The Best Bedside Cot For Newborns
A bedside crib is a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of your bed which makes it easy to reach your baby for a relaxed night's feeding. They're suitable from birth to about six months.
Official safe sleeping guidelines from both the NHS and The Lullaby Trust recommends newborns sleep in a separate cot from parents' beds to reduce the chance of SIDS. These best bedside cribs can help.
1. bedside cot used with Clear-Vue
In the early days of co-sleeping, a novel idea, a mother-and-father team founded Arm's Reach and came up with a design that would allow parents to safely sleep alongside their newborns. It was the first-ever bedside cot that allowed infants to sleep close without suffocating or falling into the mattress or onto the parent's side of the bed. Clear-Vue has been in use for more than 25 years and has never been any reported deaths or injuries.
It comes with leg extensions built-in to adjust to different mattress heights and includes a sheet and fitted cover. The bassinet is meant for newborns up to five months or until they begin pushing up on their hands and knees depending on when that happens. The Co-Sleeper can be used as a stand-alone, standalone bassinet or it can be attached to the parent's bed with the included attachment strap and plate. The Co-Sleeper is easy to switch between these two modes by pulling a string. However it is not able to conform to federal standards as an attached bed. Therefore, your child should not be left unattended.
McKenna was impressed by the Co-Sleeper's ease of use, noting that it's easy to lift infants into and out of the bassinet during meals in the middle of the night or other requirements from your bed. He also praised safety of the Co-Sleeper and said that it is in compliance with all crib and baby bassinet standards. It has been on the marketplace for decades and "about 1.5 million units have been sold" with no reports of infant accidents or deaths.
In our tests in our tests, the Clear-Vue was the most easy to access of the cots with bedside tables we examined. Its swiveling sleeping area and adjustable height allowed you to easily reach in and comfort your baby. The Clear-Vue does not have lower sidewalls which require you to crouch or reach down to retrieve your baby.
The Clear-Vue was the only model in our top five that didn't connect to the bed of the parent. However, it was a close second and far superior to a few of the beds we tested that were designed to be connected to parent beds. It is sturdy and solid feel and has plenty of storage space.
2. HALO Bassinest
The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is the sole bedside cot that can rotate 360 degrees to keep baby close and makes it simpler for parents to get in and out of the bed. It also has a lowering wall that lets moms care for their babies without needing to leave bed. This is a great feature for nursing mothers who require assistance with their cluster-feeding newborns during the first few months and weeks following delivery.
The Bassinest comes with mesh side walls that allow for plenty of airflow. Additionally, the swing feature is ideal for parents who need to monitor their child throughout the night. The baby's presence and easy to see can make all the difference in the tired anxiety of being a new parent especially during late-night nursing sessions.
This model scored high in the Convenience Assessment, which evaluates features that make it easy to use and clean. This is a necessity for anyone who has to contend with spit ups and diaper blowouts during the beginning of life. The Bassinest is light and is easy to wipe down with water, and the mattress pad is washable too. It comes with a side pouch for items like diapers and nipple lotion which you'll need during the sleepless beginnings of motherhood.
There are several models of the Bassinest, including the less expensive standard Essentia version that doesn't have any additional features, and the more extravagant LUXE PLUS series that comes with white noise and vibrations to help babies fall asleep and stay asleep. Both models come with a mattress pad, fitted sheet, and a massive storage caddy that's larger than the storage pouches on other Bassinest options.
The LUXE PLUS series also has the option of lowering the wall lock as well as a sturdy and stable base that adjusts to fit most beds between 22" to 34", a floor light that allows you to see your newborn throughout the day and a movable storage caddy that can store any additional bedding or items. It's not ideal for travel due the weight and size, however the swivel feature is great for keeping baby near while you're at home.
3. Joie Roomie Glide
The design is designed to make bonding between parents an ideal experience This co-sleeper made by English brand Joie is more than a crib for the bed. With a single-hand slide and sliding side panels, it helps you sleep safely next to your baby without having to share your own bed. You can feed, soothe or snuggle your baby from the peace of your bed. Enjoy every moment of the baby's first year.
The Joie Roomie Glide Cot is simple to clean and use. It's a great choice for parents who want to sleep in a safe environment with their baby. Its cocoon-shaped rounded design, soft side panels that are padded and a double mesh windows allow you to monitor your baby's sleep from your sofa or bed. The side panel that slides up and lowers with a single hand, making it easy to answer those late night wakeup calls. The gliding motion gently soothes your little one into a peaceful slumber so you can enjoy a good night's sleep too.
The crib comes with an washable, fitted mattress that's removable to make cleaning easier and an aluminum lightweight and sturdy frame for easy movement. It comes with four locking wheels to keep it in place and is covered with a rubbery material to prevent scratches on the floor.
The adjustable height of the Roomie Glide is among its most useful features. You can adjust the legs to ensure that they are perfectly aligned with the mattress of your baby. This is particularly useful if you are breastfeeding, as you can feed your baby without leaving your bed. The height also helps reduce the chance of your child falling out of the crib.
A built-in rocking function is a further feature that's ideal for newborns. Two buttons on the crib's side activate a gentle rocking movement that is soothing and comforting for babies. You can select an easy or a energetic tempo, and the gliding feature can be turned off after your baby has fallen asleep.
The only downside of the Roomie Glide cot is that it is only suitable for infants. You will need to upgrade your baby's bed to a larger crib when he/she turns six months (normally at the time they move into their new room). Roanna found it to be a fantastic cotbed and would recommend it.
4. Bjorn Cradle
The Bjorn Cradle makes a great choice for parents seeking a stylish simple bedside cot. It's simple design looks great in any room and is easy to set up and use. Its low-height design is beneficial for parents who have to monitor their child when they sleep. This bassinet earned an above-average score in our Eco-Health category due to the fact that it doesn't contain any fire retardant chemicals, has a minimal amount of toxic substances, and is endorsed by Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class I for baby products.
The BabyBjorn Cradle is a cozy, compact cradle that soothes babies by gentle rocking motions. The cradle can gently rock the baby or parents can rock the baby manually it manually. The cradle's mesh sides promote air circulation and allows parents to keep an eye on their newborn while sleeping.
The cradle is easy move around the house because of its lightweight weight. It is also easy to clean and is machine-washable with the mattress pad and designated sheet. It is important to keep in mind that the cradle shouldn't be used in conjunction with any other padding, mattress or comforter.
To reduce the risk of SIDS, it's crucial to practice secure sleeping habits in all sleeping areas. This includes placing your baby on their back for every nap and while sleeping in the cradle. It is also recommended to stop using the cradle as soon as your baby begins to push up on their knees and hands or reaches 8 kg/18 lb or 8 kg/18 lbs, whichever is first.
The BabyBjorn cradle, like the other bassinets and cribs, is made of child-friendly materials. The materials are tested to ensure they meet the latest safety standards. The manufacturer tests their products to be sure they do not contain harmful chemicals or toxins that could harm your child. The cradle's fabric is polyester and cotton, and it's free of allergens which can affect the sensitive skin of your baby. The fabric also aids in air circulation and is hypoallergenic.