Is Technology Making Newborn Bedside Cot Better Or Worse

Newborn bedside cot crib Cot

A newborn bedside cot is a small sleeper that allows new babies to share the same space as their parents without the risk of sleeping together (which the AAP advises against due to SIDS and suffocation). It helps you care for your infant and feed them throughout the night.

This sleeper comes with a firm mattress that supports babies' backs, reducing the risk of SIDS. It can be swiveled over your adult bed to lift your baby to snuggle them at sunrise or for nighttime nursing.

Budget

A bedside cots for newborns 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 reach your baby quickly and safely for a mid-night feed or cuddles. They are a great choice for new parents or mums recovering from a c-section as they allow the baby with easy access and do not require you to get up.

There are a variety of designs available, ranging from basic ones with just a drop down side to more sophisticated ones that offer numerous adjustment options, like an incline or a height. Many convert to a standalone crib for napping during the daytime or when your baby is around a few months old and sleeping longer at night.

Maxi-Cosi Lora is one of our top picks. It was shortlisted in the Best Cot category for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. MFM home tester Emily expressed her delight at how stylish and modern the design is as well as the feature that you can use it as a regular bassinet or connect it to a bed to ensure that you can sleep side-by-side. She also liked the plush mattress, which was able to pass our test of firmness, and the fact that it features a manual rocking function that can be adjusted to a slight slope for reflux sufferers.

She wasn't a fan of the fact that it had a non-mesh panel on the bottom and thought it was too bulky to move from room to room. When folded into a travel bag she found it to be quite heavy to carry up the stairs.

Size

A bedside cot is essentially a bassinet-style cot that fixes to your side of the bed. It allows you to reach your newborn for middle-of-the-night feeding, nappies and comforting. It's also great for moms recovering from the C-section.

The NHS and Lullaby Trust advise that you keep your baby in the same space as you, but keep them separate from you for the first six months, as this can help reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The crib at the bedside, with its low sides, is a great method to achieve this. It lets you be able to easily access your baby throughout the night.

It is crucial that your baby is sleeping on a firm, not an extremely soft mattress. A mattress that is soft increases the risk of suffocation for newborns, as they lack the motor control needed to turn. The soft, breathable fabric and skin-friendly materials make the mattress comfortable for your baby but also sufficient to ensure safety.

Mum home test Jasmin liked that this crib does not take up a lot of space in her bedroom. Also, she found the size perfect for a baby. She also said that the mattress was of high-quality unlike other cribs that seem thin and flimsy. She also appreciates that it has a storage area underneath for clothes and bedding - something many other bassinets do not have.

Mehack, a MFM mother who has tested the product at home, is thrilled the ability to remove the side wall to allow for easier access to your baby. She also likes the fact that legs fold into the bed so it does not look bulky or take up a lot of floor space. She's also impressed by how easy it is to move around the house whenever you need to for ease during late-night feedings and check-ins.

A recipient of an Gold award at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards, 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's also an ample basket for toys, blankets, and other necessities. It's also light and easy to put together and is ideal for traveling with your baby.

Safety

It's important to consider the safety aspect when selecting the crib for your newborn. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS, recommend that babies not sleep in the parents bed due to the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome. Bedside bassinets allow parents to keep their infants close to them, facilitating nighttime feedings, comforting, and monitoring without the need to get out of bed.

This close proximity also supports breastfeeding mothers as they can attend to their baby's needs without waking up completely and can help keep milk supply steady and enhance the breastfeeding experience. Some bedside cot sale cots come with adjustable height options that can aid the mother and child to reach the bassinet to feed or take care of other needs at night.

Many bassinets have mattresses that are firm and designed to reduce the risk of suffocation and meets industry standards. It is essential to support the bones of a newborn because they are still squishy and are not fully formed. The mattress should be covered in a fitted sheet to decrease the chance of suffocation due to dust mites or other allergens. It should also be kept clean and free of allergens.

Some cots with a bedside can be tilted. This can be useful for babies with reflux or digestive issues, but this should be done with a lot of care and at a moderate angle. Avoid adding pillows, duvets or padded crib bumpers in the bassinet. They could pose the risk of suffocation your baby.

It's also worth thinking about a bassinet with an attached system that is secure and can be easily fixed to your bed without the necessity of tools. This feature is especially useful for parents who struggle to carry their child into and out of the crib or are concerned about their child accidentally rolling over during sleep. If your bassinet is equipped with a secure attachment system, it's recommended to regularly make sure it's secure and that there are no gaps or loose components that could cause danger.

Comfort

If you're planning to become a parent, your baby's safety is one of your primary concerns. There's a new sleep solution that allows you to keep your baby close in the evening, without the risk of bed-sharing. The baby bedside cot is an essentially a bassinet-style crib which is fixed to the bed's side that allows you to take them away for night feeding and soothing. It's an excellent option for mothers recovering from a C section as it removes the need to stand or sit up.

Modern bedside cots for babies should include a firm, flat mattress to encourage safe sleeping habits and lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Bedding should be easy comprising a cot sheets and a blanket that is tightly tucked on the bottom. Avoid toys, bumpers and pillows since they could fall on your baby and pose a risk of suffocation. If your baby has been used to being swaddled during a few weeks and you want to use an swaddle or baby sleep bag. However, this should be removed when they have the strength to unwrap them.

Some cribs with a bedside feature an option to remove or drop down the side that gives you easy access to your baby for feeding and comfort in the middle of the night. This is a great option for parents who wish to maintain an intimate relationship with their child, while adhering to NHS safe sleep advice. If you're planning to co-sleep in the same bed with your child, it's important to understand that this practice has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS especially when a parent accidentally is able to roll onto their child during sleep.

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 crucial if you intend to co-sleep with your newborn, as the risk of being overheated increases when you sleep. The SnuzPod4 comes with a unique, breathable side panel that helps improve the airflow and keeps your baby comfortable.