Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, after which your baby is old enough to be moved to an actual cot.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and the ability 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 vary in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used by children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available - standard and large - both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler beds. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger one.
Jasmine, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too large for her baby’s room. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for night feeds or for soothing and that it's quality is superior to others she has seen that are less sturdy.
Emily is another home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you don't have to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it requires an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot, look for one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for feeding your baby. It should also be able of being dropped down so that you can pull your baby closer to you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a 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.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that which you can use to push of one button.
Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally around 6 months. This is because of the danger of suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot you will need to remove the sides 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 cribs that are bedside, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. You can also find models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesarean births or those who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after the c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than some of the other cribs for bed we've tried, but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is lightweight and easy to move. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet from side-to-side and one of its sides can be opened down to ease access especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important security feature is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or his or her diaper. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. It is recommended to choose an option that lets you lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to lift your child up without getting out of bed. This is crucial, particularly as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to not add anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, such as pillows and duvets, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems that included 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 components (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 height requirements for bassinets or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to other types of use, such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment. This attachment can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product's not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. Recommended Reading will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.