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, after which your baby is ready to move to a crib.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be lifted off to use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cots differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However cots are generally used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard, which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger one.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says that it is easy to get the baby in and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able to be lower out of the way, so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly useful when you're recovering from an operation such as 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.
It is also important to consider the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to get their babies out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest level, some mothers prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It comes with an easily collapsible side that you can push at the press of a button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at approximately 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. It's also important to note that if you select a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib it is necessary to begin removing the sides once your child is ready for this to ensure they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in night light, a soothing centre that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to reach your baby for feedings. There are also models that can be transformed into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesarean sections, or those who need to stay in bed for extended periods. Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried this product at home, said that it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after the C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than the other cribs for bed we've tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
bedside rocking crib appreciated the function of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely durable. She also said that the bassinet's swivelling base was fantastic because 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
The main safety feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they need to feed them, soothe them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who still recovering from a C section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the press 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 grows older and becomes more mobile. You should also not add anything to the crib that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.
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-side 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 examined the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers which can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. The attachment can be permanently fixed 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 regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.
