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 can be practical and space-saving for parents who live in a room together.
Mumsnetters love this co-sleeper because it's large and spacious, with plenty of room for baby to grow and wriggle and much bigger than the size of a Moses basket. It's also easy to put together and comes with a bag for travel.
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 can be attached to your bed, allowing you to lift your child to you to feed them at night or for comforting. These cribs are also ideal for mums who are nursing or recovering from a cesarean section.
They're typically smaller than a standard cot, but they provide ample space for your baby to lay down. You can choose from a variety of styles and features, according to what you prefer. 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's feeding at night. They are also available in different heights to accommodate the size of your bed.
Some bedside cribs have an adjustable riser that allows you to create an angle to the sleep area. This can be helpful with reflux. They also have an open side to make cleaning easy. Some cribs come with manual rocking options which can provide a soothing distraction for your baby. You'll also require a comfortable mattress for your new crib, which should be a minimum of 30cm in depth to ensure that your newborn has sufficient head room.
You can be sure that your baby 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 advise that babies are in the same room as their parents for the first six months. However they shouldn't sleep in your bed. This is to decrease the risk of suffocation, or sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed is a fantastic option that allows your child to remain close enough to you to feed them at night and help them return to sleep without having to leave your bed. It's also ideal for those who have a limited mobility after an operation or recovering from C-section.
Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3 in 1 bedside cot travel cot is our top pick for a bedside crib. It's compact and folds flat to fit into its transport bag and is perfect for trips away on holidays or from home. It's one the lightest options for a bedside cot. It has a soft, comfortable foam mattress with mesh panels which allow air to flow. It also has an incline option that can be added. It also won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Moses Basket or Cot Crib.
Another fantastic bedside cot is the Chicco Next2me Magic bedside crib that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It comes with an integrated storage unit and changing mat, is lightweight (only 10kg) and comes with an adjustable side that allows for easy access.
Style
For many mums, particularly those recovering from C-sections, a bedside crib could prove to be an absolute godsend. You can easily reach your baby without getting out of the bed. This lets you soothe and feed your infant at night. They are also a great option for breastfeeding mothers as their close proximity will help increase their milk supply.
Bassinets aren't just functional, but also fashionable. This is why they are so popular. They're often a bit larger than Moses baskets and come in lots of different styles, some even having extra features like a gentle tilt to the reflux. They are designed to fit close to your bed and can be moved around the home as baby grows. Some are portable, so they're great for parents who travel.
When you are choosing a bedside cot, it's important to look for designs that have drop sides that are simple to use. These allow you to lower your baby's bassinet without needing to lift them into your arms, which can be difficult for mums who have limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of the models that has been praised and shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of the Best Cot or Crib, or Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.
Some models also come with a transparent side, which allows you to always see your baby. This is particularly useful when you are tired and sleepy when one glance could make all the difference. As mentioned by Emily our MFM home tester, the Sleepiest BassiNest is an excellent choice. It's easy to lower.
Budget
If you're not ready to move to a larger cot, the bedside crib could be an ideal solution. The bassinet-style crib can be attached to your bed, ensuring that you can reach your baby easily for night feeds or comfort them without causing any disturbance to yourself. It's an excellent choice for those with restricted movement following an operation such as a C-section. bedside crib to cot like Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen this model.
Our Parent Testers loved this latest version of the bestselling Chicco crib, which was awarded the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot or Crib. It's large and breathable, and comes with 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 crib and comes with a convenient storage case.
It can be difficult to move a bedside cot around the house, but our Parents Testers reported that the Shnuggle Air beside cot was very simple to move. It is among the lightest options and can be packed into its own travel bag.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is a highly rated product that's easy to assemble and fold, with many features for a restful night's sleep. It has a removable bassinet that lifts off to fit more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric helps your baby to regulate their temperature. It also has a soft rocking feature and an incline option for reflux, and is light enough to be used as a travel cot if you're on the move. It's more expensive than other cribs for bed, but Parent Testers believe it's worth the extra cost.