The Best Bedside Cots

A bedside crib is a bassinet style that is attached to your bed, making it safe for infants to sleep close. This is a great choice if you'd like your baby to be close enough for a relaxed feedings during the early stages.


The HALO bassiNest Essentia was the winner of our top rated bedside cots for testing. It features a swiveling sleep surface and sidewalls that can be lowered easily. This makes it easy to reach over and soothe them.

Safety

A bedside cot is a great solution for parents who want to keep their child close without sacrificing safety. This kind of cot attaches to the side of your bed and has a curved end that can be lifted or lowered so you can reach your baby. It can also be used as a night-time feeding station or to help soothe your baby to sleep. It's also a great choice for mothers who've had a C-section. Bedside cots are available in a variety of styles and sizes, and some include storage. If you're in the market for a bedside cot ensure you look over the safety features to be sure it's safe for your child.

The Boori Oasis Oval Cot is an attractive cot that's simple to put together and compact. Its oval shape is ideal for babies who roll around in their sleep, as it means that they won't be stuck in the corner like they might with the rectangular cot. It is also able to fit into doors with standard frames, which is a big plus for space-stretched new parents.

Another great option is the La Redoute Willox Adjustable Cot Bed. This cot is an excellent all-rounder with lots of features to make parenting easier as well as beautiful design. Its adjustable sides let it grow with your child, and then convert into an infant's bed when the time comes. It's also lightweight, which means it's easy to move around the house.

A crib with a high mesh side is a nice feature to put on a bedside crib. This will stop your child from falling. It should be securely anchored to your bed with no gaps or parts that are loose. If you're unsure about fitting a bedside cot by yourself you can ask a professional to install it for you.

Sleeping in a co-sleeper is not recommended until your baby is at least six months of age. Official advice from The Lullaby Trust and the NHS is that babies should not sleep in your bed because of 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 is a bassinet-style cot which is attached to the bed's side. It features a side that is able to be raised or lowered to allow you to reach your baby without needing to get out of bed. Celebrity moms like Stacey Solomon Binky Felstead, and Lucy Mecklenburgh love these. They are ideal for those who have limited mobility following a C-section.

The Maxi-Cosi is our top choice. It comes with the ability to peek at you to see your child on the bottom of the mattress. It can also be adjusted to the height of your mattress, although some mothers have complained about the difficulty of moving it up and down. It's also one of 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 converts into a bassinet, travel cot and playpen. It even won our 2021 Mother&Baby Award gold award in the best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category. It has shelves for storage and is easy to move into and out of the car. Some mothers found it too long and wide to fit in small spaces, particularly when used as a sleeper by the bed.

Design

The best cribs for your bed will be modern, sleek and stylish. Some have innovative designs such as a peek-a-boo flap on the side, to help you check in on baby without disrupting them. Other features, like adjustable height are beneficial for those who have difficulties getting out of bed. These sleepers can be used as a bassinet or cot with an incline position for babies who are reflux. There are plenty of options if you want something more traditional.

Some of our favorites are the CoZee Air from Tutti Bambini, which won bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Award Best Cot Crib, Moses Basket category and the Next2me Magic, which was shortlisted in the same category. Both come with adjustable heights, and can be transformed into a travel cot for use outside of the home. They're also light and easy to move from room room.

Some mums prefer the Lua Bedside sleeper, which includes a changing mat, storage space and a collapsible bassinet for babies that can be transformed into portable mini cot. It also comes with an organizer bag. Jasmine says it's the ideal size for a newborn and is larger than Moses baskets, which can seem flimsy and thin.

bedside cot mattress is another great alternative. It can be used as a Moses Basket, cot or travel cot. It has a pop-up changer, a handy shelf for toys and books and a mesh adjustable side that gives you a good view of your baby. It's not the lightest, but it's easy to move and looks elegant in any bedroom.

Cost

Cost will be an important aspect when you're shopping for a crib, bassinet or bedside sleeper. Some of the most sought-after models can be quite expensive. However, there are many cheaper alternatives. They are available with a variety of styles and colors to fit the decor of your nursery.

The best bedside cots have adjustable sides that can be raised to match the height of your bed. Some have an inclined position that is perfect for babies who have reflux. They can also be folded when not in use and some models have an included travel bag that is perfect for new mothers who frequently go out or have guests staying in.

Bedside cots are typically smaller than Moses baskets, but they are smaller than cribs. Some are able to be moved from one room to another, while others have a side which can be adjusted so that you can lift your child to feed them or comfort them. Some also have built-in rockers so you can soothe your little one 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. It's stylish and sleek however it is a little larger than other models. It's not suitable for smaller 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 in and out of as some other beds for sleepers, as the sides don't move much and you'll have to bend to scoop your baby up.