Bedside crib guide: how to choose one in Morocco

Amara 2-in-1 bedside crib Tinted Gray Bébé Confort

In the photos: Amara 2-in-1 bedside crib Tinted Gray Bébé Confort, CALIDOO bedside crib Geometric Safety 1st and Nest’n Go crib mosquito net Doomoo.

A bedside crib attaches to the parents' bed, open side facing it, so baby sleeps right next to you but on their own sleep surface. It keeps your newborn within arm's reach at night safely, provided you choose a bedside crib that meets the EN 1130 standard, is firmly attached and has a firm, well-fitting mattress. Here is how to choose it and set it up properly.

In this guide:

What is a bedside crib?
The benefits of a bedside crib
The different types of bedside crib
How to choose a bedside crib
Installing a bedside crib safely
Mistakes to avoid
Frequently asked questions

What is a bedside crib?

A bedside crib, also called a co-sleeping crib, is a small bed for infants with one side that lowers or opens. Attached to the parents’ bed, it extends your sleeping area: your baby has their own mattress, just a few centimetres from you.

It should not be confused with bed-sharing, which means having your baby sleep in the adults’ bed, a practice paediatricians advise against because of the risks of suffocation and entrapment. Current recommendations advise having infants sleep in their parents’ room, but in their own bed, ideally for the first six months: this is exactly what a bedside crib allows.

The benefits of a bedside crib

Reassuring closeness: you can see and hear your baby, and comfort them without getting up.
Easier night feeds: you pick up your baby and lay them back down in a few movements, without leaving your bed.
Comfort for mum: fewer trips back and forth after giving birth, a real plus after a caesarean.
Separate sleeping surface: your baby sleeps on a firm, flat surface, away from the adults’ bedding.
Space-saving: more compact than a slatted cot, ideal for a flat bedroom.

The different types of bedside crib

The classic bedside crib with a drop-down side

The most common model: a crib, usually height-adjustable, with a side panel that lowers, attached to the parents’ bed with straps. The Chicco Next2Me Essential and the Bébé Confort Calidoo, also offered by Safety 1st, are good examples of this category. Browse our full selection of bedside cribs available in Morocco.

The 2-in-1 bedside crib

“2-in-1” models, such as the Amara bedside crib or the Zina crib bed by Bébé Confort, generally combine two uses: a bedside crib attached to the parents’ bed and a standalone crib with the side raised. The product page details the configurations of each model.

Multifunction cribs

The Chicco Baby Hug 4-in-1 crib and bouncer combines a crib and a bouncer, among other things; the bouncer position is for awake time under supervision only, and your baby sleeps flat. Also discover our cribs and Moses baskets and our Moses basket section.

Solution	Placement	Indicative period of use	Key strength
Bedside crib	Attached to the parents’ bed	First few months, until your baby sits up or pulls up	Maximum closeness, separate sleeping surface
Moses basket	Anywhere in the home	First few weeks, according to the instructions	Light and easy to move
Slatted cot	Parents’ room, then the child’s room	From birth until moving to a child’s bed	Use over several years

How to choose a bedside crib: the key criteria

EN 1130 standard: this European standard covers Moses baskets and cribs, including bedside cribs. Check that it appears in the instructions or on the packaging.
Compatibility with your bed: compare the height of your mattress with the bedside crib’s adjustment range and check that the straps fit around your bed base, especially with an ottoman bed.
A reliable drop-down side: easy to operate and secure locking, because the side must be raised as soon as the bedside crib is no longer attached to the bed.
A firm, well-fitted mattress: choose the mattress supplied by the manufacturer, made to the exact dimensions of the crib.
Ventilation and visibility: breathable mesh sides let air circulate and let you see your baby at a glance.
Mobility and care: castors with brakes, compact folding and a washable cover make everyday life easier.

Zina 2-in-1 bedside cot-crib Mineral Gray Bébé Confort — In the photo: Zina 2-in-1 bedside crib Mineral Gray Bébé Confort

Installing a bedside crib safely

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and these basic rules:

Attach the bedside crib with the system provided: there must be no gap between its mattress and the parents’ mattress.
Adjust the height so that both mattresses are at the same level.
Always put your baby to sleep on their back, lying flat. If your model offers an incline, ask your paediatrician’s advice before using it.
Nothing else in the crib: no pillow, duvet, cot bumper or soft toy. Choose a baby sleeping bag suited to your baby’s size and the season.
Keep your duvet and pillows away from your baby, and the room at around 18 to 20 °C. Our baby sleep accessories (night lights…) complete the set-up, out of your baby’s reach.
Raise the side as soon as the bedside crib is detached from the parents’ bed.
Stop using it as a bedside crib as soon as your baby can sit up, kneel or pull up on their own, or reaches the maximum weight stated. Then move on to a slatted baby cot that complies with the EN 716 standard, such as the Poppy natural wood cot 60 x 120 cm by Bébé Confort.

Mistakes to avoid

Using the bedside crib with the side lowered without securing it: baby could slip between the two beds.
Adding a mattress topper or a second mattress.
Falling asleep with baby in the adults' bed or on a sofa after a feed.
Buying a model without checking that it is compatible with your bed.
Going beyond the stated age or weight limit.

Frequently asked questions

Up to what age can you use a bedside crib?

Most bedside cribs can be used from birth to around 6 months. The exact limit is given in the instructions: as soon as baby can sit up, kneel or pull themselves up unaided, or reaches the maximum weight, it is time to move to a cot.

Is a bedside crib safe for baby?

Yes, when it meets the EN 1130 standard, is firmly attached and is used following safe sleep rules. Baby has their own firm, clear sleep surface. For any specific situation, talk to your paediatrician.

Does a bedside crib fit every bed?

Not always: it all depends on the height of your mattress and your bed base. If in doubt, bring your bed's measurements to the showroom and we'll help you find the right model.

Does a bedside crib need a special mattress?

Baby should sleep on a firm, flat mattress that fits the crib perfectly. Use the mattress supplied or the one recommended by the manufacturer, covered with a simple, tightly fitted sheet.

Can a bedside crib be used from birth?

Yes, it is designed for baby's very first nights, when it is most useful. Remember to set it up and adjust it before the birth.

Bedside crib or cot: which should you choose?

The two complement each other: the bedside crib offers ideal closeness in the first months, and the cot takes over in the long term. What matters most is that baby sleeps on their own sleep surface, close to you.

Torn between several models? Our advisers welcome you at our showroom in Casablanca, in Maârif, to compare bedside cribs with you. You can also message us on WhatsApp at 06 61 14 46 02. Order your bedside crib online: delivery within 24 hours across Morocco (by our own team in Casablanca, by Amana elsewhere), free from 300 DH.