The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside crib is a bassinet-style crib that attaches directly to your bed. This lets your baby rest comfortably close to you. This is a great choice to allow your baby to be close enough for a relaxed feedings in the beginning stages of their development.
The HALO BassiNest Essentia was crowned our best bedside cot test, with a swiveling sleeping surface and sidewalls that slide down effortlessly. This makes it easy to reach over and soothe them.
Safety
A bedside cot is a great solution for parents who wish to keep their infant close but not sacrifice safety. The crib is attached to the side of your mattress. It is movable so that you can reach out to your baby. You can use a crib for your bed to night feed your baby or to soothe them back to sleep. It's also a great option for mothers who've had C-sections. Bedside cots come in a variety of sizes and designs and some come with storage. If you're looking for a bedside cot, be sure to check the safety features to make sure it's safe for your child.
The Boori Oasis Oval Cot is an attractive cot that's simple to put together and compact. Its oval shape is ideal for infants who roll around in their sleep, since it means that they won't be trapped in a corner like they would with the rectangular cot. This cot is also easy to slide through standard door frames, which is a big benefit for parents with limited space.
Another good choice is the La Redoute Willox Adjustable Cot Bed. This cot has a lot of features that make parenting simpler, and it looks great. Its adjustable sides mean that it can adapt to your child and transform into a toddler bed when they're ready. It's also light, so it is easy to move around.
A quality crib for your bed should have high mesh sides to prevent your child from falling out. It should be securely attached to your bed, with no gaps or loose parts. If you're not sure about fitting a bedside cot yourself or hiring a professional, let a professional complete the task for you.
Co-sleeping is not advised until your baby is at least six months old age. Official advice from The Lullaby Trust and the NHS is that newborns should not sleep in your bed due to the danger of suffocation or overheating. However, if you need to sleep with your partner the bedside crib is the safest option.
Size
A bedside cot, also referred to as a bassinet, is a cot that attaches to the side of your mattress. It has a side which can be lifted or lowered so that you can reach your baby quickly, without the need to get out of bed. They are a favorite of famous moms like Stacey Solomon, Binky Felstead and Lucy Mecklenburgh. They are perfect for those who may have limited mobility after having a C-section.
The Maxi-Cosi Lora is our number one pick. It comes with a peekaboo feature that allows you to view your baby at the bottom of the mattress. It can also be adjusted to the mattress's height, although some mothers have complained about the difficulty of moving it up and down. It's also among the lightest options we've seen and folds down to the size of a suitcase, making it ideal for traveling with your little one.
Another option that is great is the Slumber Carbon 3-in-1, which converts into a travel cot, bassinet and playpen - it even was awarded our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards gold award in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category. It comes with a useful storage shelf below and is light enough to carry in and out of the car. Some mothers have found it a bit big and bulky for small spaces, particularly when used as a bedside sleeper.
Design
The best bedside cribs will be modern, sleek and stylish. Some have innovative designs including a peek-aboo flap on the side to let you observe your baby without disrupting them. Other features, like adjustable height, can be helpful when your child has difficulty getting up and down from bed. These sleepers can be used as a bassinet or cot and some even have incline positions for reflux babies. If you're looking for something a bit more traditional there are a lot of options to choose from as well.
A few of our favourites are the CoZee Air from Tutti Bambini that won bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Award Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category and the Next2me Magic, which was shortlisted in the same category. Both have adjustable heights and can be converted into a travel cot that can be used for use outside of the home. They are also light and easy to move around.
Other mums like the Lua Bedside Sleeper that comes with an adjustable changing mat and storage area as well as the bassinet, which can be collapsed into a mini-portable cot and a storage bag. Jasmine says it's the perfect size for infants and is bigger than Moses baskets that can feel thin or flimsy.
The iCandy Cocoon is another great alternative. It can be used as a Moses Basket or a cot for travel. It features an adjustable changing table that pops up, a shelf for books and toys, and an adjustable mesh side that allows you to view your baby. It's not the lightest, but it's easy to move around and looks stylish in any bedroom.
Cost
If you're in the market for a bedside sleeping device, bassinet or crib, cost will be a major factor. Some of the more popular models can be quite expensive. However there are plenty of less expensive alternatives. There are a variety of styles and colors to match the decor of your nursery.
The best bedside cribs are adjustable and can be adjusted to the height of your mattress. Some models come with an incline option that is ideal for babies with reflux. Some models come with a bag for travel and can be folded when not in use. This is ideal for mothers who are always on the go or have guests coming over.
Bedside cots are usually slightly bigger than Moses baskets, but smaller than cribs. Some can be moved from one place to another, and some have a side which can be lowered to allow you to pull your child to feed them or comfort him. Some models also come with built-in rockers so you can soothe your little one to sleep.
bedside crib that turns into cot de Lune, a mid-priced baby model, was shortlisted for the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Crib category. It's stylish and sleek, but slightly wider than other options. It's not suitable for smaller spaces. It's also quite heavy at more than 10kg, and needs some maneuvering to get it in position. Emily from Clair de Lune also notes that it's not as simple to get into and out of as some other beds for sleepers, as the sides aren't flexible enough and you have to bend over to scoop your baby up.