How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk
Both the NHS and the Lullaby Trust have issued official safe sleeping guidelines that suggest that infants sleep in their own Moses basket or cot. A crib for bed is an efficient and space-saving choice for room-sharing new parents.
Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper as it's big and has plenty of room for babies to grow and wriggle. It is also much bigger than the Moses Basket. It's also simple to put together, and comes with a carry bag.
What is a bedside cot?
Bedside cribs (also called side sleepers, bassinets or co-sleepers) are an effective and safe method for your baby to sleep with you in the first few months. These cribs attach to your bed and allow you to pull your child towards you for night-feeding or comforting. They're also a great choice for mothers who are breastfeeding or recovering from a caesarean section.
These cots are often a little smaller than standard cots however, they still provide plenty of room for your baby to relax. You can pick from different designs and features based on your preferences. Many cribs with a bedside feature the option of removing or dropping down the side, which makes it easier to reach your baby during feeding time at night. They also come in various heights based on the size of your bed.
Some cribs for bedside use an riser that permits you to add a slight slope to the sleep space which can help with reflux and the ability to zip off the sides for easy cleaning. Some cribs feature manual rocking features that can provide a relaxing distraction to your newborn. You'll also need a breathable mattress to match your new crib. 4-in-1 bedside crib should be a minimum of 30cm deep to ensure your newborn has enough headroom.
You can rest assured that your baby will be safe and comfortable in a bedside cot. With stars like Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all awed by the SNOO bedside crib, it's worth considering this stylish alternative to a moses basket.
Safety
Official safe sleeping guidelines from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that babies born today should be in the same room as you for their first six months but not in your bed, to decrease the chance of suffocation and to reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome. A bedside crib allows you to keep your infant close to you to calm them down and night feed them without leaving your bed. This is also a great option for when you are recovering from an operation or a C-section and have limited mobility.
Our top pick for a bedside cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 bedside crib for travel is small and folds flat in a matter of seconds and fits into its own travel bag making it ideal for travel and nights away from home. It's among the lightest bedside cots available and comes with a the most comfortable deep foam mattress with mesh air-flow panels and an tilt setting, and it was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Crib, Cot, or Moses Basket.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another fantastic bedside crib. It won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It features a built-in change mat and storage solutions, is lightweight at 10kg, and has an adjustable side that slides down for easy access.
Style
For many mothers, particularly those recovering from a C-section A crib for bedside can be a blessing in disguise. They can be attached to your bed so you can easily reach your baby without needing to get up and letting you feed them and soothe them quickly. They're also a great option for breastfeeding mothers since close proximity can increase their milk supply.
These bassinets are not only practical, but also fashionable. This is the reason they are so popular. They're usually bigger than Moses baskets and are available in many different styles, some featuring extra features such as a gentle tilt to the reflux. They are designed to be placed near your bed, they are able to be moved around the house when baby gets older and some are able to be taken on the go too making them perfect for parents who are new to traveling.
It is important to choose an cot with bedside that is easy to use drop-sides. This allows you to lower your child into the bassinet, without lifting them up into your arms. This can be difficult for mothers with mobility issues. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of the models that has been praised and shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of Best Cot or Crib Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.
Some models also have a transparent side, allowing you to be able to always view your baby. This is particularly useful during bleary-eyed 3am feeds when just a glance can make all the difference. As mentioned by Emily our MFM home tester Sleepiest BassiNest is an excellent choice. It is easy to lower.
Budget
A bedside crib is a great option if you are not ready to move to a larger crib. The bassinet-style crib is attached to the bed's side so you can easily reach your baby's feedings at night and soothe them without disrupting your sleep. bedside co sleeper 's a great choice for those who have limited movement following a C-section. Celeb mums such as Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen this model.
Our Parent Testers loved this new version of the bestselling Chicco crib, which was awarded the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Cot or Crib. It's spacious and breathable and comes with six height options to accommodate growing babies plus a gentle reflux incline setting. It can also be used as a travel cot, and it comes with a handy storage bag.
It can be difficult to move a bedside cot around your house however our Parent Testers said that the Shnuggle Air alongside the cot was simple to move. It's one of the smallest options and small enough to fit into its own travel bag, which means you can take it with you on your travels.
The SnuzPod is a different highly rated bedside cot that's easy to set up and take down and packed with features for the best night's rest. It has a bassinet that lifts off to fit more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric can help your baby to regulate their temperature. It also features a soft rocking feature and an incline setting to help with reflux, and is light enough to be used as a travel cot while you're out and about. It's a little more expensive than other bedside cots, but our Parents Testers say it's well worth the extra money.