Best Bedside Cots: What's The Only Thing Nobody Is Talking About
The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside crib is a bassinet-style cot that attaches to your own bed and allows your infants to sleep close. This is a great choice if you want your baby to be close 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 has an adjustable sleep surface that can be swiveled and sidewalls which can be lowered easily. This makes it easy to reach over and comfort them.
Safety
A bedside cot is an ideal solution for parents who wish to keep their infant close to them without sacrificing safety. The cot is attached to the side of your mattress and has a moveable end that you can reach out to your baby. It can be used as a night-time feeding station or to soothe your baby 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. If you're looking for a bedside cot ensure you look over the safety features to be sure it's safe for your baby.
The Boori Oasis Oval Cot is a stylish-looking cot that's easy to build and compact. Its oval shape is ideal for babies who roll around in their sleep, as it means that they won't be trapped in a corner like they might with the rectangular crib. The cot is also easy to fit through doors with standard frames which is a major benefit for parents with limited space.
Another option is the La Redoute Willox Adjustable Cot Bed. This cot is a great all-rounder, with plenty of features to make parenting easier and an attractive design. Its adjustable sides let it expand with your child and then transform into an infant's bed when the time arrives. It's also light, so it is easy to move around.
A high-quality bedside crib should have high mesh sides to stop your baby from falling out. It should also be fitted securely to your bed with no gaps or areas that are loose. If you're unsure about installing a bedside cot on your own you can ask a professional to complete the task for you.
The ideal scenario is to avoid sleeping with your baby until they're at minimum six months old. Official advice from The Lullaby Trust and the NHS is that newborns shouldn't sleep in your bed due to the risk of suffocation and overheating. If you must co-sleep with your child, a crib placed at the bedside is the ideal alternative.
Size
A bedside cot is a bassinet-style cot which is attached to the side of your bed. It has one side that can be lifted up or lowered down to allow you to reach your baby quickly, without having to leave the bed. Famous moms like Stacey Solomon Binky Felstead, and Lucy Mecklenburgh adore these. They are perfect for those who have limited mobility after a C-section.
The Maxi-Cosi Lora is our top choice. It has the ability to peek at you to view your baby at the bottom of the mattress. It can also be adjusted to your mattress height, although some mothers have complained about the difficulty of moving it up and down. It's also one of our lightest choices and can be folded into a suitcase size. This makes it ideal for traveling with your baby.
cots4tots.co.uk that is great is the Slumber Carbon 3-in-1, which transforms into a bassinet, travel cot and playpen. It also won our 2021 Mother&Baby Award gold award in the best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category. It comes with a useful storage shelf beneath and is extremely light to lift in and out of the car. Some mothers have were concerned that it was too long and wide for tight spaces, especially when used as a bedside mattress.
Design
The best cribs for your bed are modern, sleek and stylish. Some are designed with innovative features, like a peek-a-boo flap on the side to let you check in on baby without disrupting them. Other features, like adjustable height are beneficial when your spouse is having trouble getting up. These sleepers can be used as a bassinet or cot with incline positions for reflux babies. There are a lot 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. 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're also extremely light and easy to move from room room.
Some mothers prefer the Lua Bedside sleeper that includes a changing mat, storage space and a collapsible baby bassinet that can be converted into portable mini cot. It also comes with an organizer bag. Jasmine says that it is the perfect size for infants and is bigger than Moses baskets which are often flimsy or thin.
Another great option is the iCandy Cocoon, which can be used as an Moses basket, cot, or travel cot. It features 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 light however it's easy to move and looks elegant in any bedroom.
Cost
If you're in the market for a bedside sleeper, bassinet or crib, cost will be a factor. Some of the most sought-after models can be expensive. However, there are many cheaper alternatives. They are available in a variety of styles and colors to fit your nursery's decor.
The best bedside cots have adjustable sides that can be adjusted to match the height of your bed. Some models have an incline setting which is ideal for babies suffering from reflux. They can also be folded away when not in use and some models come with a travel bag included which is perfect for new mothers who often go out or have guests staying over.
Bedside cots are usually a bit bigger than Moses baskets, but are smaller than cribs. Some can be moved from one room to another, and some come with a side that can be adjusted to allow you to lift your baby towards you to feed them or comfort them. Some models come with a built-in rocker that can help soothe your baby to sleep.
Clair de Lune, a mid-priced baby model, was shortlisted for the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Crib category. It's sleek and stylish however it's a bit larger than other models. It's probably not suitable for smaller spaces. It's also quite heavy at more than 10kg, and requires lots of maneuvering to get it into the proper position. Emily from Clair de Lune also notes that it's not as easy to get in and out of as some other beds for sleepers, as the sides don't flex much and you need to bend over to pick up your baby.