What is the difference between a co sleeper cot and a normal cot with adjustable mattress height?

[used2bthin]

I am missing something obvious I am sure but I can't work this out! Is it that the side comes off or does it attach to the bed somehow?

tiny little bump before I go cot shopping! Or any recommendations for a cheap but very sturdy cot?

yes, side coems off or rather rotates the whole way over the top to make it an extention of your bed.. Doesn't actually attach to the bed though - or at least mine didn't

About £100 as far as I can see!

Co-sleeper cots have different height settings for the mattress, the idea being that you can change the height to match the height of your bed. However you could always get a cheap cot which has a removeable side and then cut the legs to fit. My friend did this but the cot was too low so she got some of those elephant feet things the elderly get given to make their sofas the right height and put them under the cot legs.

We have this one: www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Bedside-Cot/815448,default,pd.html but we bought it on ebay for £35. We had the mattress on the lowest setting and then had to chop a bit off to get it low enough to fit by our Ikea bed. We had it up against the wall on one side (tiny bedroom!) so no need for any fixings. DS slept in it next to our bed until he was 10 months and then we put the side back on and he's still in it happily at 2.3. We'll get him a bed very soon.

Thanks for replies! Ha ha nearly said other than£100! how sturdy is your mothercare one? I have an older dd who is strong and will try to tip it upsidedown so hoping for very solid!

We have ikea cot - most can be assembled minus one long side - very sturdy - fortunately we also have ikea bed so mattresses line up (foam piece and cot bumper wedged in far side gap - there's a guy an eBay that makes coach built pram mattresses that can send mattress foam cut to any size needed) my DD wriggles over if she wants me and she's close enough that I can hear her. Really good system. At night I can lie across both beds to feed and inch away when she's asleep - plus it's supposed to be big enough to last until 2 as its a cot bed (hence why you can assemble minus a side).

X

that sounds good-I keep putting her in with me at 4am ish and have scared myself about it now. Our bed isn't ikea but I will measure it and see if ikea puts mattress height measurements on, thanks.