Carrycot vs Moses basket: which is better?
Short answer: They do different jobs. A carrycot is a lie-flat bassinet that clips onto a pushchair chassis. A Moses basket is a small, light, portable basket bed for newborns, often used on a stand. Choose by your baby's stage, your space and how long you want to use it.
Carrycot
Used from birth until your baby reaches the maker's limit.
- Check it fits your chassis.
- Check whether it is approved for overnight sleep. Only some are.
- Use the mattress supplied, with nothing added.
Moses basket
Used for the first few months, until your baby reaches the maker's weight limit or can roll, sit or pull up.
- Use the mattress made for that basket, so it fits with no gaps.
- Use the basket on the floor or on its own stand, never on a raised surface like a sofa or table.
- Check the weight limit in the instructions.
| Carrycot | Moses basket | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | from birth until your baby reaches the maker's limit | for the first few months, until your baby reaches the maker's weight limit or can roll, sit or pull up |
What the guidance says
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep, in the feet-to-foot position (feet at the bottom of the cot, Moses basket or pram).
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition, with no raised or cushioned edges, that fits the cot or Moses basket with no gaps.
- The NHS advises placing your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first 6 months.
- Moses baskets and carrycots: look for BS EN 1466:2014 or BS EN 1466:2023.
Related questions
How long can you use a carrycot?
From birth until your baby reaches the maker's limit.
How long can you use a Moses basket?
For the first few months, until your baby reaches the maker's weight limit or can roll, sit or pull up.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
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Sources
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
- The Lullaby Trust: Baby mattresses and bedding (accessed 2026-10-21)
General information only, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, health visitor or 111. In an emergency, call 999.