Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, after which your baby will be ready to move to the bed.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also comes with an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cots differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. They also often convert into toddler beds, while they are typically used for up to three years. older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a good option to select the larger size.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or soothing and that the quality is great when compared to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly helpful in the event of recovering from a C section. For bedside crib with wheels and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to a height of 58cm while 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 to be. While some mums find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the smallest height, other mums prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option, with one of our mom testers stating that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can use at the push of one button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby is able to hold their head up without assistance generally about 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, you will need to remove the sides once they are ready to do so. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from simple to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features like an integrated night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or even the swivelling base which makes it easier to get your baby's food in the right place. There are also models that can be transformed into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after having a C-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than other cribs we tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside crib, describing how it was designed with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was brilliant since 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 bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important security characteristic is that it is able to be raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or his or her nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from an C-section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby up without needing to get out of bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, including duvets and pillows, which can cause babies 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); fabric-sided enclosed openings (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 looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. bedside crib and cot suggested the CPSC add an alternative clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. The attachment can be permanently attached or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be released in November of 2021.