Best Bedside Cribs & Moses Baskets Compared (UK)

The best bedside crib for most UK families is a lightweight, mesh-sided crib you will only use for the first few months, such as the Silver Cross Lunar (£175) or the Shnuggle Air Lite (£180). If you want one sleep space that lasts for years, the Chicco Next2Me Forever (£369) converts to a cot and then a toddler bed, and if you only need something portable and cheap, the Mamas & Papas Welcome to the World Moses basket (£99) does the job. Whichever you pick, the NHS says to put your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep for at least the first 6 months. For the wider cot decision, see our cot vs cot bed vs Moses basket guide.

What the Lullaby Trust and NHS say before you buy

The Lullaby Trust lists the British Standards a baby sleep product should meet: BS EN 1130:2019 for bedside cribs, BS EN 1466:2014 or BS EN 1466:2023 for Moses baskets and carry cots, and BS EN 716-1:2017 for cots. It says that since 2020 all bedside cribs should meet BS EN 1130:2019, and that under this standard cots should no longer have a side that fully drops down. It strongly advises choosing a product that complies with British Safety Standards, and says compliance is usually stated on the product, packaging or website. The Trust also notes that there is no safety standard related to SIDS, so meeting a standard does not on its own prove a product reduces that risk.

The mattress matters as much as the crib. The Lullaby Trust says the mattress should be firm (your baby’s head should not sink in by more than a few millimetres), flat with no raised or cushioned areas, and waterproof with a fitted cover. It lists BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021 for mattresses for cots, travel cots and cribs, and generally advises buying a new mattress for each baby if you can.

The NHS adds the everyday rules: always place your baby on their back to sleep in the feet-to-foot position, use a firm, flat mattress, and do not sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby. It also says overheating can increase the risk of SIDS and suggests keeping the room at roughly 16 to 20°C. Our newborn safer sleep guide and winter room temperature guide cover these in more detail.

Bedside crib vs Moses basket: which do you need?

A bedside crib sits right beside your bed (most attach to the frame) so your baby sleeps within arm’s reach but on their own separate surface. A Moses basket is a portable woven basket you carry between rooms, usually placed on a stand or the floor. Neither is for long: the cribs below are specced for roughly the first 6 months or 9kg, and you will need a cot after that. Many parents buy one or the other, and some buy a basket for daytime naps alongside a crib for nights.

• Choose a bedside crib if you want easy night feeds, are recovering from a caesarean, or want baby close without sharing the bed.
• Choose a Moses basket if you want the cheapest and most portable option, or you have a sturdy stand and a small bedroom.
• Choose a convertible crib only if you are happy to pay more up front for a product you will use for several years.

Bedside cribs and Moses baskets compared

Product	Price we list	Type	Specced use	Standout feature	Best for
Silver Cross Lunar Bedside Crib	£175	Folding bedside crib	Around 9kg or 6 months	Folds flat, 7 heights, reflux incline	Storing or travelling with the crib
Shnuggle Air Lite Bedside Crib	£180	Compact bedside crib	Around 9kg or 6 months	83cm long, 6 heights, airflow mattress	Small bedrooms
Snüz SnuzPod4	£199.95	3-in-1 bedside crib	Around 9kg or 5–6 months	Half-height zip-down wall, ventilated base	Easy night access
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper	£299	Freestanding swivel bassinet	Newborn months	360° swivel, lowering side wall	C-section recovery, no strap mounting
Chicco Next2Me Forever	£369	Convertible bedside crib, cot and floor bed	Up to about 4 years	11 heights, tilt function, mattress included	Buying once
Mamas & Papas Welcome to the World Moses Basket	£99	Woven palm Moses basket	First few months	Light and portable, fitted sheet included	Daytime naps and a tight budget

Prices and ranges are as listed on our product pages and specced by the manufacturers; check the current price, the weight limit and the standard marked on the product before you buy. We have not hands-on tested these, so the notes below are based on published specifications.

Our picks in detail

Silver Cross Lunar Bedside Crib (£175): best for folding away

The Lunar has 7 height positions, an incline setting for reflux and a bamboo-lined mattress, and it folds flat with its own travel bag. That makes it a good fit if you plan to store it between babies or take it to a grandparent’s house. The trade-off is that it is heavier when unfolded than the Shnuggle, and the folding frame can feel less rigid than fixed-frame rivals. Like the other bedside-only cribs it stops being useful at around 9kg or 6 months.

Shnuggle Air Lite Bedside Crib (£180): best for small bedrooms

At 83cm long, the Air Lite is the most compact crib here. It has dual mesh side panels, six heights and a hypoallergenic airflow mattress that the brand claims is 50% more breathable than standard foam. Its maximum compatible bed height is 70cm, so measure your bed first, particularly if you have a high divan or ottoman.

Snüz SnuzPod4 (£199.95): best for night feeds

The SnuzPod4 clips to the bed frame, stands alone as a normal crib, and has a removable bassinet you can carry between rooms. The half-height wall setting lets you leave the side at elbow height, which helps at 3am, and the ventilated base adds to the mesh side windows. It is specced for around 5–6 months of use, so budget for a cot soon after. Our best cot beds compared guide covers the next step.

HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper (£299): best for recovery after birth

The BassiNest sits on its own height-adjustable stand and swivels 360°, with a side wall that lowers rather than unzips, an easier one-handed motion after a caesarean. Because it is freestanding it needs stable, mostly flat floor next to the bed, and a divan with an overhanging duvet can interfere with the swivel. It is the priciest and bulkiest of the bedside options.

Chicco Next2Me Forever (£369): best long-term buy

This crib starts attached to your bed, unclips to become a free-standing cot, and finally lowers into a floor bed for toddlers. It has 11 height positions and a tilt function, and the mattress, wheels and washable cover are included. At 121cm long it is the biggest product here, so it suits a settled nursery layout better than a flexible one. If you only need bedside sleeping for a few months, you may be paying for years of use you do not want.

Mamas & Papas Welcome to the World Moses Basket (£99): best budget and portable option

This hand-woven palm basket comes with a cotton lining and fitted sheet and is easy to carry between rooms. It has no bed-frame attachment, and a stand is sold separately, so it does not give the same side-by-side arrangement as a bedside crib. Check that any stand is stable and suited to the basket.

How to use a bedside crib or Moses basket safely

• Keep it clear. The Lullaby Trust says the safest cot is a clear cot, free of unnecessary items and loose bedding. Our baby nests and sleeping pods article explains why add-ons are a concern.
• Back to sleep, feet to foot. The NHS advises placing your baby on their back with their feet at the bottom of the sleep space until they can roll over on their own.
• Use a firm, flat mattress. Make sure it is firm, flat and waterproof, as the Lullaby Trust describes.
• Follow the manufacturer’s limits. Stop using the product at the weight or stage the maker specifies.
• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. The NHS says not to sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby.
• Buy secondhand with care. The Lullaby Trust advises checking for good condition, no broken or missing parts and a smoke and pet free home, and buying a new mattress where you can. See buying secondhand baby gear safely.

If you are thinking about having your baby in bed with you, read our bed-sharing and co-sleeping guide first. A bedside crib keeps your baby close without sharing the bed; it does not replace the safer sleep basics above.