10 Erroneous Answers To Common Best Bedside Cots Questions Do You Know Which Ones?
The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside crib is a bassinet style crib that is attached directly to your bed. This allows baby to rest peacefully close to you. This is a great choice to allow your baby to be close enough for a relaxed feedings during the early stages.
The HALO BassiNest Essentia was crowned our top bedside cot in our test, offering a swiveling bed and sidewalls that dip down easily. This allows you to easily reach over and soothe them.
Safety
A bedside cot is the ideal solution for parents who want to keep their child close 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. You can use the crib as a night time feeding station or to soothe your baby to sleep. This is a great option particularly for mothers who have had C-sections. Bedside cots are available in a variety of sizes and designs and some even have 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 put together and compact. Its oval shape is ideal for babies who roll in their sleep. They won't end up in a corner like they would with an oblong cot. The cot is also easy to fit through standard door frames which is a major advantage for parents who are stretched out by their space.
La Redoute Willox adjustable Cot Bed is a good option. This cot has a lot of features that make parenting easier and it looks stunning. Its movable sides mean it can grow with your child, and then transform into an infant bed when they're ready. It's also light, so it is easy to move around.
A high mesh crib side is a nice 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 loose parts. Contact bedside crib and travel cot if aren't confident in fitting a bedside crib yourself.
The ideal scenario is to avoid sleeping with your infant until they're at least six months old. The Lullaby Trust, as well as the NHS, advise that you should not let your infant sleep in your bed. This is due to the risk of suffocation and overheating. However, if you need to sleep with your partner the bedside crib is the safest option.
Size
A bedside cot, sometimes referred to as bassinet, is a cot that attaches to the side of your mattress. It has a side which can be lifted or dropped down so that you can reach your baby quickly, without needing to leave the bed. These are a favourite of celeb moms such as Stacey Solomon, Binky Felstead and Lucy Mecklenburgh and are ideal for parents who have limited mobility after a C-section.
The Maxi-Cosi is our top pick. It has an option to peek behind that allows you to see your child at the bottom of the mattress. It can also be adjusted to your mattress height but some mothers have complained about the difficulty of moving it up and down. It is also one of our lightest options and folds into a suitcase-sized package. This makes it ideal for travel with your baby.
Another great option is the Slumber Carbon 3-in-1, which transforms into an a portable cot, bassinet and playpen. It even won our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards gold award in the best Cot, Crib or 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, however, were concerned that it was too big and wide to fit in tight spaces, particularly when it was used as a bed by the bed.
Design
The best cribs for bed will be sleek, stylish and modern. Some cribs have unique designs, such as a peek-aboo flap on the sides that allow you to observe your baby without disturbing him. Other features, like adjustable height are useful if your partner is having trouble getting out of bed. Some sleepers can also be used as an cot, bassinet or for babies with reflux. There are plenty of options if you're looking for something more traditional.
The CoZee Air by Tutti Bambini won 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 transformed into a travel cot to use when away from home. They're also extremely light and easy to move from room room.
Other moms love the Lua Bedside Sleeper, which has an adjustable changing mat and storage area, as it also has the bassinet, which can be collapsed into a mini-portable cot as well as a storage bag. Jasmine says it's the perfect size for newborns and is larger than Moses baskets, which are often flimsy or thin.
Another great option is an alternative is the iCandy Cocoon, which can be used as an Moses basket, cot or travel cot. It comes with an adjustable changing table that pops up as well as a shelf to store books and toys, and an adjustable mesh side that allows you to see your baby. It's not the tiniest however it's easy to move and looks elegant in any bedroom.
Cost
Cost is a major aspect when you're looking for a crib, bassinet or bedside sleeper. Some of the most sought-after models can be expensive. However there are plenty of less expensive alternatives. Many are available in a variety of styles and colors to match your nursery decor.
The best bedside cots have adjustable sides that can be raised to meet the height of your bed. Some also have an incline position that is perfect for babies who have reflux. Some models come with a carry-on bag and can be folded when not in use. This is perfect for mothers who are often traveling or having guests coming over.
Bedside cots are typically slightly larger than Moses baskets, but are smaller than cribs. They can also be moved from room to if you need to, and some have a side that drops down so that you can pull your child towards you for feedings at night or calming. Some have built-in rockers so you can 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 sleek and stylish however it is a little larger than other options. It's probably not ideal for small spaces. It's also quite heavy, at over 10kg, and will require some maneuvering to get it in the right position. Emily from Clair de Lune notes that the sides of this sleeper don't flex enough, meaning you have to bend down to take your baby.