The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside crib is a bassinet type crib that is attached directly to your bed. This allows your baby to sleep safely close to you. This is a great option when you want your infant to be close by for feedings that aren't a hassle in the early stages.
The HALO bassiNest Essentia is the winner of our top rated bedside cots for testing. It comes with a swiveling sleep surface and sidewalls that can be easily lowered. This makes it easy to reach out for comfort and ease them to sleep.
Safety
A bedside cot is a great solution for new parents who wish to keep their infant close but not sacrifice security. 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 child. You can use a bedside crib to feed your baby at night or help them go back to sleep. This is a great choice particularly for mothers who have had C-sections. Bedside cots come in many different designs and sizes, and some come with storage. If you're in the market for a bedside cot, ensure you look over the safety features to make sure it is safe for your child.
The Boori Oasis Oval Cot is an elegant cot that is easy to build and compact. Its oval-shaped design is perfect for babies who roll around in their sleep. They won't be stuck in a corner as they would with a rectangular cot. The cot can also be easily fitted through doors that have standard frames. This is a fantastic option for parents who are short 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 as well as a gorgeous look. Its adjustable sides let it grow with your child, and then convert into a toddler's bed once the time arrives. It's also lightweight, which means it's easy to move around the house.
A high mesh crib side is a great feature to have on a bedside crib. This will stop your baby from falling. It should be securely fitted to your bed, with no gaps or parts that are loose. If you're not confident about fitting a bedside cot by yourself or hiring a professional, let a professional install it for you.
Co-sleeping is not recommended until your baby is at least six months of age. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS, advise that you should not let your newborn sleep in your bed. This is due to the danger of overheating and suffocation. If you must co-sleep with your child, a crib placed at the bedside is the best option.
Size
A bedside cot is a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the bed's side. It has one side that can be lifted up or dropped down to let you reach your baby quickly, without having to leave the bed. Celeb mums like Stacey Solomon Binky Felstead, and Lucy Mecklenburgh adore these. They are great for those who are unable to move after a C-section.
The Maxi-Cosi Lora is our top pick. It comes with a peekaboo feature that allows you to see your baby 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 our lightest options and folds into a suitcase-sized package. This makes it ideal for traveling with your baby.
Another great option is the Slumber Carbon 3-in-1, which can be used as a travel cot, bassinet and playpen. It even won our 2021 Mother&Baby Award gold award in the best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category. It has a handy storage shelf beneath and is light enough to carry in and out of the car. Some mothers considered it to be too large and wide to fit into small spaces, particularly when it was used as a bed on the bed.
Design
The best cribs for bed are modern, sleek and stylish. Some have innovative designs including a peek-aboo flap on the side to let you check in on baby without disturbing them. Other features such as adjustable height are beneficial if your partner is having difficulty getting out of bed. These sleepers can be used as a cot or bassinet and some even have incline positions for reflux babies. There are plenty of options if you're looking for something more traditional.
The CoZee Air by Tutti Bambini was awarded bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. bedside crib to cot was also shortlisted. Both can be adjusted in height and can be used as a travel cot while away from home. They're also extremely light and easy to move from room to room.
Some moms prefer the Lua Bedside sleeper that comes with a changing mat, storage area and a baby bassinet that can be folded that can be transformed into portable mini cot. It also comes with an organizer bag. Jasmine says it's the perfect size for a newborn and is larger than Moses baskets, which can appear flimsy or fragile.
Another option that is great is the iCandy Cocoon, which can be used as an Moses basket, cot or travel cot. It has a pop-up changing table and a shelf that is perfect for toys and books and a mesh adjustable side that gives you a good view of your baby. It's not lightweight however it's easy to move around and looks fantastic in any bedroom.
Cost
If you're in the market for a bedside sleeper, bassinet or crib, cost is a consideration. Some of the more popular models can be quite expensive. However there are plenty of less expensive alternatives. They are available with a variety of styles and colors to match your nursery decor.
The most effective bedside cots come with adjustable sides that can be adjusted to match the height of your bed. Some models come with an incline option which is ideal for babies who suffer from reflux. They can also be folded away when not in use, and some models even have bags for travel that is ideal for new mums who often go out or have guests staying over.
Bedside cots are typically slightly larger than Moses baskets, but smaller than cribs. Some are able to be moved from one room to another, while others come with a side that can be adjusted to allow you to pull your baby towards you to feed them or soothe them. Some models also come with built-in rockers so you can 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 bit wider than some other options, so it may not be the ideal choice for small 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 sleepers for bed, due to the sides don't flex much and you need to bend to pick up your baby.