Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to transition to a cot.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also comes with a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots and cots differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However cots are generally used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket but not too large for her baby's room. It's easy to lift her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great, compared with many she's seen that feel flimsy.
baby bedside cot -based test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's a blast too. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Unlike some International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can pull your baby towards you for feedings at night or for soothing. This is particularly useful when 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.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option and one of our mum testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can push down with the click of the button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot, you will need to take the sides off when they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of bedside crib, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most extravagant options include features such as a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child to feed them. There are also models which can be made into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.
For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than the other cribs for bed we've tried, but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed for parents and infants. It has a great design that is very maneuverable and is extremely durable. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it allows you to move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.
Safety
The most important security feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them, or change their nappy. This means that it's ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Find a model that lets you lower one side at the push of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without needing to get out of bed. This is essential, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets, which can cause your baby to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included 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 examined the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers which would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. This attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.