Using a co-sleeper crib next to your bed

During the first 6 months of your baby’s life it’s recommended they share a room with you at night. This can be in a moses basket, crib or cot and most parents find they’re spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what to buy for their baby to sleep in at night. 

However, no matter how comfortable and cosy you make your chosen baby’s nest, a lot of little ones don’t like sleeping alone and struggle to settle if they can’t feel you close. In the early months, it’s also common for babies to startle awake in between sleep cycles, meaning they can wake up crying as often as every 45 minutes, resulting in both you and your little one feeling exhausted. This can present a dilemma about whether to persevere with your current set-up or whether to consider co-sleeping with your baby.

A popular option is using a co-sleeper crib next to your bed. This attaches securely to your bed and offers an alternative to traditional cribs or to fully committing to co-sleeping. These are sometimes referred to as Next To Me style cribs, bedside cribs and co-sleeper cribs.

What are co-sleeper cribs?

A co-sleeper crib or Next To Me style crib allows you to keep your baby close, while still in their own safe separate space. The co-sleeper crib is used right next to your bed, and attaches to your bed frame. The side of a co-sleeper crib can be pulled down, effectively meaning you both get the benefits of co-sleeping without worrying about possible risks. You can easily feed and comfort your baby without the strict safety prep co-sleeping requires. 

Benefits of a co-sleeper bedside crib

• The side of the crib can be pulled down, allowing you and your baby to stay connected throughout the night.
• The crib attaches to your bed, making it safe to pull the side down and allowing you and your baby to lie next to each other.
• Because you can easily reach your baby, this can reduce the need to physically get up to soothe him, as often a hand on his tummy can provide comfort and help him settle back to sleep once he has had his feeding needs met.
• A co-sleeper crib means you don’t need to get up as often, which can be a real relief, particularly in the early weeks after giving birth and especially if you’ve had a C-section.
• Co-sleeping cribs let your baby get used to their own space while remaining comforted by your presence. This can make transitioning to their own cot easier than if co-sleeping fully.
• If you only need to use your crib as a co-sleeper temporarily, you can put the side back up and use it as a traditional crib as well, making it flexible to your baby’s needs.

We look at four popular co-sleeper crib choices to suit all spaces and budgets.

Maxi Cosi Iora Besdside Sleeper RRP £199.99

Experience the versatility and style of the Maxi Cosi Iora Bedside Sleeper. Use it as a co-sleeper crib for those precious bonding moments, a convenient travel cot, or as a standard crib. It's suitable from birth to 9kg or approximately 9-12 months, ensuring a cozy space for your little one. Choose from three stylish colors - graphite, blue, and grey - to match your taste and nursery decor. Plus, it comes with a large under-crib storage basket, perfect for keeping nighttime essentials within reach and minimising clutter.

Buy The Iora Here

Red Kite Nebula Crib

The Red Kite Nebula is a co-sleeping crib in attractive grey, suitable for use from birth until your baby weighs 9kg. As well as providing a welcoming and cosy space for your baby to sleep safely next to you with the side down, the Red Kite Nebula also converts into a playpen. This feature can make home life with a baby easier, and offers additional use once your baby has transitioned away from their crib.

This co-sleeper has both adjustable heights and adjustable incline, making it easy to attach seamlessly to your bed as well as potentially helping with the symptoms of reflux and congestion. 

The Red Kite Nebula comes with a mattress and sits on a wheeled frame for easy transport from room to room. 

Joie Roomie Go Bedside Sleeper RRP £180

Buy The Roomie Here

If you’d like any help or advice on choosing a co-sleeping crib or a different crib, cot or moses basket for your baby, here at Little Angels Prams we offer unpressured, expert advice. You can contact us here, by calling  01159 305772 or by visiting us in store. We’re always more than happy to help.