Page 104 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)
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siDe
PANeL
Check if you can sleep
beDsiDe lowered, as this means you
with the side of the crib
can see and reach your baby
more easily. If your baby is likely
CRibs not in bed beside her, make
to nap in the crib when you’re
sure the side panel is
easy to re-attach.
Keep your baby close at night
For the first six months of your baby’s life, the Some let you keep the panel down at night
safest place for her to sleep is in the same room as so you get the closeness and convenience of
you, in a bed of her own. A bedside crib lets you co-sleeping without the risks of bed-sharing. sTORAGe
keep your baby close so you can reach her easily Others are designed so that the side panel Pockets or
for nighttime feeds and nappy changes. Most are pops back up after you lift your baby out – shelves for storing
suitable from birth to around six months old. these are a good option if you have concerns nappy changing
about the risks of co-sleeping. essentials in are very
handy on a bedside crib,
Do you need one? especially if your room
Yes, if you like the thought of sleeping close to Can you use it as a standalone crib? isn’t huge.
your baby and being able to see her at night. Many bedside cribs are designed to convert to
And, if you have a c-section, a bedside crib can standalone cribs. This can be useful if you want
help your recovery, as you won’t need to get out to use the crib elsewhere in the house for daytime
of bed to feed or change her during those first naps, or keep it in your room but move it away
few weeks, when she’s likely to wake a lot at night. from your bed once your baby starts sleeping for
longer at night. If you think you’ll convert the
Is it suitable for your bed? crib back and forth from a co-sleeper to a
A bedside crib must be compatible with your standalone crib regularly, choose one which is
bed, as the baby’s mattress must be level with robust and doesn’t need to be attached to your
your own. If your bed is lower or higher than bed. If you’re happy to keep the crib attached to
most, opt for a crib that’s height-adjustable. If your bed for the duration of its use, don’t spend
you have a divan, check which cribs will work. extra money on the standalone functionality.
How easy is it to assemble? How much space have you got?
Some bedside cribs are easy to assemble without Bedside cribs come in many different sizes, so
the use of power tools, while others will test your consider the size of your bedroom and how
DIY skills, and possibly your patience! much space you need to get in and out of bed
without disturbing your baby. If you’re tight
Do you want to co-sleep? on space, choose a compact crib, but factor
Bedside cribs usually have a side panel that can in that your baby might outgrow a smaller
be lowered so you can see and touch your baby. crib before she’s six months old.
This month’s testers
eXTRA
FeATURes
Some of the cribs we
tested have features
designed to help settle your
scrimgeour Deirdre Kelly Nora McComish Charlotte baby, such as rocking. You might
think you don’t need this, but
many babies find it soothing.
33,fromBallymena, is
34,fromBallycastle,is
Retigan
from pacing the floor with
Heidi mumtoCadhla, one week ‘i’dlikeacribthatallows ismumtoJohn-Henry, A rocking crib may spare you
mumtoUna,sixweeks
28,fromLordswood,
a wakeful baby!
‘i’mlookingfor a practical
Words but which looks stylish which we can packwith downstairs during the day.’
three months
easy access to una,but
crib that’s easy to use,
‘i need a crib i can use
in the bedroom.’
us when visitingfamily.’
102 | March 2020 | mothe ra ndbaby.co.uk
