Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
cheap bedside cot and cot beds vary in size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used for up to three years. old. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot/toddler beds. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a great idea to pick the larger one.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too large for the baby's room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe and that the quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are 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 a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it does require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be elevated to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It must also be able of being dropped to the ground so that you can lift your baby closer to you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is especially helpful when you're 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 can be adjusted to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher height to give them greater stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has a collapsible side you can press at the push of the button.
Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided typically approximately 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib it is necessary to begin removing the sides once your child is ready for this, so 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. Some of the more luxurious options include features such as an inbuilt light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. Certain models can be converted into an infant bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you pick up your newborn and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or require a bed for longer periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable especially after a c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's slightly larger than some of the other cribs that we've looked at, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. bedside crib and cot claimed that it was designed for both parents and infants. It has a great design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was a great idea 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 security feature of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from an C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can effortlessly lift your baby without needing to get out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and more mobile. It is also important to avoid adding anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets by using an attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as the bassinet.
bedside cot 6 months plus is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.