Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suggested for use until 6 months when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the home. It also features an option to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which convert into a cot/toddler bed. Selecting the larger one is a good idea if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of approximately three.
Jasmine, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for her baby’s room. She says it's easy to get her baby in and out for feeding or calming and that the quality is great in comparison to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways - it's a lift-off bassinet 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 for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It also needs to be able to be dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby up towards you for feedings at night or for soothing. This feature is especially helpful in the event of 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.
Another thing to consider is how low you want the base of your cot to be. While some mothers find it easier to lift their children out of standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, others prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easily collapsible side that you can press at the press of one button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance typically about 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you must remove the sides once they are able to do so. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features like an integrated night light, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that makes it easier to reach your child for feedings. Some models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require bed for longer durations of time. cots4tots , a MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was easy to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after the c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.
MFM mum home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib, she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it allows you to move the bassinet from side-to-side and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary safety characteristic is the fact that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or her nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. You should choose an option that lets you lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This allows you to lift your child without getting out of bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to become overheated.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of imposing additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. This attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.