What Is The Heck What Exactly Is Best Bedside Cot Uk
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 cot or Moses basket. A bedside crib is practical and space-saving for parents who share a room.
Mumsnetters love this co-sleeper because it's big enough with plenty of space for babies to grow and play and is far more substantial than the size of a Moses basket. It's also easy to put together and comes with a carry-on bag.
What is a bedside crib?
A bedside cot (also called a bassinet, side sleeper or co-sleeper) is a safe way for your baby to rest close to you throughout their first months. These cribs are 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 great for mothers who are nursing or recovering from a cesarean.
These cots are typically smaller than a standard cot however, they still provide plenty of space for your baby to rest. You can pick from different designs and features based on your preferences. A lot of cribs with a bedside feature the option of a drop-down or removable side that makes it easier to reach your baby for feeding at night. They are available in a variety of sizes to fit the dimensions of your bed.
Some cribs for bedside use a 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 feature manual rocking features which can provide a soothing distraction to your newborn. You'll require a mattress that's air-conditioned to match your crib. It should be at least 30cm thick to give your baby enough headroom.
A bedside cot is an investment, but you can be sure your newborn will get a secure and comfortable sleep. With the likes of Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all fans of the SNOO bedside crib, it's worth considering this stylish alternative to moses basket.
Safety
Official safe sleeping guidelines from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that newborns sleep in the same room as you during the first six months but not in your bed to lower the risk of suffocation and to lower the chance of sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed is a fantastic option that allows your baby to remain close enough to you to feed them during the night and comfort them back to sleep without having to leave your own bed. It's also a great option if you have limited mobility after an operation or recovering from a C-section.
Our top pick for a bedside crib, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 bedside crib that travels cots is compact and folds down in a matter of seconds and fits into its own travel bag which makes it perfect for trips to the beach and nights away from home. It's one of the tiniest bedside cots and has the most comfortable deep foam 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 fab bedside cot option is the Chicco Next2me Magic bedside crib that was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It comes with a built-in changing mat and storage solutions and weighs only 10kg. It is light at 10kg, and has an adjustable side that drops down to make it easy to access.
Style
For a lot of moms, especially those recovering from a C-section, a bedside crib could prove to be an absolute godsend. They can be attached to your bed so that you can easily reach your baby without having to get up in order to feed them and comfort them quickly. The close proximity to the baby can also help increase the production of milk for mothers who are breastfeeding.
Alongside being incredibly useful, bassinets are stylish too, which is why they're so popular. Some are bigger than Moses Baskets and some come with additional features like a gentle reflux and incline. They are designed to be placed near your bed, they are able to be moved around your home when baby gets older and some are portable enough to take on the go too which makes them ideal for new parents travelling.
It is essential to select an cot with bedside with drop-sides that are easy to use. These let you lower your baby into the bassinet without having to lift them into your arms, which is difficult for mothers who have limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of these models that has been highly praised and was shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of Best Cot or Crib Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
Another useful feature that a few models come with is a transparent side that lets you see your baby at all times. This is especially useful during bleary-eyed 3am feeds where just a glance can make all the difference. One such option is the Sleepiest BassiNest which is easy to lower, as noted by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
If you're not quite ready to make the leap to a larger cot an infant crib on your bed could be an ideal solution. The crib is attached to your bed, so you can easily reach your baby for night feeds or comfort them without disturbing yourself. It's a great choice for those who are unable to move after a C-section. Celebrity moms such as Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen it.
Our Parent Testers loved the new version of the popular Chicco crib, which was awarded the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot or Crib. It's spacious and breathable and has six height settings to accommodate babies who are growing, as well as a gentle setting for the incline. It can also be used as a travel cot and it comes with an excellent storage bag.
It can be a challenge to move an upholstered bedside cot throughout the house However, our Parent Testers said that the Shnuggle Air next to the cot was simple to move. It's one of the lightest alternatives and is small enough to fit in its own travel bag, which means you can take it with you on your travels.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is another highly rated item that's easy to put together and fold away, with many features for an unwinding night's sleep. It has a removable lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than any other cot and its breathable fabric can help your baby maintain their temperature. It also features a soft rocking feature and an incline setting for reflux, and is lightweight enough to be used as a travel cot while you're on the move. It's a bit more expensive than other bedside cots, but our Parents Testers say it's well worth the extra money.