Cot vs Moses basket: which is better?
Short answer: They do different jobs. A cot is a framed baby bed with fixed sides, usually taking a 120 x 60cm mattress. 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.
Cot
Used from birth, once you are ready to move on from a Moses basket or bedside crib, until your child is ready for a bed.
- Check the internal size and buy a mattress that fits with no gaps.
- Adjustable base heights let you lower the mattress as your baby learns to sit and stand.
- Teething rails protect the top rails from little teeth.
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.
| Cot | Moses basket | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | from birth, once you are ready to move on from a Moses basket or bedside crib, until your child is ready for a bed | 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
- 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.
- Keep the cot clear: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets, soft toys, pods, nests, wedges or anything to keep your baby in place.
- 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.
- Cots and travel cots: look for BS EN 716-1:2017.
- Moses baskets and carrycots: look for BS EN 1466:2014 or BS EN 1466:2023.
Related questions
How long can you use a cot?
From birth, once you are ready to move on from a Moses basket or bedside crib, until your child is ready for a bed.
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
- Bantam Cot - White
- Coleby Space Saver Cot
- Stamford Space Saver Sleigh Cot - White
- Bantam Space Saver Cot - Warm Grey
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Cribs buying guide for UK parentsCan a 6 week old sleep in a travel cot?Can my baby sleep in a sling?Your 4 month's sleep space: a safe-sleep guideSleep position quizYour 5 month's sleep space: a safe-sleep guideAll safe sleep and sleep spaces advice →
Sources
- The Lullaby Trust: Baby mattresses and bedding (accessed 2026-10-21)
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (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.