Any point in a bedside crib if we have no intentions of cosleeping?

[FlyingSoap]

I was wondering if we could just use a Moses basket, but we already have one for downstairs and everyone raves about these next to me cribs. I would never want the side down as a permanent sleeping arrangement as we really don’t want to cosleep, think it’s too risky. Because of this I’m not sure if there’s any point in a crib where the side comes down, especially if they only use it for 6 months?

What’s your thoughts?

We never bed shared with either of ours, but did have a next to me with the side down until they were 7 or 8 months. It was handy not having to get up to get them in and out.

Most Moses baskets aren't big enough for most six month olds, so you'll need something in your room bigger than a Moses basket at some point. We found the next to me a good size for that, and then moved them into the full size cot beds in their own rooms when the time came.

As long as you don’t mind taking the moses basked up with you every night, there’s not really any need for an extra.

I have a five month old I had no intentions of co sleeping with but some nights there’s just been no hope of getting them to sleep otherwise 😩

I kind of wish I had got a bedside cot to put them down next to me easily, then be able to zip up the side afterwards… bit pointless for me now though.

I used one with the side up. They're a nice size, I liked the soft breathable sides and they're easy to tilt the head up if your baby is refluxy. It's also so easy to change the height, which is handy for lifting them in and out when you're still in bed. I'd totally recommend using one even if you don't intend to co sleep, and it's nice that the option is there if you really need it for a night or two like if baby is unwell.

Don't feel you have to get the most expensive one though. I had a Babylo one and loved it.

CS and BFing? You'll use it. Otherwise, my rule is to not buy almost anything because you won't use half of it.

Choice in Australia (like your Which?) fails them.

I’ve never taken the side off my bedside crib - but I don’t want a full sized cot in my room so we have the crib instead.

Personally I wouldn’t use a Moses basket for overnight sleep, I just have one downstairs for naps. They are quite small, the mattresses are thin and I don’t think (although I may be wrong) that they have to comply with the same safety standards.

My thoughts are...don't go into parenting with rigid ideas, they are likely to be ripped down sharpish when baby arrives, remain flexible and open minded.

Fads come and go and are largely led by marketing corporations. Baby's have existed for thousands and thousands of years without a next to me crib,yours will be fine if you don't want one.

If you change your mind delivery is so fast from Amazon or Argos you could have it set up in hours if you decided you did want to use one. You don't need to buy everything now.

Our DD was too big for the Moses basket by about 3 months. I have a next to me cot but don’t use it with the sides down. It’s just a good size to have in the bedroom and I like the soft, breathable sides. As does our now 5 month old, who snuggles against it. Although she’s almost getting too big for it, so will be a proper cot soon!

Having the side down on a bedside crib is not the same as cosleeping! You're hardly going to roll off the bed into a cot...

Moving a sleepy baby from your cosy side to a cold flat moses basket.... Nope

Best thing I ever spent money on was Co sleeper crib.

The whole point is that it's safe, they are not in your bed, they have their own space.

It’s a much better size than a Moses basket so I think it is worthwhile. They’re supposed to be in your room until 6 months, but Moses baskets only last for about 3 months max.

We had a moses basket and the big cot. That was it. Just keep in mind though that most babies will outgrow a moses basket in 3-4 months so if you want to keep them in with you for the recommended 6 months then you’ll need another solution to bridge the gap- these bedside cribs typically last the full 6 months so they’re popular for that reason not just for cosleeping since they can also be used with the sides up as a stand alone crib. But if your room is big enough for a full size cot then fine. If it doesn’t maybe rethink.

Neither of mine liked their moses basket, it was barely used, literally had to cosleep with my eldest to get any semblance of sleep so second time around opted for the cosleeping crib (cot sized) in the hope I would get a bit more space. Worked a little better, he would let me hold his hand but he too wanted me closer later in the night. I desperately didn't want to cosleep either time!! Both were BF.

Oh and ours converted into a full sized cot so could be used when he moved into his nursery so better value than the Moses.

I just went moses basket to a full cot, never saw the point in a next to me crib - but they do last longer than a moses basket, but it's not something you 'need' to have x

Waste of money. I used Moses basket and then a travel cot* when DS got too big. I did occasionally cosleep though, it was recommended by an “old school” midwife (DS is not yet 3 so it’s recent), and it was a game changer.

ETA my eldest went from Moses basket to regular cot, youngest went in a travel cot.

I used a moses basket until my baby grew out of it at about 10 weeks. So it depends I think if you can fit a cot in your room with you.

I would just get a next to me. Loads of people sell them on fb for £20 so it doesn't have to be expensive (obviously new mattress though).

Is this your first baby? Newborns often do explosive poos / are sick / wee leaks etc in their sleeping arrangements so you will need a plan b place for baby to sleep in case of this. Otherwise they'll have to end up in your bed which you said you don't want to do!

A next to me and cosleeping are different things. Plus you can put the side up on the next to me cribs. Moses baskets are small, baby will likely outgrow by 3 months, so you'll need something for baby to sleep in. Next to me is bigger than moses basket but smaller than full crib.

Used a basket until baby outgrew and then went to their own room.

Same plan for our twins.

@NamingConundrum technically they are the same thing as co sleeping is defined as sleeping in the same room. Bed sharing is a form of co-sleeping and it's different to that, which I think is what you meant.

100% this!

Also anything you ask about - literally ANYTHING you can buy for a child - some folk will tell you they're a total waste of money because they did without one. I'm all for anything that makes life with a newborn easier.