How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk
Official safe sleeping guidance from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own crib or Moses basket. A bedside crib is a space-saving and practical option for parents who live in a room together.
Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper because it is spacious, with plenty of room for babies to grow and wiggle. It's also larger than a Moses Basket. It's also easy to assemble, and comes with a bag for carrying.
What is a bedside crib?
A bedside cot (also called a bassinet, side-sleeper or co-sleeper) is a safe way for your newborn to sleep close to you throughout the first few months of their life. These cribs attach to your bed and allow you to pull your child towards you to feed them at night or for comforting. They're also a great option for breastfeeding mothers or mums recovering from a caesarean.
They are usually smaller than standard cots however, they still provide plenty of room for your baby to sleep. You can choose between different designs and features based on your preferences. A lot of cribs for bedside use an adjustable or drop-down side to make it easier to reach the baby at night for feedings. They are also available in various heights based on your bed size.
Some cribs for bedside use an adjustable riser that allows you to add a slight incline to the sleeping space that could help with reflux. It also has the ability to zip off the sides for easy cleaning. Some cribs come with manual rocking options which can provide a soothing distraction to your newborn. You'll also require a breathable mattress to go with your new crib, which should be a minimum of 30cm deep to ensure your newborn has sufficient head room.
You can be sure that your child will be safe and comfortable in a bedside cot. With stars like Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all fans of the SNOO bedside crib, it's definitely worth looking into this elegant alternative to a moses basket.
Safety
Official guidelines for safe sleep from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that newborn babies should be in the same room as you for the first six months but not in your bed to lower the risk of suffocation and to reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed allows you to keep your infant close to you so that you can calm them down and night feed them without having to leave your bed. It's also a great option for those who have a limited mobility after an operation or recovering from an operation such as 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 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 cot options and has a comfy deep foam mattress with mesh air-flow panels, an optional incline setting, plus it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another fantastic bedside crib. It was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has an integrated storage unit and changing mat, is lightweight (only 10kg), and has an adjustable side that allows for easy access.
Style
A bedside crib is a blessing for many mothers, particularly those recovering from C-sections. You can easily reach your baby without having to get out of your bed. This allows you to comfort and feed your infant during the night. They are also a great choice for breastfeeding mothers as the close proximity can help boost their milk supply.
These bassinets are not only practical, but also stylish. This is why they are so popular. They're usually larger than Moses baskets and come in lots of different styles, some having additional features like a gentle tilting of the reflux. They are designed to be placed near your bed, they can be moved around your home as the baby grows older, and some are portable enough to take to the go making them perfect for new parents travelling.
It is important to choose an cot with bedside with drop-sides that are easy to use. These let you lower your infant into the bassinet without needing to lift them into your arms, which is difficult for mums with limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of these models that has been praised and shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of the best Cot or Crib Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
Another handy feature that some models come with is a translucent side that lets you be able to see your baby at all times. This is especially helpful during bleary-eyed 3am feeds when a quick glance can make all the difference. One of these options is the Sleepiest BassiNest that is easy to lower, as was noted by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
If you're not quite ready to make the transition to a larger cot, a bedside crib may be an ideal solution. This bassinet-style crib attaches to your bed so that you can reach your baby easily for night feeds or comfort them without disturbing yourself. It's also a great choice for those suffering from restricted movement following the birth, and is a popular option for celeb moms like Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.
www.cots4tots.co.uk loved this latest version of the bestselling Chicco crib, which took home the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot or Crib. It's large, breathable, and has six different height settings suitable for growing babies. There is also a soft reflux setting. It can be used as a travel crib and comes with a storage case that is convenient for storage.
A bedside cot can be difficult to move around the home however our Parent Testers found the Shnuggle Air beside crib really simple to move. It's one of the smallest options and small enough to fit into its own travel bag which means you can carry it with you when you travel.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is a highly rated product that's easy to assemble and fold, with many features for the perfect night's rest. It has a removable, lift-off bassinet which fits more beds than other cots. The fabric is breathable and helps keep your baby's temperature in check. It also features a soft rocking function and an incline setting for reflux, and is light enough to be used as a travel cot while you're on the move. It's more expensive than other bedside cribs, but Parent Testers agree that it's worth the extra cost.