How to Choose the Best Bedside Cot uk

Official guidelines for safe sleep from both NHS and Lullaby Trust recommends that newborns sleep in their own crib or Moses basket. A bedside crib is practical and space-saving for parents who share a room.

Mumsnetters adore this co-sleeper since it's large and spacious, with plenty of room for babies to grow and wriggle and far more substantial than a Moses basket. It is also easy to assemble, and comes with a bag for carrying.

What is a bedside cot?

Bedside cots (also called side sleepers, bassinets or co-sleepers) are an effective and safe method for your baby to sleep with you in the early months. These cribs fix to your bed and allow you to lift your baby out towards you to feed them at night or for comforting without the threat 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 a little smaller than a standard cot but they provide plenty of space for your baby to relax. You can choose from a variety of designs and features according to what you prefer. A lot of cribs for bedside use an adjustable or drop-down side, which makes it easier to reach your baby at night for feedings. They also come in different heights depending on your bed size.

Some cribs for bedside use a riser which allows you to add an incline to the sleep area. This can be helpful with reflux. They also come with a zip off side for easy cleaning. Some cribs feature manual rocking features that can be 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 newborn has enough headroom.

You can rest assured that your child will be safe and secure in a bedside crib co sleeper cot. With stars like Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi Hadid all awed by the SNOO bedside crib, it's definitely worth considering this fashionable alternative to a moses basket.

Safety

Official safe sleeping guidelines from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that newborns be in the same room as you for the first six months, but not in your bed, to decrease the chance of suffocation and to lower the chance of sudden infant death syndrome. A bedside crib is a fantastic option that allows your child to comfortably be near enough for you to feed them during the night and help them return to sleep without having to get out of your own bed. It's also ideal if you have limited mobility after an operation or are recovering from a C-section.

Our top pick for a bedside cot, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 travel cot bedside crib is small and folds flat 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 cot options and has 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 Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket.

Another fab bedside cot option is the Chicco Next2me Magic bedside crib that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It comes with an integrated storage unit and changing mat, is light (only 10kg) and features an adjustable side that allows for easy access.

Style

For a lot of moms, especially those recovering from C-sections, a bedside crib can prove to an absolute blessing. They can be attached to your bed so that you can reach your baby easily without having to get up in order to feed them and soothe them quickly. They are also a great choice for mothers who are breastfeeding as their close proximity will help boost the amount of milk they produce.

Alongside being incredibly convenient, these bassinets can look pretty attractive too which is the reason they're so sought-after. They are larger than Moses Baskets and some come with additional features such as a gentle reflux upward slope. They're designed to sit next to your bed and can be moved around the home as baby grows. Some are portable, which means they're great for parents who travel.

It's important to choose a bedside cot that has easy-to-use drop-sides. These allow you to lower your baby into the bassinet without lifting them into your arms, which is difficult for moms who have limited mobility. One of these models is the Chicco Next2Me Magic which has been praised by Mumsnetters and was shortlisted for our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards best bedside cot for newborn Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category.

Another useful feature that a few models have is a transparent side that lets you be able to see your baby at all times. This is particularly useful when you are groggy at 3am and need to feed your child. A quick glance could make a big difference. As was noted by Emily our MFM home test participant the Sleepiest BassiNest an excellent choice. It's easy to lower.

Budget

If you're not quite ready to make the transition to a full-sized cot, the bedside travel cot crib could be a great option. The cot is attached to the side of your bed so you can easily reach your baby's night feeds and comfort them without disturbing your sleep. It's also a great option for those suffering from limited movement after the birth and is a favorite option with famous mothers like Stacey Solomon and Binky Felstead.

Our Parent Testers loved this latest version of the bestselling Chicco crib, which was awarded the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot or Crib. It's afclimatizing and spacious and comes with six height options to accommodate babies who are growing, as well as a gentle setting for the incline. It can be used as a crib for travel and comes with a storage case that is convenient for storage.

It can be difficult to move a bedside cot around the house, but our Parent Testers stated that the Shnuggle Air next to the cot was simple to move. It is one of the lighter options and can be put in its own travel bag.

The SnuzPod is a different highly rated bedside cot that is easy to put together and fold away, with plenty of features that will ensure your child gets an enjoyable night's sleep. It has a lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric helps your baby bedside crib maintain their temperature. It has a gentle rocking feature, as well as an incline to aid in reflux. It is also lightweight enough to use as a travel crib when you're on the move. It's more expensive than other bedside cots but our Parent Testers believe it's worth the extra money.