Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months old, at which point your baby will be ready to be moved to a crib.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features a lift-off bassinet you can use in the home and a manual rocking function. It was easy to set up, and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used for up to three years. old. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger one.
Jasmine, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with 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. Contrary to some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a crib that is bedside make sure it can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be able of being dropped down so that you can lift your baby towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This is especially useful if you're recovering from a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.
bedside sleeper cot to consider is how low you want the base of your cot to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers 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 saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can push down with the click of one button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeper is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head up unaided, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you will have to take the sides off once they are ready to do this. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. You may also find some 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 move to their own bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesareans, or those who need to remain in bed for long periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby much easier especially after a c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and includes an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we've tested, however it folds up into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is a fantastic design that is very maneuverable and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side and one of its sides can be opened down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important security characteristic is that it can easily be raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or their nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side with the push of a button. This way, you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets that can cause your baby to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues that include gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted to other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.