The Best Bedside Cot
The cribs are designed to be put by your bed to make it easier to reach your baby at 3am to feed them and nappy changing. They can also be a great alternative to a Moses basket.
Sleeping safely is a recommendation from the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends infants sleep in a crib away from your bed to avoid the risk of suffocation or overheating. This cosy option was a popular choice among our mum testers. It is a smooth motion that can help calm babies back to sleep.
1. Joie Roomie Glide
The Roomie Glide bedside cot for bedside is an innovative product by English brand Joie. It was designed to allow you to sleep with your partner without sharing the bed. It has a smooth single-hand glide that gently eases infants into a state of bliss without needing to leave the side of the bed and an easy-to-use glide lock that secures it after your child is fast asleep. Safety straps hold it securely attached and retractable wheels allow you to move it around as you please.
The curved cocoon shape with softly padded sides and double-mesh windows enhance the security and comfort of your sleeper. It is also simple to assemble or disassemble making it ideal for packing and travel. The mattress is machine-washable mattress cover that is easy to clean. Additional sheets of cotton are available in two-packs.
Roanna loved the cotbed and called it "a top-quality purchase". She liked that the gliding motion was gentle and lulled her to sleep. She also found the design to be elegant and said it could be incorporated into many bedroom decors. However, she did point out that although it's a great choice for babies, once they're six months old, you'll need to get them an extra large cot.
She also loved the fact that the sliding side panel can be lifted with just one hand so that it's easy to answer those inevitable wake-up calls to feed or comfort little ones from the comfort of her own bed. Another benefit was the fact that the Roomie Glide has 11 height adjustments so it can be adapted to nearly any size bed, and there are clips and straps that can be used to secure it securely.
2. BassiNest
The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper comes with plenty of features with a side pouch which is ideal for diapers, nipple cream and other items you'll require during the newborn stage. It comes with a sturdy base and mattress which can be easily cleaned after blowouts, spit-ups, and other mishaps with infants. It also includes a machine washable sheet to keep it clean.
This bedside crib travel cot rotates 360 degrees to allow you to be closer to your child's bed for a safe sleeping. The side walls are patented and lower and then automatically return to allow you to take care of your baby without getting up from your bed. This is crucial for mothers who are recovering from C-sections.
Its swivel feature allows you to sleep while your baby sleeps in your arms and helps you take them in for cuddles or feedings in bed. It has a night light, three soothing sounds and two levels of vibration and a timer for nursing to ensure you are on the right path with your bottle-feeding or breastfeeding routine.
The more luxurious version of this cot for bedside use has wood accents to give it an elegant look and premium yarn dyed fabric. It also comes with a floor lamp to help you sleep at the night without disturbing your baby or partner, and a storage caddy for your essentials. Both versions of the HALO Bassinest have a sturdy and adjustable base that sits on beds that are 34 inches or more and its side wall can be locked for added security. It's designed to be used until your baby is able to demonstrate signs of a rollover or reaching 20 pounds. It is JPMA certified and independently tested to meet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada safety standards.
3. Maxi-Cosi lora
With its clean and stylish design, available in a variety of modern colors and wood-effect details, this elegant bedside bassinet is a real winner for sleep. The breathable mesh panel allows for plenty of air and provides a clear view of baby, and the mattress is able to support your child to allow for both nighttime and napping during the day. Additionally, it comes with a reflux incline function for easing congestion and reflux if needed. If you're ready to give your baby a space of their own the crib transforms into a stylish standalone with the most comfortable mattress. It can be folded flat and put away in a convenient travel cot bedside crib bag so you can bring it along for a trip on weekends or when your baby is at Grandma’s.
Shortlisted for 2021's best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket at the Mother and Baby Awards, this crib offers the best comfort for babies during the early stages. It has a comfortable and extra-thick mattress that can be adjusted up to five height settings and a rocking function for fussy nappers. It's also made with EcoCare fabric, Maxi-Cosi's latest high-end, future-friendly fabric that's soft and comfortable on the baby's body.
Its small frame makes it more compact than the majority of bedside cots. It's also easy to raise the bed to a comfortable level with just two levers. (Some mothers have found it difficult to move the bar linking the legs upwards and downwards. It also glides side to side, which lets you position it closer to your bed for night feeding or to soothe baby back to sleep. It also comes with a large storage basket to store all of baby's necessities.
4. Shnuggle Air
Shnuggle is an American company that creates products that make parenting easier for parents, and safer for babies. The company was founded with its first moses basket made of hypoallergenic material without wicker in the year 2009. It has been awarded over 50 awards from the industry and consumer.
The crib's dual-view mesh sides maximize the airflow and allow you to monitor baby. The mattress, tested to meet the most stringent British safety standards, is 50% more air-tight. The crib can also be converted into a cot by an additional kit, making it an ideal sleep solution for newborns and toddlers. The softly cushioned side panels prevent baby's legs or arms from getting caught in the cot bars, and its fabrics can be washed and removed.
The bedside crib is secured to your bed or divan frame Its swivel wheels mean it's easy to maneuver. It's the only item on this list that has the option of a drop-down side that can be opened to give you access to your food at night or comforting.
This model is distinct from the other bassinets which are in this guide. It has soft padding on the sides instead of cot bars. This stops the legs and arms of babies from becoming entangled. It's also a good choice for breastfeeding mothers or women who have had a c-section since it's easy to get baby into and out of the bassinet for nursing and relaxing.
It also has a few more features than the majority of cribs on this listing, such as a gentle slope to aid with colic and reflux. There is also a storage hammock under the crib, as well as seven height adjustments. Our parents who have tested it have reported that the safety catch on the top bar may be loud when reattached. This may wake your baby. The mattress and the fabric are both washable and removable. washed, and the crib is easy to assemble.
5. Clair de Lune
The third movement of Claude Debussy's 1890 Suite bergamasque called 'Clair deLune' (French for moonlight) is based on Paul Verlaine's wistful poem. It gives a dreamy sense of a sunlit Italian small town. It's also featured in Twilight in which Edward Cullen plays it as the actor gazes at Bella with his vampire love. It's a romantic melodrama certainly but the music is great.
Mike Mills adapted the piece for his 2009 film C'mon C'mon, in which it is performed not by a piano, but by the San Francisco Saxophone Quartet.