Newborn wooden bedside cot Cot

A newborn bedside cot is a small sleeper that allows new babies to share a room as their parents, without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP cautions against due suffocation and SIDS). It also makes nursing sessions and care much easier.

This mattress is a firm mattress to support babies' backs and decrease the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to lift your baby for sunrise cuddles or nighttime nursing.

Budget

A bedside cot, also known as a co-sleeper, is a bassinet-style baby cot that is attached or clipped to your bed. This allows you to reach your baby easily and safely for a mid-night feed or comforting cuddle. They are a great option for mums or new parents recovering from a csection as they offer the baby with easy access and don't require you to get up.

There are a variety of designs available, ranging from simple ones with an upside-down side to more sophisticated models with numerous adjustment options, like the ability to tilt or raise. The majority of them can be converted to a standalone crib when your baby is older and sleeps longer at night.

Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our top picks. It was shortlisted in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily said she was impressed by how chic and modern the design as well as the possibility of using it as a regular bassinet or attach it to a bed to sleep side-by-side in a safe and secure manner. She also liked the plush mattress, which was able to pass our test of firmness and the fact that it comes with a manual rocking feature that can be adjusted to a slight slope for reflux sufferers.

But she wasn't thrilled with the design of the non-mesh panel at its bottom and thought it was a bit bulky to move from room to room regularly. She also found it to be a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs once it was folded up into its travel bag.

Size

A bedside cot resembles an infant bassinet that is connected to the bed's side. It allows you to reach your baby for mid-night feeding nappies, feeding and comforting. It's ideal for mothers who are recovering from an o-section.

The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby separate from you during the first six month, to lower the risk of SIDS. The crib at the bedside, with its low sides, is a great option to do this. It allows you to be able to easily access your baby at night.

It is essential that your baby sleeps on a firm bed as it is safer than a soft one. Babies don't have motor control to rotate and a mattress that is soft can increase the chance of being suffocated. The mattress is made of skin-friendly and air-tight materials. It is comfortable for your baby, yet firm enough to ensure safety.

Mum home test Jasmin loved that the crib does not take up a lot of space in her bedroom and she found it to be the perfect size for a newborn. She also said that the mattress was of high-quality unlike other cribs that are thin and fragile. She also appreciates that it has a storage area underneath for bedding and clothes which many bassinets do not have.

Mehack, a MFM mom who tried the product at home, likes that you can remove the side wall to make it easier to access your baby. She also loves that the legs tuck under the bed so that it does not look bulky or take up a lot of floor space. She is also impressed by how it was easy to move around her house when she needed to do checks and feedings in the middle of the night.

A winner of the Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice among parents. It has a clever design with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib and comes with a large storage bin to store your baby's toys, blankets and other essentials. It's also simple to put together and lightweight, which is useful for travelling with your baby.

Safety

It is crucial to think about the safety aspect when selecting a newborn bedside crib. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS advise that babies do not be placed in parents' beds due to the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bassinets for bedside crib with changing table use allow parents to keep their newborn close by to help with feeding at night and monitoring without having to get out of bed.

This close proximity can also help breastfeeding mothers as it allows them to attend to the baby's needs while still sleeping. This can help maintain the supply of milk and also encourage breastfeeding. Some bedside cots have adjustable height options, which can help to ensure that the bassinet is at a comfortable height for both mother and baby, allowing easy access to mid-night feedings or other care.

A lot of bassinets have a firm mattress, which is designed to minimize suffocation risk and meets the standards of the industry. This is important because a newborn's bones are brittle and not fully developed and require support to prevent injury. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet to minimize the chance that dust mites, as well as other allergens, will suffocate a child. It should be kept clean and free of irritants.

Some bedside cot bed cribs can be tilted. This is beneficial for babies who have reflux or digestive problems. However, it should be done slowly and with caution. It is also essential to avoid adding pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers to the bassinet as they can create a suffocation risk for your baby. They should only be used when the cot is set on an even surface.

It's also worth thinking about a bassinet with a secure attachment system that can be easily attached to your bed without the necessity of tools. This is especially helpful for parents who may struggle to lift their child in and out of the cot, or concerned about the possibility of falling asleep. If your bassinet is equipped with secured attachments it's an excellent idea to periodically make sure it's secure and that there aren't gaps or loose parts which could cause danger.

Comfort

If you are a soon-to-be parent, the comfort of your child is one of your primary concerns. There's a brand new sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close in the evening, without the risk of bed-sharing. The baby bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib that fixes to the bed's side, allowing you to safely lift them out towards you for feeding at night and calming. It's also the perfect choice for mothers recovering from a c-section because it eliminates the need to bend too much or even to get out of bed.

Modern bedside cots for newborns should include a firm, flat mattress to promote safe sleeping habits and reduce the risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Bedding should be simple comprising a cot sheets and blanket tucked tightly on the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers or pillows as these can be thrown over your baby and pose a risk of suffocation. If your baby is used to being swaddled, you can make use of a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag for the initial few weeks, but it is best to remove it as soon as possible once they've developed the strength to pull themselves out of the wrap.

Some cribs with a bedside crib co sleeper feature an option to remove or drop down the side that allows for an easy access to your baby for feeding and comfort during the middle of the night. This is a great feature for parents who want to maintain a close relationship with their child, while still following NHS guidelines on sleep. If you plan to co-sleep with your child, it's important to know that this practice could increase the chance of SIDS. This is particularly true if a parent accidentally falls on their child during sleep.

A fabric that breathes will keep your baby cool and cool throughout the night. This is especially important if you plan to sleep with your newborn, because the risk of overheating when sleeping increases. The SnuzPod4 comes with a unique breathable side panel that helps improve airflow, keeping your baby comfortable.