Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby will be ready to move to an actual bed.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be lifted off to use around the house and an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used until three years old. old. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard, which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger size.
MFM mother home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. Jasmine says it's easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing and that the quality is better than other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's a blast too. It also comes with an option for inclining the reflux 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. Contrary to some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed be sure to choose one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding baby. It must also be able to be dropped down out of the way to allow you to lift your baby towards you for night feeds or soothing. This feature is especially helpful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
You should also consider the height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that you can press at the press of a button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally about 6 months. bedside cot newborn is because of the risk of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that if your child is old enough to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, they must take the sides off as soon as they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for beds with a range of styles from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features like 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 the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. There are also models which can be made into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require bed for longer periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after a 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 lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than the other cribs for bed we've looked at, but it folds flat in its bag for travel, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, describing how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is a fantastic design that is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. 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 make access easier for mothers who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from the c-section. You should look for a design which allows you to lower the sides of the bed with a single button press. This allows you to lift your child without having to get out of the bed. This is essential, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't feasible or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers which can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.