plenty of space for your baby to relax. You can choose from a variety of designs and features depending on what you prefer. A majority of cribs for bedside use a drop down or removable side that allows you to reach your baby for feeding at night. They are also available in different heights to suit the size of your bed.

Some cribs with a bedside have an adjustable riser that allows you to add a slight incline to the sleep space which can aid in reflux and the ability to zip off the sides for easy cleaning. Some cribs come with manual rocking features that can provide a relaxing distractor for your infant. You'll also require a breathable mattress for your crib. It must be at least 30cm deep to ensure that your newborn has sufficient head room.

You can rest assured that your child will be comfortable and safe in a bedside cot. With the likes of Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all fans of the SNOO bedside crib, it's worth looking into this elegant alternative to moses basket.

Safety

The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS has released official guidelines for safe sleep that recommend that newborns sleep in the same bedroom as their parents for the first six months. However they should not be sleeping in your bed. This is to decrease the chance of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed allows you to keep your baby close to comfort them and feed them at night without leaving your bed. This is also a great option for when you are recovering from an operation or C-section and have limited mobility.

Our top choice for a bedside cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib is small and folds flat in a matter of seconds to fit into a travel bag making it ideal for travel and nights away from home. It's among the lightest bedside cots available and comes with a an extremely comfortable mattress with mesh air-flow panels, and an tilt setting, and it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Crib, Cot, or Moses Basket.

Another fantastic bedside cot used cot is the Chicco Next2me Magic bedside baby sleeper crib that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It comes with a built-in storage solution and changing mat, is light (only 10kg), and has an adjustable side for easy access.

Style

A crib for your bed is a blessing for many mums, especially those who are recovering from C-sections. You can easily reach your baby without getting out of your bed. This lets you soothe and feed your infant during the night. The close proximity to the baby can also increase milk production for mothers who breastfeed.

Alongside being incredibly convenient, these bassinets can look pretty elegant, which is why they're so sought-after. They're usually larger than Moses baskets and come in a variety of different styles, some having additional features such as a gentle tilting of the reflux. They're designed to sit next to your bed and can be moved around the house as baby grows. Some are portable so they're ideal for parents who travel.

When choosing a bedside cot it is important to choose a model that have drop sides that are simple to use. This allows you to lower your baby into the bassinet without having to lift them up into your arms. This can be a hassle for mothers with limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of these models that has been highly praised and was shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of the best Cot or Crib, or Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.

Another useful feature that a few models have is a transparent side that allows you to see your baby at all times. This is especially helpful in the case of 3am feeds that are bleary-eyed, when one glance could make all the difference. As noted by Emily our MFM home tester Sleepiest BassiNest is an excellent choice. It is simple to lower.

Budget

A bedside crib is an excellent option if you're not yet ready to upgrade to a larger crib. The bassinet-style crib is attached to the bed's side so you can easily reach your baby for feedings at night and soothe them without disturbing your sleep. It's a great option for those who have limited movement after a C-section. Celeb mums like Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen it.

Our Parents Testers loved the new model of this bestselling crib from Chicco, which won the 2021 Mother&Baby Award for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. It's large, breathable, and has six different height settings suitable for growing babies. There is also a gentle reflux setting. It can be used as a crib for travel and comes with a handy storage case.

It can be difficult to move a bedside cot around the home however our Parent Testers said that the Shnuggle Air alongside the cot was easy to move. It's one of the lightest options and is small enough to fit into its own bag for travel, so you can take it with you when you travel.

The SnuzPod is another highly rated bedside cot that is easy to put together and fold away, with plenty of features to ensure a good night's sleep. It has a removable adjustable bassinet that lifts off, which can fit more beds than other cots. The fabric is breathable and can help to regulate your baby's temperature. It also features a soft rocking function, as well as an incline option for reflux, and it's light enough to be used as a travel cot when you're on the move. It's more expensive than other cots for bed however our Parents Testers believe it's worth the extra cash.