How to Choose the best bedside cot uk (continue reading this..)

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

Mumsnetters love the co-sleeper as it is spacious, with plenty of room for babies to grow and play. It is also much bigger than the Moses Basket. It's also simple to assemble, and comes with a carry bag.

What is a bedside cot?

A bedside cot (also known as a side sleeper, bassinet or co sleeper bedside cot-sleeper) is a safe way for your baby to sleep near you during their first months. These cribs are attached to your bed and allow you to pull your child to you to feed them at night or even comfort them. These cribs are also ideal for mums who are breastfeeding or recovering from a cesarean section.

They're often slightly smaller than a standard cot or cotbed, yet they provide ample space for your baby to lay down. You can pick from a variety of designs and features based on your preferences. A lot of cribs with a bedside feature a drop down or removable side that makes it easier to reach your baby for feeding at night. They are also available in various heights to suit the size of your bed.

Some bedside cribs come with an riser that permits you to add a slight incline to the sleep area that can help with reflux and a zip-off side for easy cleaning. Some have manual rocking features which can be a soothing distraction for your newborn. You'll need a mattress that is air-conditioned to match your crib. It must be at least 30cm in depth to allow your baby plenty of headroom.

You can be confident that your baby will be comfortable and safe in a bedside cot 6 months plus cot. Kate Hudson, Serena Williams and Gigi hadid are all fans of SNOO's bedside crib. It is definitely worth considering as an alternative to a Moses basket.

Safety

Official guidelines for safe sleep from the Lullaby Trust and NHS advises that newborn babies should be placed in the same bed as you for their 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 allows you to keep your infant close to you so that you can soothe them to sleep and night feed them without leaving your bed. This is also a great option if you are recovering from an operation or a C-section and have limited mobility.

Our top choice for a bedside crib, the Silver Cross Slumber Carbon 3-in-1 bedside crib for travel is small and folds flat in seconds to fit into a travel bag which makes it perfect for trips to the beach and nights away from home. It's among the lightest bedside cots and has an extremely comfortable mattress with mesh air-flow panels, an optional incline setting, plus it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket.

Another fab bedside cot bed cot option is the Chicco Next2me Magic bedside crib travel crib that was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It has a built-in changing mat and storage solution and weighs only 10kg. It is light at 10kg, and features an adjustable side that slides down to make it easy to access.

Style

For many mums, particularly those who have had C-sections A crib that is placed near the bed can be an absolute godsend. You can easily reach your baby without getting out of your bed. This lets you soothe and feed your infant at night. The close proximity to your baby can also help increase milk production for mothers who breastfeed.

Alongside being incredibly practical, these bassinets are elegant which is the reason they're so sought-after. They're typically more spacious than Moses baskets and come in a variety of different styles, some even having extra features like a gentle tilt to the reflux. They are designed to fit close to your bed and can be moved around the house as baby grows. Some are portable, so they're great for parents who travel.

It is essential to select a cot for your bed that has easy-to-use drop-sides. This allows you to lower your infant into the bassinet without having to lift them up into your arms. This can be difficult for mothers with limited mobility. Chicco Next2Me Magic is one of the models that has been highly praised and was shortlisted by Mumsnetters in the category of the best Cot or Crib or Moses Basket for our 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.

Another useful feature that a few models come with is a translucent side that lets you be able to see your baby at all times. This is particularly useful when you are tired and sleepy where one glance could make all the difference. One of these options is the Sleepiest BassiNest, which is simple to lower, as noted by our MFM home tester Emily.

Budget

A bedside crib is a fantastic alternative if you're not ready to upgrade to a bigger crib. The cot is attached to the bed's side so that you can easily reach your baby for feedings at night and soothe them without disrupting your sleep. It's a great choice for those with restricted movement after a C-section. Celebrity moms such as Binky Felstead and Stacey Solomon have also chosen it.

Our Parent Testers loved this new version of the popular Chicco crib, which won 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot or Crib. It's large and breathable, and comes with six height settings to accommodate growing babies, as well as a gentle setting for incline. It can also be used as a travel cot. Additionally, it comes with an easy-to-store storage bag.

It can be a challenge to move a bedside cot around your house, but our Parents Testers said that the Shnuggle Air alongside the cot was easy to maneuver. It is among the lighter options and can be tucked away in its own travel bag.

The SnuzPod is another highly rated bedside cot that's simple to put together and fold away and packed with features to ensure a good night's sleep. It comes with a lift-off bassinet that fits more beds than any other cot, and its breathable fabric helps your baby regulate their temperature. It also has a gentle rocking function, as well as an incline setting to help with reflux, and is light enough to be used as a travel cot if you're on the move. It's more expensive than other cribs for bed but Parents Testers are of the opinion that it is worth the extra cost.