The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside cot is a bassinet-style crib that is attached to your bed, making it safe for babies to sleep right next to you. This is a great choice if you'd like your baby to be near for peaceful feedings in the beginning stages of their development.
The HALO BassiNest Essentia was crowned our best bedside cot test, featuring an adjustable sleeping surface that can be swiveled and sidewalls that dip down effortlessly. This allows you to easily reach over and soothe them.
Safety
A bedside cot is an ideal solution for new parents who want to keep their baby close without sacrificing security. The cot is attached to the side of your bed and has a single end that can be lifted up or lowered down so that you can reach your child. You can also use a bedside crib to night feed your baby or help them go back to sleep. This is a fantastic option particularly for mothers who have had C-sections. Bedside cots come in various sizes and styles and some come with storage. When choosing a cot for your bedside, be sure to check the safety features.
The Boori Oasis Oval Cot has an attractive design and is simple to put together. Its oval design is perfect for babies who tend to roll around in their sleep, because it means that they won't be stuck in the corner as they might with a rectangular cot. The cot can also be easily fitted into doors with standard frames. This is an excellent feature for parents who are short on space.
bedside rocking crib is a good alternative. This cot is an ideal all-rounder with lots of features to make parenting easier and a gorgeous look. Its adjustable sides allow it to expand with your child and then transform into a toddler's bed when the time comes. It's also lightweight, which means it's easy to move around the home.
A good quality bedside crib should have mesh sides that are high to prevent your baby from falling out. It should also be attached securely to your bed, with no gaps or areas that are loose. Contact a professional if are not confident in installing a crib for your bed yourself.
Co-sleeping is not recommended until your baby is at least six months old age. Official advice from The Lullaby Trust and the NHS is that infants should not sleep in your bed due to the risk of suffocation and overheating. However, if you have to sleep with your partner in a crib, a bedside crib is the most secure 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 so that you can reach your baby easily, without needing to leave the bed. Famous moms like Stacey Solomon Binky Felstead, and Lucy Mecklenburgh adore these. They are perfect for those with limited mobility following a C-section.
The Maxi-Cosi Lora is our number one choice. It comes with a peekaboo feature that allows you to see your child on the bottom of the mattress. It also adjusts to your mattress height, although some mothers have complained about the difficulty of moving it up and down. It's also among the lightest options on our list and folds down into a suitcase-sized package, making it ideal for travelling with your little one.
The Slumber 3-in-1 is a great option. It can be used as a travel cot or bassinet and also serves as playpen. The product was awarded the gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot or Moses Basket or Crib. It has a handy storage shelf beneath and is light enough to carry in and out of the car. Some mums, however, considered it to be too long and wide to be able to fit in tight spaces, especially when it is used as a sleeper in bed.
Design
The best cribs for beds are sleek, stylish and modern. Some cribs have innovative designs like an open-air flap on the sides to allow you to observe your baby without disturbing him. Other features like adjustable height are useful if your partner is having difficulties getting up. Some sleepers are also suitable as an cot, bassinet or for reflux babies. If you're seeking something more traditional, there are plenty of options to choose from as well.
The CoZee Air by Tutti Bambini won bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards. It was the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Next2me Magic was also shortlisted. Both come with adjustable heights, and can be turned into a travel cot for use outside of the home. They are also light and easy to move around.
Other mothers like the Lua Bedside Sleeper, which has a changing mat as well as a storage space as in addition to the bassinet, which can be collapsed into a mini portable cot and a storage bag. Jasmine says it's the ideal size for a baby and is larger than Moses baskets, which can feel flimsy or thin.
The iCandy Cocoon is another great option. It can be used as a Moses Basket, cot or travel cot. It comes with a pop-up changing table and a shelf for toys and books, and an adjustable mesh side that allows you to view your baby. It's not the lightest however it's easy to move around and looks stylish in any bedroom.
Cost
Cost will be an important factor when you are shopping for a crib, bassinet or bedside sleeper. Some of the most sought-after models can be quite expensive. However there are plenty of less expensive alternatives. Some come in different colors and styles to match the decor of your nursery.
The most effective bedside cots come with adjustable sides that can be raised to meet the bed's height. Some also have an incline position that is perfect for babies with reflux. They can also be folded when not in use and some models have a travel bag included which is perfect for mothers who are often out and about or have guests staying in.
Bedside cots are generally smaller than Moses baskets, but smaller than cribs. They can be moved from room to room if you need to and some even have a side that drops down so that you can pull your child towards you for feedings at night or calming. 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 or Moses Basket category. The design is sleek and stylish however, it's a bit larger than some of the other options, which means it may not be the ideal choice for small spaces. It's also quite heavy at more than 10kg and requires some maneuvering to put it in place it. Emily from Clair de Lune notes that the sides of this mattress don't bend as much, which means you'll need to bend to grab your baby.