15 Strange Hobbies That Will Make You Smarter At Newborn Bedside Cot

Newborn Bedside Cot

A newborn bedside cot is a tiny sleeper that allows babies to share the same room as their parents, without the risks of true co-sleeping (which the AAP advises against due to SIDS and suffocation). It makes it easier to take care of your baby and nurse them throughout the night.

This sleeper has a firm mattress that supports babies backs, reducing the risk of SIDS. It can swivel over your adult bed to make it easier for you to carry your baby out for midnight nursing or sunrise cuddles.

Budget

A bedside crib travel cot, sometimes referred to as a co-sleeper, an infant cot with a bassinet design that is attached or clipped to your existing bed. This lets you reach your baby quickly and safely for a mid-night feed or cuddles. These are perfect for moms and babies recovering from a c-section because they provide the baby to be easily accessible without needing to get out of bed.

There are a variety of styles that are available, from the basic ones that have a drop down side to more sophisticated ones that offer numerous adjustment options, like the ability to tilt or raise. Many convert to a separate crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is around a few months old and sleeps longer at night.

Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our top picks. It was nominated in the best bedside cots Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily noted how stylish and modern the design was. She also liked the fact that it can be used as a bassinet or attached to your existing bed to ensure safe side-by-side sleeping. She also admired the soft mattress, which was able to pass our test of firmness and also the fact that it comes with a manual rocking function that can be set to a slight tilt for reflux sufferers.

She wasn't a fan of the fact that it had a non-mesh panel on the bottom and she thought it was too heavy to move from room to room. She also found it to be a bit heavy to carry up and down the stairs, especially when it was folded up into its travel bag.

Size

A bedside cot is essentially an upholstered bassinet that is fixed to the side of the bed. It allows you to easily reach your baby during the night for feeding, nappies and comforting. It's also great for mums recovering from a C-section.

The NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend that you keep your baby away from you during the first six month, to decrease the chance of SIDS. A crib for your bed is a safe method to achieve this as it has low sides and lets you easily reach your baby throughout the night.

It's important that your newborn sleeps on a firm bed as it is safer than a soft one. Babies don't have motor control needed to turn and a soft mattress could increase the chance of being suffocated. This mattress is made of skin-friendly and breathe-able materials. It is a comfortable fit for your baby but firm enough to be safe.

Mum home test Jasmin liked that this crib doesn't take up too much space in her bedroom, and she found the size perfect for a baby. The mattress she rated as also of good quality, as opposed to others that feel thin and thin. She also likes the fact that it has a storage compartment beneath for blankets and clothes which she believes many bassinets don't have.

MFM mom home tester Mehack is a fan of the side wall that is removable that lets you drop it to make it easier access to your baby. She also likes that legs fold under the bed so that it doesn't look bulky or take up too much floor space. She's also impressed with the ease of being able to move around the house as you want to in the middle of the night, which is convenient for feedings and check-ins.

A recipient of an Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, the CoZee Air is a popular choice among parents. It features a smart design with four built-in pulleys to raise or lower the crib and comes with a large storage bin for your baby's blankets, toys and other necessities. It is also light and easy to put together which makes it perfect for travel with your baby.

Safety

When selecting a newborn bedside cot, you must keep the safety aspect in your thoughts. The official safe sleep guidelines from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies not sleep in their parents' beds due to the risk of overheating, suffocation and a greater chance of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bedside bassinets let parents keep their newborn close by and allow for feeding at night and monitoring without having to get up from their beds.

This close proximity can help breastfeeding mothers as it allows them to be attentive to the needs of their baby while also sleeping. This can help to maintain the supply of milk and also encourage breastfeeding. Some cots with a bedside are equipped with adjustable height features that can help to ensure that the bassinet is an ideal height for mother and baby to allow easy access to mid-night feedings or care.

Many bassinets have a mattress that is designed to minimize the risk of suffocation, and conforms to industry standards. This is crucial because a newborn's bones are brittle and not fully developed and need to be supported to prevent injury. The mattress should be encased in a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation caused by dust mites or other allergens, and kept clean and free of irritants.

Some cots with a bedside have the capability of being tilted. This can be useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues, but this should always be done with extreme caution and at a gentle angle. Avoid putting pillows, duvets, or padded crib bumpers inside the bassinet. These could create the risk of suffocation your baby.

It is also recommended to consider a bassinet that has an attachment system that is secure. It can be connected to your existing bed easily without the need of tools. This feature is especially beneficial for parents who find it difficult to get their child in and out of the crib or are concerned about their baby accidentally rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet has an attachment that is secure it is a good idea for you to regularly check it. Make sure there aren't any gaps and that the system is securely connected.

Comfort

If you're expecting a child, the comfort of your baby is surely one of your top priorities. There's a wonderful sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close throughout the night, without any of the risks associated with bed-sharing. The baby bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib which is fixed to the side of your bed and allows you to take them away for feeding at night and calming. It's also the perfect choice for mothers recovering from a c-section, since it makes it less necessary to bend over too much or even to get out of the bed.

Modern bedside cots for newborns should have a flat, firm mattress to encourage safe sleeping habits and reduce the risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Bedding should be easy with just a cot sheet and blanket tucked tightly at the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers or pillows as these can fall on your baby and cause suffocation hazard. If your baby has been used to being swaddled for a few weeks, you can use either the swaddle or baby sleep bag. But, it should be removed when they have the strength to unwrap them.

Some cribs for bedside use an option to remove or drop down the side that gives you easy access to your baby for comforting and feeding in the middle of the night. This feature is perfect for parents who wish to keep a close relationship with their child, while still following NHS guidelines for sleep. However, if you're planning to sleep in the same bed with your baby it's important to know that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS, particularly if a parent unintentionally falls on their infant while they sleep.

A breathable fabric is another important safety factor, since it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is especially important if you intend to co-sleep your newborn as the risk of overheating during sleep increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique side panel made of breathable mesh that helps improve the flow of air and keep your baby snug in their bed.