"The Ultimate Cheat Sheet" For Best Bedside Cot Uk

How to Choose the Best Bedside cot bedside uk

Official safety sleeping guidelines from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own crib or Moses basket. A crib for bed is a practical and space-saving option for parents who live together.

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

What is a bedside cot?

A bedside cot (also called a side sleeper, bassinet or co-sleeper) is a safe method for your newborn to sleep close to you overnight during the first few months of their life. These cribs are attached to your bed and let you lift your baby out towards you for night feeding or comforting without the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome associated with traditional bed-sharing. These cribs are also great for mothers who are nursing or recovering from a cesarean section.

These cots are often smaller than a standard cot but they provide plenty of room for your baby to relax. You can pick from various designs and features based on your preferences. A lot of cribs with a bedside feature the option of a drop-down or removable side that allows you to reach your baby for evening feeds. They are available in a variety of sizes to fit the dimensions of your bed.

Some bedside crib vs cot cribs come with an adjustable riser that allows you to add a slight incline to the sleeping space that can help with reflux and the ability to zip off the sides for easy cleaning. Some cribs feature manual rocking features that can provide a relaxing distraction to your newborn. You'll require a mattress that's breathable to go with your crib. It should be at least 30cm deep to allow your baby plenty of headroom.

A bedside crib is a major investment, but you can be sure your baby will be secure and comfortable sleep. With the likes of Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all fans of the SNOO bedside crib, it's definitely worth looking into this elegant alternative to a moses basket.

Safety

The Lullaby Trust, in conjunction with the NHS has released official guidelines for safe sleep that recommend that newborns sleep in the same bedroom as their parents for the first six months. However, they should not sleep in your bed. This is to decrease the chance of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed lets you keep your baby close to you to help soothe them to sleep and night feed them without leaving your bed. It's also a great option if you are recovering from an operation or C-section, and have limited mobility.

Our top pick for a bedside cot the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib is compact and folds down in seconds to fit into its own travel bag making it ideal for travel and nights away from home. It's one of the lightest bedside cots available and comes with a a comfy deep foam mattress that has mesh air-flow panels, an optional tilt setting, and it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best bedside cot uk 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 a built-in storage solution and changing mat, is lightweight (only 10kg) and features an adjustable side that makes it easy to access.

Style

A bedside crib is a blessing for many mums, especially those recovering from C-sections. They are attached to your bed so that you can easily reach your baby without having to get up, allowing you to night feed them and comfort them quickly. They are also a great choice for breastfeeding mothers as their close proximity will help boost the amount of milk they produce.

These bassinets are not only functional, but also fashionable. This is why they're so sought-after. They're typically more spacious than Moses baskets and are available in many different styles, with some having additional features, like a soft reflux incline setting. 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.

It is essential to select a bedside cot with drop-sides that are easy to use. These let you lower your baby bedside sleeper into the bassinet without needing to lift them into your arms, which can be difficult for mums with limited mobility. One of them is the Chicco Next2Me Magic which has been highly praised by Mumsnetters and was shortlisted for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards' Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category.

Some models also have a transparent side, allowing you to be able to always view your baby. This is especially useful when you're groggy at 3am and you need to feed your baby. A quick glance can make a big difference. One such option is the Sleepiest BassiNest that is simple to lower, as outlined by our MFM home tester Emily.

Budget

If you're not ready to make the transition to a full-sized cot, a bedside crib may be the perfect solution. The crib is attached to your bed so that you can reach your baby easily to feed them at night or even comfort them without causing any disturbance to yourself. It's also a great choice for those suffering from limited movement after a C-section, and is a popular option for celeb moms like Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.

Our Parent Testers loved the new version of this well-loved crib from Chicco that won the 2021 Mother&Baby Award for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. It's large and breathable, and comes with six different height settings for babies who are growing. There is also a soft reflux setting. 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 your home However, our Parents Testers reported that the Shnuggle Air next to the cot was easy to maneuver. It is one of the lighter options and can be tucked away in its own travel bag.

The SnuzPod bedside cot is another highly rated product that's simple to assemble and fold with plenty of features for an unwinding night's sleep. It has a removable bassinet that lifts off to fit more beds than any other cot and its breathable fabric helps your baby maintain their temperature. It also has a soft rocking function, as well as an incline option for reflux, and is lightweight enough to be used as a travel cot when you're on the move. It's a bit more expensive than other cots for bed however our Parents Testers affirm that it's worth the extra cash.