Newborn bedside travel crib Cot

A newborn bedside cot is a compact sleeper that allows newborns to share a room as their parents, without the dangers of co-sleeping (which the AAP advises against due to SIDS and suffocation). It makes it easier to care for your baby and nurse them during the night.

This sleeper has a sturdy mattress that can support babies' backs and decrease the chance of SIDS. It can slide over your adult bed to make it easier for you to carry your baby out for midnight nursing or sunrise cuddles.

Budget

A large bedside cot crib, also referred to as a co-sleeper or bassinet is a bassinet type baby cot that clips to your bed. This allows you to safely and easily reach your baby during the night for feeding or comforting cuddles. These are ideal for new parents and mums recovering from a csection because they allow the baby to be easily accessible without having to get up from bed.

There are a variety of styles available, ranging from basic ones with just a drop down side to more sophisticated ones that offer various adjustment options, such as incline or height. The majority of them can be converted into a separate crib for naps during the day or when your baby is a few months old and sleeping longer at night.

Maxi-Cosi Lora is one our favorites. It was shortlisted in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily said she was impressed by how chic and modern the design was. She also appreciated the fact that it could be used as a bassinet or clipped to your existing bed for safe side-byside sleeping. She also appreciated the soft mattress, which was able to pass our test of firmness and the fact that it has a manual rocking feature that can be set to a slight incline for those suffering from reflux.

She didn't like that it had a non mesh panel on the bottom and considered it too bulky to move around from room to room. It also felt a little heavy to carry up and down the stairs once folded away into its travel bag.

Size

A bedside cot is an upholstered bassinet that is fixed to your side of the bed. It's easy to reach your baby's side for feedings, changing nappies, or to comfort them during the night. It's also great for moms recovering from a C-section.

The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you place your baby in the same space as you, but keep them separate from you for the first six months, since this will help decrease the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The crib that is placed beside your bed with its low sides, is a great method to achieve this. It allows you to access your baby easily throughout the night.

It is crucial that your infant sleeps on a firm mattress as it is more secure than a mattress that is soft. A soft mattress can increase the risk of suffocation among infants as they do not have the motor control required to turn. The soft, breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make this mattress comfortable for your baby but also sufficient to ensure safety.

Mum Jasmin was happy that the crib didn't occupy too much space in her room and found it to be the ideal size for a newborn. She also said that the mattress was also of good quality, as opposed to those that feel cheap and thin. She also loves the fact that it has a storage area underneath for clothes and bedding which many bassinets don't have.

MFM mum home tester Mehack is a huge fan of the side wall that is removable that lets you lower it to make it easier access to your newborn. She also loves that the legs tuck into the bed so it does not look bulky or take up a lot of floor space. She's also amazed by how it was simple to move around the house when she needed to do checks and feedings in the middle of the night.

The CoZee Air crib is a favorite among parents. It was awarded a Gold Award in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It features a unique design that has four pulleys that can be used to raise or lower your crib. There's also an ample basket for blankets, toys, and other necessities. It is also lightweight and easy to assemble which makes it perfect for travel with your baby.

Safety

It's important to consider the safety of the crib for your newborn. The official safety sleep guidelines of both the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that babies should 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 allow parents to keep their newborns close, facilitating night time feedings, comforting, and monitoring without the need to leave their bed.

This close proximity also assists breastfeeding mothers by allowing them to take care of their infant's needs without having to wake up in the middle of the night, which can help to keep the supply of milk steady and help the breastfeeding experience. Some cots with a bedside are equipped with adjustable height features, which can ensure that the bassinet is at an appropriate height for mother and baby to allow easy access for middle-of-the-night feedings or other care.

Many bassinets come with a firm mattress, which is designed to minimize the risk of suffocation, and also meets industry standards. This is essential because newborn's bones are brittle and aren't fully developed. They require support to prevent injury. The mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet to decrease the risk that dust mites or other allergens, could cause a child to be suffocated. It should also be kept clean and free of irritants.

Some cribs for bedside use can be tilted. This is beneficial for babies suffering from digestive or reflux issues. However, it should be done slowly and with caution. It is also important to stay clear of adding pillows, duvets or crib bumpers to the bassinet, as they can create a suffocation risk for your baby and should only be used when the cot is set on flat surfaces.

It's also worth thinking about a bassinet with a secure attachment system that can be easily attached to your bed without the need for tools. This feature can be particularly useful for parents who struggle to lift their child in and out of the cot or who are worried about accidentally rolling over in the night. If your bassinet is equipped with secured attachments, it's recommended to regularly check that it's securely attached and that there aren't gaps or loose parts that could pose a hazard.

Comfort

If you are a soon-to-be parent, the comfort of your child is among your top concerns. There's a new solution to sleep that allows you to keep your baby close at night, without the danger of sharing the bed. The newborn bedside travel crib cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib which is fixed to the bed's side that allows you to move them towards you for night feeding and soothing. It is also the perfect choice for mothers recovering from a csection, as it reduces the need to bend over too much or even to get out of the bed.

A modern newborn bedside cot should have a sturdy flat mattress to ensure a safe sleep and lower the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bedding should be simple, with just a cot sheet and a blanket that is tightly tucked at the bottom. Avoid bumpers, toys, and pillows that can fall on your baby, posing a suffocation risk. If your baby is used to being swaddled, you can make use of a swaddle, or a baby sleep bag for the first few weeks, however it is best to remove it as soon as you can once they've gained the strength to pull themselves out of the wrap.

Some bedside cribs have a removable or drop-down side for easy access to your baby's feeds and comforting. This feature is perfect for parents who wish to keep a close relationship with their child, while still following NHS sleep guidelines. However, if you're planning to co-sleep in the same bed as your baby it's important to recognize that this practice has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS especially when a parent accidentally falls on their infant during sleep.

A fabric that breathes will keep your baby comfortable and cool throughout the night. This is particularly important if you plan to co-sleep with your newborn, as the risk of overheating increases when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 has a unique side panel made of breathable mesh, which helps to improve airflow and newborn bedside Cot keep your baby snug in their mattress.