Best Bedside Cots: What's No One Has Discussed
The Best Bedside Cots
A bedside cot is a bassinet-style crib that can be attached to your bed and allows your babies to sleep right next to you. This is an ideal option for parents who want their infant to be near to feed them without fuss in the beginning stages.
The HALO bassiNest Essentia was the winner in our top bedside cots test. It has an adjustable sleep surface that can be swiveled and sidewalls which can be easily lowered. This makes it easy to reach over and soothe them.
Safety
A bedside cot is the ideal solution for parents who want to keep their child close to them without sacrificing security. This kind of crib is attached to the side of your mattress. It has a movable end so 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 great choice particularly for mothers who have had C-sections. Bedside cots are available in a variety of sizes and designs and some come with storage. When choosing a bedside cot be sure to verify the safety features.
The Boori Oasis Oval Cot is a stylish-looking cot that's easy to build and compact. Its oval shape is ideal for infants who roll around in their sleep, since it ensures that they don't get stuck in the corner like they would with a rectangular crib. The cot can also be easily inserted into doors that have standard frames. This is a great feature for parents who are tight in space.
La Redoute Willox adjustable Cot Bed is another good alternative. This cot is a great all-rounder, with plenty of features to make parenting easier as well as beautiful design. Its adjustable sides mean that it can adapt to your child and transform into a toddler bed when they're ready. It's also lightweight, so it's easy to move around the home.
A crib with a high mesh side is a good feature to have at the bedside of a crib. This will prevent 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 yourself you can ask a professional to do it for you.
The ideal scenario is to avoid co-sleeping with your infant until they're at minimum six months old. The official recommendation from the Lullaby Trust and the NHS is that babies shouldn't sleep in your bed due to the danger of suffocation and overheating. If you are forced to share a bed with your child, a crib at the bedside is the ideal alternative.
Size
A bedside cot is a bassinet-style cot that fixes to the side of your bed. It comes with a side that can be lifted or lowered 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 love these. They are ideal for those who are unable to move following a C-section.
Our top choice, the Maxi-Cosi Lora, comes with an opening that lets you see your baby from the bottom of the bed. It can also be adjusted to the mattress's height however some moms have claimed it was difficult to move up and down. It's also one of the lightest options we've seen and folds down to an ideal size for a suitcase which makes it ideal to travel with your child.
Another great option is the Slumber Carbon 3-in-1, which converts into an a portable cot, bassinet and playpen. It also won our 2021 Mother&Baby Awards gold award in the Best Cot Crib, Moses Basket category. It comes with a storage shelf and is easy to move into and out of the car. Some mothers have thought it was a bit too large and wide for small spaces, particularly when used as a bedside sleeper.
Design
The best cribs for bed are stylish, sleek, and modern. Some are designed with innovative features including a peek-aboo flap on the side to help you observe your baby without disturbing them. Other features, like adjustable heights are helpful if your partner is having difficulties getting out of bed. Some sleepers are also suitable as a bassinet, cot, or for babies with reflux. If you're looking for something a bit more traditional, there are plenty of options as well.
A few of our favourites are the CoZee Air from Tutti Bambini which was awarded bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category as well as the Next2me Magic shortlisted in the same category. Both are adjustable in height and can be used as a travel cot if you're away from home. They are also light and easy to move around.
Some mums prefer the Lua Bedside sleeper that comes with a changing mat, storage area 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 that it is the perfect size for infants and is more substantial than Moses baskets that may feel flimsy or thin.
The iCandy Cocoon is another great alternative. It can be used as a Moses Basket as a cot, cot, or travel cot. It comes with a pop-up changer as well as a shelf to store toys and books and a mesh adjustable side that gives you the best view of your baby. It's not very light but it's easy to move around and looks fantastic in any bedroom.
Cost
Cost is a major factor when you are searching for a crib bassinet, or bedside sleeper. Some of the more popular models can be expensive. However there are a lot of cheaper alternatives. Many are available in a range of different colors and designs to suit the decor of your nursery.
The most comfortable bedside cots have adjustable sides that can be raised to match the height of your bed. Some have an incline setting which is ideal for babies who suffer from reflux. They can also be folded away when not in use and some models have bags for travel that is perfect for mothers who are often out and about or have guests staying in.
Bedside cots are usually a little bigger than Moses baskets, but smaller than cribs. They can also be moved from room to when needed and some come with an end that can be lowered so that you can pull your baby out towards you for feedings at night or calming. cots4tots.co.uk come with an integrated rocker so that you can soothe your baby to sleep.
The Clair de Lune is a mid-priced option that was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot Crib, Moses Basket category. The design is sleek and stylish, but it's slightly wider than some other options, meaning it may not be the ideal choice for small spaces. It is also quite heavy at more than 10kg and requires some maneuvering to put it in place it. Emily from Clair de Lune also notes that it's not as simple to get into and out of as other sleepers for bed, due to the sides don't move much and you need to bend to pick up your baby.