Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without fear of SIDS. However they are only recommended for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need to move into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features a lift-off bassinet you can use in the home and an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.
Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses basket, but not too large for the baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is better than other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that is breathable. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Unlike some International or European cot brands, the Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it does require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for feeding your babies. It also needs to be able to be lowered to the ground to allow you to lift your baby up towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This is particularly useful if you are recovering from a C Section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their babies out of the 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 well-liked option, with one of our mum testers stating that it is easy to use with a collapsible side that is easy to use at the push of one button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. Be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you must remove the sides once they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for beds with a range of styles from simple to luxurious. Some of the more expensive options come with features like a built-in light, a soothing center which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. You may also find some models that can be transformed into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.
check is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's bigger than the other bedside cribs that we tested, but it folds up into its travel bag, making it compact when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya also appreciated the function of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
A large bedside cot's main safety feature is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or his or her nappies. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from an c-section. You should choose an option that lets you lower the sides of the bed by pressing a button. This allows you to lift your child up without getting out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of imposing additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. The attachment can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.