Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby is required to move into a cot or a 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 an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are 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 convert into a toddler bed or cot bed. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a great option to select the larger size.
4-in-1 bedside crib , an MFM mum who tested the product at home, was pleased the fact that it was a little bigger than the typical Moses basket, but not too big for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great in comparison to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Emily is another home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means that you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, 4-in-1 bedside crib will require an exclusive 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 a comfortable height for you. It should also be able of being dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby closer to you for feedings at night or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful when you're recovering from 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 level you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the push of the button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head up without assistance, which is typically about 6 months old. This is due to the danger of suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you must take the sides off once they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple 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 vibrating to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your child for feedings. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require a bed for longer periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby easier especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than other bedside cribs we tested but it folds flat in its travel bag so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and children. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it let you 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 main safety characteristic of a 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 is ideal for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. You should choose the design that lets you lower the bed's side with a single button press. This will allow you to easily raise your child without having to get out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. You'll also want to be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside beds to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.