The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside crib is a bassinet-style cot that attaches to your own bed which allows your infants to sleep close. This is a great option when you want your baby to be close to feed them without fuss during the first few months of.
The HALO BassiNest Essentia took home our top bedside cot in our test, with a swiveling bed and sidewalls that drop 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 to them without sacrificing safety. This type of cot fixes to the bed's side and has one end which can be lifted or lowered so you can reach your little one. You can use a crib for your bed to feed your baby at night or help them go back to sleep. This is a fantastic option especially for mothers who have had C-sections. Bedside cots can be found in many different designs and sizes, and some even come with storage. When choosing an upholstered cot for your bedside make sure you check the safety features.
The Boori Oasis Oval Cot is an elegant cot that is easy to build and compact. Its oval shape is ideal for babies who roll in their sleep. They won't be confined in a corner like they would with an oblong cot. This cot can also be easily inserted into doors that have standard frames. This is a fantastic feature for parents who are short in space.
Another good choice is the La Redoute Willox Adjustable Cot Bed. This cot is an excellent all-rounder with plenty of features to simplify parenting and have beautiful design. Its adjustable sides let it grow with your child, and then convert into a toddler's bed once the time comes. It's also light, so it's easy to move around.
A high-quality bedside crib should have high mesh sides to stop your child from falling out. It should be fitted securely to your bed with no gaps or areas that are loose. If you're not confident about fitting a bedside cot by yourself or hiring a professional, let a professional complete the task for you.
The ideal scenario is to avoid sleeping with your infant until they're at minimum six months old. Official advice from The Lullaby Trust and the NHS is that babies should not be sleeping in your bed because of the risk of suffocation or overheating. However, if you need to co-sleep in a crib, a bedside crib is the most secure option.
Size
A bedside cot, sometimes referred to as the bassinet, is a cot that attaches to the side of your mattress. It has a side that can be lifted up or lowered down so that you can reach your baby quickly, without having to leave the bed. Famous moms like Stacey Solomon Binky Felstead, and Lucy Mecklenburgh love these. They are perfect for those who have limited mobility following a C-section.
Our top pick, the Maxi-Cosi Lora, has a peekaboo flap that lets you see your child from below the bed. It also adjusts to the mattress's height - though some mothers complained that it was difficult to move up and down. It's also among our lightest choices and can be folded into a suitcase size. This makes it perfect for traveling with your baby.
Another great option is the Slumber Carbon 3-in-1, which converts into an a portable cot, bassinet and playpen. It even won our 2021 Mother&Baby Award gold medal in the Best Cot Crib, Moses Basket category. It comes with a useful storage shelf underneath and is light enough to carry into and out of the car. Some mothers were concerned that it was too long and wide to fit into small spaces, particularly when it was used as a bed in bed.
Design
The best bedside cribs will be modern, sleek and stylish. Some come with innovative designs including a peek-aboo flap on the side, to help you monitor your baby without disrupting them. Other features such as adjustable heights are helpful if your partner is having trouble getting up. Some sleepers are also suitable as a bassinet, cot, or for babies with reflux. If you're looking for 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. It was 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 outside of the home. They're also extremely light and easy to move from room to room.
Some mothers prefer the Lua Bedside sleeper that includes a changing mat, storage space and a collapsible baby bassinet that can be transformed into a portable mini cot. It also comes with a storage bag. Jasmine says that it is the perfect size for newborns and is bigger than Moses baskets that may feel flimsy or thin.
Another great option is the iCandy Cocoon, which can be used as an Moses basket, cot or travel cot. It features a pop-up changing table as well as a shelf to store toys and books, as well as an adjustable mesh side that allows you to see your baby. It's not very light, but it is easy to move around and looks fantastic in any bedroom.
Cost
If you're looking for a bedside sleeper crib or bassinet, the cost will be a factor. Some of the most popular models are expensive but there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that won't cost you a fortune. Many are available in a variety of styles and colors to fit the decor of your nursery.
The best bedside cribs can be adjusted and elevated to the level of your mattress. Some have an incline setting that is ideal for babies suffering from reflux. Some models come with a carry-on bag and fold up when not in use. This is great for mothers who are always on the go or have guests over.
Bedside cots are usually a little bigger than Moses baskets, but smaller than cribs. Some are able to be moved from one room to another, while others have a side that can be lowered to allow you to pull your baby towards you to feed them or comfort him. bedside cot 6 months plus have a built in rocker to soothe your baby to sleep.
The Clair de Lune is a mid-priced model that was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category. It's stylish and sleek however it's a bit wider than other options. It's probably not suitable for smaller spaces. It's also quite heavy, at over 10kg, and needs some maneuvering to get it into the right position. Emily from Clair de Lune notes that the sides of this mattress don't bend as much, which means you have to bend to take your baby.