How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk
Both the NHS and Lullaby Trust have issued official safe sleeping guidelines, which advise that babies sleep in their own Moses basket or cot. A bedside crib is a space-saving and practical option for parents who live in a room together.
Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper as it's big and has plenty of room for babies to grow and wriggle. It is also much larger than a Moses Basket. It's also easy to put together and comes with a travel bag.
What is a bedside cot?
A bedside cot (also called a side sleeper, bassinet or co-sleeper) is a safe method for your baby to rest close to you overnight during their first months. These cribs are attached to your bed and allow you to bring your baby closer to you for night feeding or comforting without the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome that is a result of traditional bed-sharing. They're also a great choice for mothers who are breastfeeding or recovering from a caesarean section.
They're often slightly smaller than a regular cot or cotbed, but they provide ample space for your baby to rest. You can choose from a variety of designs and features based on your preferences. Many cribs with a bedside feature the option of removing or dropping down the side to make it easier to reach your baby during feeding time at night. They are also available in different heights depending on the size of your bed.
Some bedside cribs have an adjustable riser that allows you to create an incline in the sleeping area. This can aid in reducing reflux. They also have an open side to make cleaning easy. Others have manual rocking functions which can be a relaxing distraction for your baby. You'll also require a comfortable mattress to go with your crib. It should be a minimum of 30cm deep to ensure your baby has enough head space.
You can be confident that your child will be safe and secure in a bedside cot. With stars like Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all awed by the SNOO bedside crib, it's definitely worth considering this fashionable alternative to a moses basket.
Safety
The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS has released official guidelines for safe sleeping that recommend that newborns stay in the same bedroom as their parents for the first six months. However, they should not sleep in your bed. This is to lower the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed is a great option that allows your baby to comfortably be near enough for you to feed them during the night and soothe them back to sleep without having to leave your own bed. It's also ideal when you are unable to move after an operation or are recovering from an operation such as a C-section.
Our top choice for a bedside cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib is compact and folds down in seconds to fit into a travel bag making it ideal for travel and nights away from home. It's the lightest option for a bedside cot and features a comfortable deep foam mattress with mesh panels that allow air to flow. It also has an optional incline option. Plus, it won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Moses Basket or Cot Crib.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another excellent bedside crib. It was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has built-in storage and a changing mat, is lightweight (only 10kg), and has an adjustable side that makes it easy to access.
Style
For a lot of moms, especially those who have had C-sections, a bedside crib can prove to be a blessing in disguise. They can be attached to your bed so you can easily reach your baby without having to get out of bed in order to feed them and soothe them quickly. The close proximity to your baby can also help increase the amount of milk produced by mothers who are breastfeeding.
They are not just functional, but also stylish. This is why they're so sought-after. Some are more spacious than Moses Baskets and some come with additional features such as a gentle reflux and incline. They're designed to fit next to your bed and can be moved around the home as baby grows. Some are portable, which means they're great for travelling parents.
It is essential to select a cot for your bed that has easy-to-use drop-sides. These let you lower your baby into the bassinet without having to lift them into your arms, which can be difficult for moms 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 the Best Cot or Crib, or Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.
Another handy feature that some models come with is a transparent side that allows you to see your baby at all times. This is especially useful when you're exhausted at 3am and have to feed your child. A quick glance could make a big difference. travel bedside crib is the Sleepiest BassiNest that is simple to lower, as noted by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
A bedside crib is a fantastic alternative if you're not ready to move to a full-sized crib. The crib is attached to your bed so that you can reach your baby easily to feed them at night or even comfort them without causing any disturbance to yourself. It's a great option for those with restricted movement after a C-section. Famous moms like Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen it.
Our Parents Testers loved this new version of the well-loved Chicco crib, which took home the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot or Crib. It's spacious comfortable, breathable, and comes with six different height settings for growing babies. There is also a gentle reflux setting. It can also be used as a travel cot and it comes with an excellent storage bag.
A bedside cot can be a little difficult to move around the home However, our Parents Testers found the Shnuggle Air beside crib really easy to maneuver. It's one of the lightest options and compact enough to fit into its own travel bag, which means you can carry it along with you on your trip.
The SnuzPod is another highly-rated bedside cot that is easy to put together and fold away and packed with features to ensure an enjoyable night's sleep. It has a removable bassinet with a lift-off that can fit more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric helps your baby to regulate their temperature. It has a gentle rocking feature as well as an incline for reflux. It is also lightweight enough to use as a crib for travel while you're out and about. It's a little more expensive than other cots for bed but our Parent Testers affirm that it's worth the extra money.