Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without risk of SIDS. However, they are only suggested for use until 6 months of age when your baby is required to move into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be lifted off to use throughout the house, as well as the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However cots are generally used by children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot beds. Choosing the larger of the two is a good choice for children who want to sleep in it until the age of +/- three.
Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for the baby's room. It's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means that you don't have to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it does require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised up to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your the baby. It also needs to be able to be lowered down out of the way so that you can pull your baby towards you for feedings at night or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful when you're recovering from a C-section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
You should also think about how low you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option, with one of our mum test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance generally around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to convert a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, you must take the sides off when they are able to do this. This will stop them from falling out or climbing out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside cribs, from simple to luxurious. bedside crib and travel cot could include features such as an integrated night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which makes it easier to reach your baby for feedings. You can also find models that can be transformed 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.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or need to stay in the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby much easier especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than the other bedside cribs that we tested, but it folds down into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed for both parents and children. It is a fantastic design that is very easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant as it means you can move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be opened down to facilitate access especially for mothers who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.
Safety
A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or her nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that lets you lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This will allow you to easily lift your child without getting out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to become overheated.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will be examining these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be released in November of 2021.