Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their children at night without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will be required to move into a cot, or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler beds. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's a great option to select the larger size.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly larger than the Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or calming and that the quality is excellent, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a crib that is bedside, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It should also be able to be dropped down to allow you to lift your baby towards you during night feedings or for soothing. This is especially useful in the event of recovering from C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice, with one of our mum testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of a button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head without assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you select a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a cot it is necessary to remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this, so that they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for beds with a range of styles from simple to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features like a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibration to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. There are also models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said that it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after the C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than some of the other cribs for bed we've tested but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was a great idea because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for mothers who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is the fact that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or their nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from an c-section. You should choose an option that allows you to lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This will allow you to lift your child up without having to get out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases that can cause your baby to become overheated.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For Discover More would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.