Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to allow parents to snuggle with their infant at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to be moved to a crib.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was easy to assemble, and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used until three years old. old. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler beds. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger one.
MFM mum home test Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Another home-based test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is It's a bassinet that lifts off that you can move around the home, and it's a blast too. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also 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 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 special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be elevated to a height that's comfortable for you to feed your the baby. best bedside cot should also be able to be lowered to the ground to allow you to lift your baby up towards you for feedings at night or soothing. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from 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.
You should also think about how low you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the smallest height, other mums prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that you can push at the touch one button.
Remember that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance typically approximately 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a cot and vice versa, you must start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs that are bedside, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even a swivelling base that allows you to reach your baby for feedings. You may also find some models which can be made into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to their own 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 lets you pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesarean sections, or those who need to remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that 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 for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds up into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib, explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is a fantastic design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely durable. She also 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 facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The most important safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. Find 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 important, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable. Attachments can be permanently fixed or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to be released in November 2021.