20 Myths About Best Bedside Cot Uk: Dispelled

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 crib that is placed near the bed can be a space-saving and practical option for parents who share a room.

Mumsnetters love this co-sleeper as it's spacious with lots of room for babies to grow and play, and far more substantial than the typical Moses basket. It's also easy to assemble and comes with a carry-on bag.

What is a bedside cot?

Bedside cribs (also known as bassinets, side sleepers, or co-sleepers) are an ideal and safe way for your baby to sleep near you during their early months. These cribs are attached to your bed and let you raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or for comforting without the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome associated with traditional bed-sharing. These cribs are also great for mums who are breastfeeding or recovering from a cesarean.

They're often slightly smaller than a regular cot, but provide plenty of space for your baby to rest. You can choose from different styles and features depending on your preferences. Many cribs with a bedside feature a removable or drop-down side, which makes it easier to reach your baby during feeding time at night. They also come in various heights based on the size of your bed.

Some bedside cribs come with a riser that allows you to add a slight incline to the sleeping space that could help with reflux. It also has an easy zip-off side for cleaning. Some cribs feature manual rocking options which can provide a soothing distraction to your newborn. You'll also need a breathable mattress to go with your crib. It must be at least 30cm in depth to ensure that your baby has enough head space.

You can be sure that your child will be comfortable and safe in a bedside cot. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid are all big fans of SNOO's bedside crib. It is definitely worth considering as an alternative to the Moses basket.

Safety

Official safe sleeping guidance from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that newborns sleep in the same room as you for their first six months, but not in your bed, to decrease the chance of suffocation and to reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome. A crib that is placed near your bed is an excellent option that allows your baby to remain close enough to you to feed them during the night and soothe them back to sleep without needing to leave your bed. It's also a great option when you are unable to move after an operation or recovering from an operation such as a C-section.

Our top pick for a bedside crib, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib is compact and folds flat in a matter of seconds and fits into a travel bag which makes it perfect for trips to the beach and nights away from home. It's one of the tiniest bedside cots and has an extremely comfortable mattress, air-flow panels and an tilt setting, and it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another great bedside crib option.  over here  was awarded 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 crib for your bed is a godsend for many mums, especially those who are recovering from C-sections. They can be attached to your bed so you can easily reach your baby without having to get up, allowing you to night feed them and comfort them quickly. They're an excellent choice for breastfeeding mothers as the close proximity can help boost the amount of milk they produce.

They are not just practical, but also stylish. This is the reason they're so sought-after. They're usually more spacious than Moses baskets and come in a variety of different styles, with some featuring extra features like a gentle tilt to the reflux. The baskets are designed to fit under your bed, they are able to be moved around your home as the baby grows older, and some can be carried with you on the go making them perfect for parents who are new to traveling.

When choosing a bedside cot it is important to select a model that have easy-to-use drop sides. They allow you to lower your infant into the bassinet without having to lift them into your arms, which is difficult for mums who have limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of these models that has been acknowledged and shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of the Best Cot or Crib, or Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

Some models also have a transparent side, allowing you to be able to always view your baby. This is especially helpful in the case of 3am feeds that are bleary-eyed, when one glance could make all the difference. One such option is the Sleepiest BassiNest, which is easy to lower as outlined by our MFM home tester Emily.

Budget

If you're not quite ready to make the transition to a larger cot a bedside crib may be the perfect solution. This bassinet-style cot attaches to the bed's side so you can easily reach your baby for night feeds and comfort them without disturbing your sleep. It's also a great choice for those who suffer from limited movement after an operation and is a popular option with famous mothers like Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.

Our Parents Testers loved this latest version of the well-loved Chicco crib, which won 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Cot or Crib.  amazon bedside cot  and breathable, and comes with six different height settings for growing babies. There is also a soft reflux setting. 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 your house, but our Parent Testers reported that the Shnuggle Air next to the cot was simple to move. It's one of the smallest alternatives and is small enough to fit into its own travel bag so you can take it with you on your travels.

The SnuzPod bedside cot is yet another highly rated product that's easy to assemble and fold with plenty of features for a restful night's sleep. It comes with a bassinet with a lift-off that can fit more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric can help your baby to regulate their temperature. It also has a gentle rocking function, as well as an incline option for reflux, and is light enough to be used as a travel cot if you're on the move. It's more expensive than other bedside cribs but Parents Testers agree that it's worth the extra expense.