The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside crib is a bassinet-style crib that attaches directly to your bed. This allows your baby to rest peacefully close to you. This is an ideal option for parents who want their little one to be near to feed them without fuss in the beginning stages.
The HALO BassiNest Essentia won our top bedside cot in our test, featuring a swiveling sleeping surface and sidewalls that drop down without difficulty. This makes it easy to reach over and soothe them.
Safety
A bedside cot is an ideal solution for new parents who wish to keep their infant close but not sacrifice security. This kind of crib is attached to the side of your mattress. It also is movable so that you can reach out to your baby. You can use a bedside crib to night feed your baby or to soothe them back to sleep. This is a fantastic option particularly for mothers who have had C-sections. Bedside cots come in a variety of sizes and designs and some even have storage. When shopping for a cot for your bedside make sure you check the safety features.
The Boori Oasis Oval Cot has a stylish design and is easy to assemble. Its oval shape is perfect for babies who roll in their sleep. They won't be stuck in a corner as they would with an oblong cot. This cot can also be easily inserted into standard door frames. This is an excellent feature for parents who are limited in space.
Another good choice is the La Redoute Willox Adjustable Cot Bed. This cot is an ideal all-rounder, with plenty of features that make parenting easier and an attractive design. Its adjustable sides let it grow with your child and then transform into a toddler's bed when the time comes. It's also lightweight, which means it is easy to move around.
A crib with a high mesh side is a great feature to have at the bedside of a crib. This will prevent your baby from falling. It should be securely fitted to your bed, with no gaps or loose parts. If you're not confident about installing a bedside cot on your own or hiring a professional, let a professional complete the task for you.
Sleeping in a co-sleeper is not recommended until your baby is at least six months of age. Official advice from The Lullaby Trust and the NHS is that newborns shouldn't sleep in your bed due to the danger of overheating and suffocation. If you do need to sleep with your partner, a bedside crib is the safest option.
Size
A bedside cot, sometimes referred to as the bassinet, is a cot that is attached to the side of your mattress. It is a side that can be lowered or raised to let you reach your baby without needing to get out of bed. Famous moms like Stacey Solomon Binky Felstead, and Lucy Mecklenburgh adore these. They are great for those who have limited mobility following a C-section.
The Maxi-Cosi is our top pick. It comes with an option to peek behind that allows you to see your child on the bottom of the mattress. It also adjusts to your mattress height but some mothers have complained about the difficulty of moving it up and down. It's also among the lightest options on our list and it folds down to an ideal size for a suitcase which makes it ideal for travelling with your child.
The Slumber 3-in-1 is a good option. It can be used as a portable cot or bassinet as well as playpen. This product won the gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards within the category of the Best Cot or Moses Basket or Crib. It comes with a useful storage shelf beneath and is super-light to lift into and out of the car. However, some mums thought it was a bit too big and bulky for small spaces, particularly when used as a bedside mattress.
Design
The best bedside cribs are sleek, stylish and modern. Some cribs have innovative designs, like an open-air flap on the sides that allow you to check on your baby without disturbing him. Other features such as adjustable height are beneficial if your partner is having trouble getting out of bed. Some sleepers can also be used as a bassinet, cot, or for babies who have reflux. If you're seeking something more traditional there are a lot of options to choose from as well.
The CoZee Air by Tutti Bambini received bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards, in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Next2me Magic was also shortlisted. Both have adjustable heights and can be transformed into a travel cot for use away from home. They're also light and easy to move from room room.
Other moms love the Lua Bedside Sleeper that has 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 ideal size for babies and is more substantial than Moses baskets, which may feel flimsy or thin.
Another option is an alternative is the iCandy Cocoon, which can be used as a Moses basket, cot, or travel cot. It has an adjustable changing table that pops up and a shelf for toys and books, and an adjustable mesh side that lets you view your baby. It's not the tiniest, but it's easy to move around and looks stylish in any bedroom.
Cost
If you're shopping for a bedside sleeper bassinet or crib, cost will be a factor. Some of the more popular models can be costly. However there are plenty of less expensive alternatives. There are bedside cot wooden of styles and colors to match the decor of your nursery.
The best cribs for bedside use are adjustable and can be elevated to the level of your mattress. Some also have an incline position that is great for babies who have reflux. Some models come with a travel bag and fold up when not in use. This is great for mothers who are always traveling or having guests to entertain.
Bedside cots are generally slightly larger than Moses baskets but smaller than cribs. They can be moved from room to room in case you have to and some even have an end that can be lowered to allow you to lift your baby out towards you for feedings at night or calming. Some have a built in rocker that can help soothe your baby to sleep.
Clair de Lune, a mid-priced model, was shortlisted for the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Crib category. The design is sleek and stylish however it's a little wider than some other options, which means it might not be the best fit for tight spaces. It's also a bit heavy, weighing over 10kg, and requires some maneuvering to place it. Emily from Clair de Lune also notes that it's not as easy to get in and out of as some other bedside sleepers, because the sides don't flex much and you need to bend to scoop your baby up.