Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without risk of SIDS. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model features a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However cots are generally intended for children who are the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.
Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased the fact that it was a little bigger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too big for her baby’s room. It's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product It's a bassinet that lifts off that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it does require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be able to be lowered down so that you can lift your baby up towards you during night feedings or soothing. This is especially useful when you're recovering from C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the height you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mom testers saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of a button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally about 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you must remove the sides as soon as they are able to do this. travel cot bedside will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to lavish. The more expensive options could include features such as an integrated night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which makes it easier to reach your baby for feedings. Certain models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that allows you to 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 mothers recovering from Caesareans or those who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby easier especially after a c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's slightly larger than the other cribs that we've tested but it folds flat in its travel bag so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She said it was designed to be used by parents and children. It is lightweight and easy to move. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their c-sections,' she said.
Safety
The main safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who still recovering from a C section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side at the press of a button, so you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. You should also be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows, which can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product, 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 looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to different modes like bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets through the use of an attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will be examining these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.