Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to let parents sleep close to their children at night, without the risk of SIDS. However, bedside cot co sleeper are only suggested for use until 6 months of age when your baby will need to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the home. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However cots are generally used by children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. Choosing the larger of the two is a good choice when you want your child to sleep in it until they reach at least three years old.
Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses basket, but not too big for the baby's room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is better than other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be elevated to a height that's comfortable for you to feed your baby. It must also be able to be lowered to the ground so that you can lift your baby closer to you for feedings at night or for soothing. This feature is especially helpful in the event of recovering from a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is how low you want the base of your cot to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level and others prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option with one of our mum test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of a button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this, so that they don't get out of bed or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of bedside crib, ranging from simple to lavish. Some of the more expensive options come with features such as a built-in light or a center of calm that plays music and sounds and has two levels that help to soothe 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 a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried this product at home, said it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after a C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than some of the other cribs that we've tested but it folds flat into its travel bag so it's relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib describing how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely durable. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier for moms who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is the fact that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or her nappies. This makes it ideal for new mothers who may still be recovering from a C-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. The attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to be released in November 2021.
