How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk

Official guidelines for safe sleep from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own cot for bedside 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 as it's spacious, with plenty of room for baby's to grow and wriggle. It is also much bigger than the Moses Basket. It's also easy to put together and comes with a travel bag.

What is a bedside cot 6 months plus crib?

Bedside cots (also known as side sleepers, bassinets or co-sleepers) are a safe and convenient way for your baby to sleep with you in the first few months. These cribs fix to your bed and let you bring your baby closer to you to feed them at night or for comforting without the danger of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome associated with traditional bed-sharing. They're also a great option for mothers who are breastfeeding or recovering from a Caesarean section.

They're often slightly smaller than a regular cot, but provide plenty of space for your baby to lay down. You can choose between various designs and features based on your preferences. A majority of cribs for bedside use a drop down or removable side that allows you to reach your baby for night feeds and are also available in different heights to suit the size of your bed.

Some bedside cribs have a riser which allows you to build an angle to the sleeping area. This can help with reflux. They also have an open side for easy cleaning. Other cribs have manual rocking functions that can provide a relaxing distraction for your baby. You'll also require a comfortable mattress to match your new crib. It should be a minimum of 30cm deep to ensure that your baby has enough head space.

A bedside crib is a major investment, but you can be sure your newborn will get a comfortable and safe sleep. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams, and Gigi Hadid are all big fans of SNOO's crib for babies. It is definitely worth considering as an alternative to a Moses basket.

Safety

The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS has released official guidelines for safe sleep that advise that babies stay in the same bedroom as their parents for the first six months. However they should not be sleeping in your bed. This is to reduce the risk of suffocation, or sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed lets you keep your baby close to you to help comfort them and even feed them at night without having to leave your bed. It's also ideal when you are unable to move following an operation or recovering from C-section.

Our top pick for a bedside baby bed cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib is compact and folds down in a matter of seconds to fit into a travel bag making it ideal for travel and nights away from home. It's one the lightest options for a bedside cot. It has a soft, comfortable foam mattress with mesh panels that let air flow. It also comes with an incline option that can be added. Plus, it won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Moses basket or Cot Crib.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another excellent bedside crib. It won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in storage solution and changing mat, is light (only 10kg) and features an adjustable side for easy access.

Style

For many mums, particularly those who have had a C-section A crib that is placed near the bed could prove to be an absolute godsend. You can easily reach your baby without having to get out of your bed. This allows you to provide comfort and food to your infant at night. The close proximity to your baby can also increase the production of milk for mothers who breastfeed.

Bassinets aren't just practical, but also fashionable. This is the reason they're so popular. They're usually bigger than Moses baskets and come in a variety of different styles, with some featuring extra features such as a gentle tilt to the reflux. Designed to fit by your bed, they can be moved around the house as the baby grows older, and some are able to be taken to the go which makes them ideal for new parents traveling.

When choosing a bedside cot It is essential to look for designs that have easy-to-use drop sides. This allows you to lower your child into the bassinet, without having to lift them up into your arms. This can be a hassle for mothers who have limited mobility. One such model is the Chicco Next2Me Magic which has been highly praised by Mumsnetters and was shortlisted for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot Moses, Crib or Basket category.

Another useful feature that a few models come with is a transparent side that lets you be able to see your baby at all times. This is especially useful when you are groggy at 3am and you need to feed your baby. A quick glance can make a huge difference. One such option is the Sleepiest BassiNest that is easy to lower as noted by our MFM home tester Emily.

Budget

A bedside crib is an excellent option if you're not ready to upgrade to a larger crib. The crib is attached to your bed, so you can reach your baby easily for feedings at night or cuddle them without causing any disturbance to yourself. It's a great choice for those who have limited movement after a C-section. Celebrity moms like Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen it.

Our Parent Testers loved the new model of this bestselling crib from Chicco, which won the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. It's large and breathable, and comes with six height options to accommodate growing babies, plus a gentle reflux setting for incline. It can be used as a crib for travel and comes with a convenient storage case.

It can be a challenge to move a bedside cot around the home, but our Parent Testers reported that the Shnuggle Air alongside the cot was easy to move. It's one of the smallest options and is compact enough to fit into its own travel bag which means you can carry it with you when you travel.

The SnuzPod is a different highly rated bedside cot that's simple to set up and take down and packed with features for an enjoyable night's sleep. It comes with a lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric helps your baby regulate their temperature. It also has a soft rocking function, as well as an incline option for reflux, and it's light enough to use as a travel cot when you're out and about. It's a little more expensive than other bedside cribs, but Parent Testers agree that it's worth the extra cost.