5 Laws Everyone Working In Best Bedside Cot Uk Should Be Aware Of
How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk
Official safe sleeping guidance from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own crib or Moses basket. A bedside crib is an efficient and space-saving choice for parents who live together.
Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper because it's spacious, with plenty of room for babies to grow and wiggle. It is also much larger than the Moses Basket. It is also easy to put together, and comes with a carry bag.
What is a bedside crib?
Bedside cots (also called bassinets, side sleepers or co-sleepers) are an effective and safe method for your baby to be close to you in the early months. These cribs are attached to your bed, allowing you to lift your child to you to feed them at night or for comforting. They're also a great choice for mothers who are breastfeeding or recovering from a caesarean section.
These cots are often smaller than a standard cot, but still offer plenty of space for your baby to relax. You can pick from a variety of designs and features depending on what you prefer. Many bedside cribs have an adjustable or drop down side that allows you to reach your baby's night feeds and are also available in different heights to suit the size of your bed.
Some bedside cribs come with an adjustable riser that allows you to add a slight slope to the sleeping space that can help with reflux and a zip-off side for easy cleaning. Some cribs come with manual rocking features that can be a soothing distraction to your newborn. You'll also need a breathable mattress for your crib. It should be a minimum of 30cm deep to ensure that your newborn has sufficient head room.
A bedside cot is an investment, but you can rest assured that your newborn will get a peaceful and safe night's sleep. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams, and Gigi hadid are all 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 issued official guidelines for safe sleeping that advise that babies are in the same room 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 allows you to keep your baby close so that you can soothe them to sleep and even feed them at night without leaving your bed. It's also a great option for when you are recovering from an operation or C-section and are unable to move.
Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3 in 1 travel cot bedside crib is our top pick for a crib that can be used as a bedside. It's compact and folds down flat to fit in its travel bag and is perfect for nights out on the town or away from home. It's one of the lightest bedside cots and has an extremely comfortable mattress with mesh air-flow panels and an tilting setting, and it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another excellent bedside crib. It was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in changing mat and storage solutions and weighs only 10kg. It is light at 10kg, and comes with an adjustable side that drops down for easy access.
Style
A bedside crib is a godsend for many moms, particularly those who are recovering from C-sections. They attach to your bed so you can reach your baby easily without having to get up and letting you feed them and soothe them quickly. Being close to the baby can also increase the amount of milk produced by mothers who are breastfeeding.
In addition to being extremely useful, bassinets can look pretty stylish too which is the reason they're so popular. Some are bigger than Moses Baskets and some come with additional features, like a gentle and incline. The baskets are designed to fit under your bed, they can usually be moved around the house as the baby grows older, and some can be carried to the go making them perfect for parents who are new to traveling.
It is important to choose a cot for your bed with drop-sides that are easy to use. They allow you to lower your baby's bassinet without needing to lift them into your arms, which can be difficult for mothers who have limited mobility. One such model 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.
Some models also have a translucent side, which allows you to be able to always view your baby. This is especially useful when you're exhausted at 3am and you need to feed your child. A quick glance can make a huge difference. One such option is the Sleepiest BassiNest that is easy to lower as outlined by our MFM home tester Emily.
Budget
A bedside crib is an excellent option if you are not ready to upgrade to a larger crib. The cot is attached to the side of your bed so that you can easily reach your baby's evening feeds and also comfort them without disturbing your own sleep. It's also a great option for those with limited movement after the birth, and is a popular choice with celeb mums including Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.
Our Parents Testers loved the new model of this popular crib from Chicco that won the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. It's spacious and breathable and comes with six height settings to accommodate growing babies plus a gentle reflux setting for the incline. It can also be used as a crib for travel and comes with a handy storage case.
It can be difficult to move a bedside cot around the house, but our Parents Testers said that the Shnuggle Air alongside the cot was easy to maneuver. It is among the lighter options and can be put in its own travel bag.
The SnuzPod bedside cot is another highly rated product that's easy to fold and assemble, with many features for the perfect night's rest. It comes with a removable, adjustable bassinet that lifts off, which can fit more beds than other cots. cots4tots is breathable and can help regulate your baby's temperature. It also features a soft rocking feature and an incline setting to help with reflux, and it's light enough to use as a travel cot if you're on the move. It's a bit more expensive than other cribs for bed, but Parent Testers agree that it's worth the extra cost.