The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside crib is a bassinet style that attaches to your own bed and allows your baby to sleep close by. This is a great choice if you'd like your baby to be near for peaceful feedings during the first few months of his life.
The HALO bassiNest Essentia is the winner of our best bedside cots test. It has an adjustable sleep surface that can be swiveled and sidewalls that can be lowered easily. This allows you to easily reach out and feel comfortable.
Safety
A bedside cot is the ideal solution for parents who wish to keep their infant close to them without sacrificing security. The cot is attached to the side of your mattress. It is movable so that you can reach out to your baby. It can also be used as a night time feeding station or to soothe your baby to sleep. This is a great choice especially for mothers who have had C-sections. Bedside cots come in a variety of sizes and designs and some even have storage. When you are looking for an upholstered cot for your bedside be sure to verify 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 tend to lay around during sleep, since it ensures that they don't get trapped in a corner like they would with the rectangular cot. The cot is also easy to fit into standard door frames which is a huge plus for space-stretched new parents.
Another great option is the La Redoute Willox Adjustable Cot Bed. This cot is an ideal all-rounder with lots of features to make parenting easier as well as a gorgeous look. Its adjustable sides let it expand with your child and later transform into a toddler's bed when the time comes. It's also lightweight, so it's easy to move around the house.
A high mesh crib side is a good feature to put on a bedside crib. This will stop your baby from falling. It should be securely fitted to your bed with no gaps or loose parts. Ask a professional if you aren't confident in installing a crib for your bed yourself.
Co-sleeping is not advised until your baby is at least six months old age. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS recommend that you don't let your infant sleep in your bed. This is because of the risk of suffocation and overheating. If you are forced to share a bed with your child, a crib at the bedside is the best option.
Size
A bedside cot is an upholstered bassinet cot that is fixed to the side of your bed. It is a side that can be adjusted to allow you to reach your baby without needing to get out of bed. These are a favourite of celeb moms such as Stacey Solomon, Binky Felstead and Lucy Mecklenburgh. They are ideal for parents who be unable to move after the C-section.
The Maxi-Cosi Lora is our top pick. It has the ability to peek at you to see your child on the bottom of the mattress. It also adjusts to the height of your mattress however some mothers have complained about the difficulty of moving it up and down. It's also among our lightest options that can fold into a suitcase-sized bag. This makes it ideal to travel with your baby.
The Slumber 3-in-1 is another great alternative. It can be used as a travel cot or bassinet as well as a playpen. The product was awarded the gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards within the category of the Best Cot or Moses Basket or Crib. It has a handy storage shelf beneath and is super-light to lift into and out of the car. Some mothers, however, were concerned that it was too long and wide to be able to fit in small spaces, particularly when it was used as a bed on the bed.
Design
The best bedside cribs are sleek, stylish and modern. Some come with innovative designs including a peek-aboo flap on the side, to allow you to observe your baby without disturbing them. Other features, like adjustable height, can be helpful for those who have difficulty getting up or down from their bed. Some sleepers are also suitable as an cot, bassinet or for babies who have reflux. There are plenty of options if you're looking for something more traditional.
Some of our top picks are the CoZee Air from Tutti Bambini, which won bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Award Best Cot Crib, Moses Basket category as well as the Next2me Magic shortlisted in the same category. Both come with adjustable heights, and can be turned into a travel cot that can be used for use away from home. They're also super lightweight and easy to move from room to room.
Some mums prefer the Lua Bedside sleeper that includes a changing mat, storage space and a baby bassinet that can be folded which can be turned into a portable mini cot. It also comes with an organizer bag. Jasmine says it's the ideal size for a baby and is larger than Moses baskets, which can seem flimsy and thin.
Another option that is great is another option is the iCandy Cocoon, which can be used as a Moses basket, cot, or travel cot. It comes with an adjustable changing table that pops up, a shelf for books and toys, and an adjustable mesh side that lets you see your baby. It's not light one, but it's simple to move and looks sleek in any bedroom.
Cost
If you're shopping for a bedside sleeper crib or bassinet, price will be a factor. 4-in-1 bedside crib of the most well-known models are costly, but there are many cheaper alternatives that won't cost a fortune. There are a variety of colors and styles to match your nursery decor.
The most comfortable bedside cots have adjustable sides that can be raised to match the height of your bed. Some models have an incline setting which is ideal for babies with reflux. Some models come with a bag for travel and can be folded when not in use. This is great for new mothers who are often traveling or having guests to entertain.
Bedside cots are generally smaller than Moses baskets, but are smaller than cribs. They can be moved from room to room when needed and some even have a side that drops down so you can lift your baby towards you for night feeds or to soothe. Some come with a built-in rocker to soothe your baby to sleep.
The Clair de Lune is a mid-priced model that was nominated in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot Crib, Moses Basket category. It's sleek and stylish however it is a little larger than other models. It's probably not suitable for smaller spaces. It's also quite heavy at more than 10kg and requires some maneuvering to position it. Emily from Clair de Lune also notes that it's not as easy to get in and out of as some other sleepers for bed, due to the sides aren't flexible enough and you'll have to bend to pick up your baby.