Newborn Bedside Cot

A newborn bedside cot is a tiny sleeper that allows new babies to share the same room as their parents without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP cautions against due suffocation and SIDS). It helps you take care of your infant and feed them in the middle of the night.

This sleeper has a sturdy mattress that is designed to support babies' backs and reduce the risk of SIDS. It can swivel over your adult bed to make it easier for you to lift your baby out for midnight nursing or sunrise cuddles.

Budget

A bedside cot, sometimes referred to 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 quickly and safely for a mid-night feed or comforting cuddle. These are great for mothers and new parents recovering after a c section because they allow easy access to the baby without having to get up from the bed.

There are many different designs that are available, from the basic ones with just an upside-down side to more sophisticated models that have multiple adjustment options, including an incline or a height. The majority of them can be converted to a separate crib when your baby is older and is sleeping longer at night.

One of our top picks is the Maxi-Cosi Lora which was shortlisted for 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the categories of Best Cot Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket. MFM home tester Emily noted how stylish and modern the design was. She also appreciated the fact that it can be used as a bassinet, or clipped to your existing bed to ensure safe side-by-side sleeping. She also appreciated the soft mattress that passed our firmness test and also the fact that it features an automatic rocking feature that can be set to a slight incline for reflux sufferers.

She didn't like that it had a non-mesh panel at the bottom and she thought it was too heavy to move from room to room. She also found it a little heavy to carry up and down the stairs once folded away into its travel bedside crib bag.

Size

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

The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same room with you, but separated from you for the first six months, as this can help reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The crib that is placed beside your bed with its low sides, is a great way to achieve this. It allows you to be able to easily access your baby during the night.

It is crucial that your baby sleeps on a firm, not a soft mattress. Infants don't have the motor control to rotate and a soft mattress could increase the chance of being suffocated. The soft, breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress a comfortable one for your baby, but firm enough for safety.

Mum home tester 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 newborn bedside cot a baby. She also stated that the mattress was of good quality unlike other cribs that seem thin and flimsy. She also loves the fact that it has a storage space beneath for bedding and clothes - something many other bassinets don't.

MFM mum home test Mehack is a fan of the side wall with a removable design that lets you drop it down to give easy access to your infant. She also loves the fact that legs can be placed under the bed to make it appear less bulky and take up less floor space. She's also impressed by the ease of being able to move around the house when you need to, for convenience during middle-of-the-night meals and check-ins.

A recipient of the Gold award in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards and the CoZee Air is a popular choice among parents. It features a unique design with four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. There is also an enormous basket that can be used to store toys, blankets, and other items. It's also easy to assemble and light, which is useful for travelling with your baby.

Safety

It's important to consider the safety of the right crib for your baby's bed. Official safe sleep advice from both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies do not sleep in their parents' beds due to the dangers of overheating, suffocation and a higher risk of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bedside bassinets allow parents to keep their babies close, facilitating night time feedings as well as monitoring without having to get out of bed.

This close proximity can also aid breastfeeding mothers since it lets them attend to the needs of their baby while they sleep. This can help to maintain milk supply and encourage breastfeeding. Some cots for bedside use adjustable height features that can make it easier for the mother and child to reach the bassinet for feedings or other care at night.

Many bassinets come with mattresses that are firm, which is designed to decrease the risk of suffocation and is in line with the standards of the industry. It is important to provide support for the bones of a newborn because they are still squishy and not fully formed. The mattress should be encased in a fitted cover to minimize the risk of suffocation caused by dust mites and other allergens. It should also be kept clean and free of irritants.

Some cribs for bedside rocking crib use can be tilted. This is useful for babies who have digestive or reflux issues. However, this should only be done gently and with care. It is also important to avoid adding pillows, duvets or crib bumpers to the bassinet since these can pose a suffocation risk for your baby and should only be used when the cot is on flat surfaces.

It's also worth looking into a bassinet with an attached system that is secure and can be easily attached to your bed without the need for tools. This is particularly beneficial for parents who struggle to get their child in and out of the crib or are worried about their child rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet does have a secure attachment system, it's an excellent idea to periodically ensure that it's securely secured and that there aren't gaps or loose parts that could cause danger.

Comfort

If you're a soon-to-be parent, your baby's safety is one of your main concerns. There's a new sleep solution that lets you keep your baby close to you in the evening, without the risk of sharing the bed. The baby bedside cot is essentially a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of your bed that allows you to take them away for night feeding and soothing. It's also a great choice for mothers recovering from a C-section since it removes the need to get up or to bend over.

A modern newborn bedside cot should have a sturdy flat mattress to promote safe sleeping practices and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be kept as simple as possible with just the sheets for the cot bedside and a blanket tucked tightly at the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys or pillows as these can fall on your baby and create a suffocation hazard. If your baby has been used to being swaddled for a few weeks and you want to use an swaddle or baby sleep bag. But, it should be removed once they have the strength to unwrap them.

Some bedside cribs feature a removable or drop-down side that gives you the baby to be easily accessible for feeding and comfort in the middle of the night. This is a great feature for parents looking to keep the bond between them and their child, while adhering to NHS safe sleep guidelines. If you're planning to sleep with your child, it is crucial to be aware that this practice may increase the chance of SIDS. This is particularly true if a parent accidentally falls on their child while sleeping.

A breathable fabric is another essential safety feature, as it's designed to keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the night. This is especially important if you intend to sleep with your baby since the risk of being overheated in the night increases. The SnuzPod4 features a unique side panel made of breathable mesh that helps improve the flow of air and keep your baby comfortable in their mattress.