Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their babies at night, without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to move into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with a bassinet that can be lifted off to use in the home and a manual rocking function. It was simple to put together and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However cots are generally used for children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a cot/toddler mattress. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.
Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. It's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or soothing and that the quality is great, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. 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 does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lowered out of the way, so you can lift up your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This is especially useful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For instance 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.
It is also important to consider how low you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, others prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mum testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible part that you can use at the push of one button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device should only be used when your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is because of the risk of suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot you must take the sides off when they are able to do this. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of bedside cribs, from simple to luxurious. Some of the most expensive options come with features like an inbuilt light or a center of calm which plays music and sounds and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. You can also find models which can be made into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or require bed for longer durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable - especially after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than other bedside cribs we tested but it folds flat into its travel bag so it is relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed for both parents and children. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet from side-to-side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to ease access especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.
Safety
The most important safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, soothe them or change their nappy. This means that it's ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side with the push of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of the bed. This is essential, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, such as pillows and duvets, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).
In amazon bedside cot looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products 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. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. The attachment can be permanently attached or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.