10 Things You ll Need To Know About Best Bedside Cot Uk

How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk

Both the NHS and Lullaby Trust have issued official safe sleeping guidelines that suggest that infants sleep in their own Moses basket or cot. A crib that is placed near the bed is an efficient and space-saving choice for parents who share a room.

Mumsnetters love this co-sleeper as it's large and spacious, with plenty of room for babies to grow and wriggle and more spacious than the size of a Moses basket. It's also easy to assemble and comes with a bag for travel.

What is a bedside cot?

A bedside cot (also called a bassinet, side-sleeper or co-sleeper) is a secure way for your newborn to sleep close to you throughout their first months. These cribs fix to your bed and let you bring your baby closer to you at night for feeding or comforting without the threat of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome associated with traditional bed-sharing. These cribs are also great for mums who are breastfeeding or recovering from a cesarean.

These cots are often smaller than standard cots however, they still provide plenty of room for your baby to sleep. You can choose from various styles and features depending on your preferences. Many bedside cribs come with an adjustable or drop-down side to make it easier to reach the baby during the night to feed them. They are also available in various heights based on the size of your bed.

Some cribs with a bedside baby bed have an adjustable riser that allows you to build an incline in the sleep area. This can be helpful with reflux. They also have a zip off side for easy cleaning. Other cribs have manual rocking functions that can provide a relaxing distraction for your newborn. You'll require a mattress that's breathable to go with your crib. It should be at least 30cm in depth to allow your baby plenty of headroom.

A bedside cot is an investment, but you can be sure your baby will be peaceful and safe night's sleep. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams, and Gigi Hadid are all avid users of SNOO's crib for babies. It is definitely worth considering as an 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 chance of suffocation and to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. A bedside crib is a fantastic option that lets your baby safely be close enough for you to feed them during the night and soothe them back to sleep without having to get out of your own bed. It's an excellent option if you are recovering from an operation or C-section and are unable to move.

Our top pick for a bedside crib, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib is small and folds flat in seconds to fit into a travel bag so it's perfect for holidays and nights away from home. It's among the lightest bedside crib or cot cots available and comes with a a comfy deep foam mattress, air-flow panels, an optional tilting setting, and it was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Crib, Cot, or Moses Basket.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another great bedside crib option. It won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It comes with an integrated storage unit and changing mat, is light (only 10kg), and has an adjustable side that makes it easy to access.

Style

A bedside crib is a godsend for many moms, particularly those recovering from C-sections. You can easily reach your baby without having to get out of bed. This allows you to provide comfort and food to your baby at night. Being close to the baby can also aid in increasing the amount of milk produced by mothers who breastfeed.

Bassinets aren't just convenient but also stylish. This is the reason they are so popular. They're usually more spacious than Moses baskets and come in a variety of different styles, some having additional features like a gentle tilting of the reflux. They are designed to fit close to your bed and can be moved around the house as your baby grows. Some are portable, so they're ideal for parents who travel.

When choosing a bedside cot it is important to select a model that have easy-to-use drop sides. They allow you to lower your infant into the bassinet without having to lift them into your arms, which is difficult for mothers who have limited mobility. One of these models is the Chicco Next2Me Magic which has been praised by Mumsnetters and was shortlisted for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards' Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category.

Another useful feature that a few models have is a transparent side that lets you see your baby at all times. This is particularly useful when you're groggy at 3am and have to feed your child. A quick glance can make a huge difference. As was noted by Emily who is our MFM home test participant Sleepiest BassiNest is an excellent choice. It is easy to lower.

Budget

If you're still not ready to move to a larger cot, an infant crib on your bed could be a great option. This bassinet-style cot attaches to the bed's side so that you can easily reach your baby's night feeds and comfort them without disturbing your own sleep. It's an excellent choice for those with restricted movement after a C-section. Famous moms like Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen this model.

Our Parents Testers loved the new model of this well-loved crib from Chicco that won the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It's afclimatizing and spacious and comes with six height options to accommodate babies who are growing, and a gentle reflux setting for incline. You can also use it as a travel cot and it comes with an excellent storage bag.

A bedside cot can be a little tricky to move around the home however our Parents Testers found the Shnuggle Air beside crib really easy to move around. It's one of the lightest options and small bedside cot enough to fit in its own travel bag, which means you can take it with you on your travels.

The SnuzPod bedside rocking crib cot is another highly rated product that's easy to put together and fold away and comes with a variety of features to ensure the perfect night's rest. It comes with a lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric can help your baby to regulate their temperature. It also has a soft rocking function, as well as an incline option for reflux, and is lightweight enough to use as a travel cot while you're out and about. It's a bit more expensive than other cribs for bed however, Parent Testers believe it's worth the extra expense.