The Best Bedside Cot For Newborns
A bedside crib is a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the bed's side, making it easy to reach baby to feed them without fuss. They're suitable from birth to around six months.
Official safe sleeping guidance from both the NHS and The Lullaby Trust recommends newborns sleep in a separate crib from parents' beds to reduce the risk of SIDS. The best cribs for beds can help.
1. Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper with Clear-Vue
Arm's Reach was founded by a mother and father team when co-sleeping wasn't an everyday practice. They developed a concept to allow parents to sleep in a safe environment with their infants. It was the first cot for bedside that allowed babies to sleep close without falling off or getting trapped in the mattress. The Clear-Vue remains in wide use in the present, with a 25-year history and no reported deaths or injuries.
It includes a fitted sheet and the bassinet. The bassinet is intended for infants from five to six months or until they begin pushing up on their hands and knees or bending their knees, whichever comes first. The Co-Sleeper can be used as a stand-alone bassinet, or it can attach to the parent's bed using the attached strap and plate. It is simple to switch between these two modes by pulling a string. However it is not able to meet federal standards as an attached bed. Therefore, your child is not safe to leave unattended.
McKenna was also impressed by the Co-Sleeper’s accessibility. She noted that it is easy to lift your baby in and out of the bassinet from the cozy bed for feedings at night or for other needs. He also praised its safety, saying the Co-Sleeper is in compliance with all crib and bassinet standards and has been on the market for decades, with "probably 1.5 million units sold" and no reported incidents of infants dying or being injured.
The Clear-Vue bedside cot was the easiest to access of the cots we tested. The swiveling sleeping space and the adjustable height of the Clear-Vue helped you to reach your baby and soothe them. The Clear-Vue does not have lower sidewalls, which require you to stand or crouch down to retrieve your baby.
The Clear-Vue is the only one of our top picks that doesn't attach to a bed for a parent, but it came in an impressive second place and superior to other models that were designed to be attached to a parental bed. It is sturdy and solid feel, and lots of storage space.
2. HALO Bassinest
The HALO Swivel Bassinest Sleeper is one of the few bedside cot that rotates 360 degrees to bring baby closer and making it easier for parents get in and out. It also features a lowering wall that lets moms care for their babies without needing to leave bed. This is an excellent feature for nursing mothers who need assistance with feeding their babies in clusters in the first weeks and month after delivery.
The Bassinest comes with mesh walls on the sides to allow for airflow and a swivel function for parents who wish to monitor the baby throughout the night. Having the baby nearby and easy to see can make all the difference in the tired delirium of new parenthood, especially during those late-night nursing sessions.
This model earned top marks in the Convenience assessment which rated features that make it simple to clean and use. This is a must for anyone who has to deal with spit-ups and diaper blowouts that are all too frequent in the early months of life. The Bassinest can be cleaned easily with water and is lightweight. The mattress pad is washable. The bassinest also has an accessory pouch that is useful to store things like diapers and nipple cream, which are always needed during those sleep-deprived early days of motherhood.
There are a variety of versions of the Bassinest which include a cheaper standard Essentia version that doesn't have any extra features and the more extravagant LUXE PLUS series that comes with white noise and vibrations to help babies fall and remain asleep. Both models come with the mattress pad, a fitted sheet, and a massive storage caddy that is larger than the storage pouches found on other Bassinest models.
The LUXE PLUS series also comes with the option of lowering the wall lock that is sturdy and stable, a base that can be adjusted to fit most beds between 22" to 34", a floor lamp that allows you to see your newborn throughout the day and a storage caddy that can store any additional bedding or items. The weight and size of this product make it unsuitable for travel, however, its swivel function is perfect for keeping your baby close at home.
3. Joie Roomie Glide
This co-sleeper from English brand Joie was designed to make bonding between parents and babies a dream. It is more than just a crib. It lets you snuggle with your child, without sharing your bed. Feed, soothe or snuggle your baby from the cozy slumber of your own and enjoy every waking moment of the newborn stage.
The Joie Roomie Glide Cot is simple to clean and use. It's a great choice for parents who wish to co-sleep safely with their baby. Its cocoon-like rounded shape, soft padded sides and double mesh windows let you observe your baby's sleep from your own couch or bed. The sliding side panel can be adjusted and lowered with one hand. This makes it easy to respond to late-night wakeup calls. The gliding motion gently soothes your baby into a peaceful slumber to ensure you get an excellent night's rest too.
The crib is fitted with a removable, washable mattress. It's also lightweight and durable. best bedside cot comes with four locking wheels to help keep it in place and is covered with a rubber-coated fabric to avoid scratches to the floor.
The Roomie Glide's adjustable height is one of its best features. You can alter the legs so that they are perfectly aligned with the mattress of your baby. This is especially beneficial if you are breastfeeding since you can feed your baby without leaving your bed. The height also helps reduce the chance of your child falling out of the crib.
Another useful feature is the built-in rocking function that's ideal for newborns. Two buttons on the crib's side allow a gentle rocking motion that is soothing and comforting for babies. You can select either a slow or lively tempo and the glide function can be locked once your baby is fast asleep.
The only drawback to the Roomie Glide is that it's only suitable for newborns which means you'll need to upgrade to a larger cot once your baby is six months old (usually around the time they move into their own room). Roanna found it to be a great cotbed and would recommend it.
4. Bjorn Cradle
The Bjorn Cradle is a great option for parents who want a simple, stylish bedside cot. Its simple design is beautiful in any room and is simple to use and set up. Its low-height makes it a great choice for parents who want to keep an eye on their baby as they sleep. This bassinet has a high score in our Eco-Health category due to the fact that it doesn't contain any flame retardant chemicals, has a small amount of toxic materials, and is endorsed by Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class I for baby products.
The BabyBjorn Cradle is a cozy compact cradle that helps babies sleep with gentle rocking movements. Parents can rock their baby, or the cradle will turn their movements into gentle rocking. The cradle's mesh sides promote air circulation and allow parents to keep an eye on their newborn while sleeping.
In addition to its small size, the cradle's light weight makes it simple to move from room room. It is also easy to clean and machine-washed using the mattress pad and a designated sheet. However, it is important to remember that the cradle shouldn't be used in conjunction with any additional cushion mattress, pillow comforter, or bedding, since this could create a suffocation risk for infants.
To decrease the risk of SIDS, it is important to have secure sleeping habits throughout all sleeping areas. This includes putting your baby on their backs during each nap, and also when they sleep in the cradle. It is also recommended to stop using the cradle as soon as your baby starts to push up on their hands and knees or reaches 8 kg/18lbs, whichever comes first.
As with the other bassinets and cradles BabyBjorn crib is made of baby-friendly materials that have been tested to meet the most recent safety standards. The manufacturer tests their products to make sure that they don't contain harmful chemicals or toxins which could harm your child. The cradle is made of polyester and cotton and it's free from allergens that can cause irritation to the baby's sensitive skin. The fabric also aids in air circulation and is hypoallergenic.