Which? uncovers safety issues with Gaia Baby Hera bedside crib

Earlier this year we tested ten bedside cribs in our lab to see how they fared in terms of safety, ease of use and build quality. During your baby's newborn months, a bedside crib could make sleeping at night a little simpler by keeping them closer to you for feeds, nappy changes and settling. 

In our tests we assess the features that we feel will be the most practical, for example an easy to use drop side for quick access to your baby during the night. We also replicate the British Standard safety tests on the crib and the mattress. 

Both standards are voluntary, which means it's not a legal requirement to follow them. However, manufacturers are strongly encouraged to meet these standards to minimise risks for young babies. This includes checking for choking and swallowing hazards, such as loose zip pulls, as well as entrapment and suffocation risks.

During testing, the Gaia Baby Hera bedside crib fell short on a few of our safety tests. Keep reading to find out why.

Head straight to our bedside crib reviews for information on all tested models

What our initial bedside crib tests found

When testing the Gaia Baby Hera bedside crib, we were concerned to find that the plastic caps on the drop-side rods at both ends can be removed with little force. 

We check whether any small parts could pose a choking hazard by putting them in a specially designed small-parts cylinder that mimics a child's airway. The plastic caps can fit within the small parts cylinder, posing a choking hazard if they happen to fall into the crib.

That's not the only safety issue we uncovered. We also test the strength of the top of the drop side by applying a 20kg force to replicate a parent/carer leaning on it to reach their baby. After this test, there was a permanent deformation to the top of the drop side.

Additionally, there's a reflux setting that raises your baby's head by tilting the base by 10°, which means the height of the side when it drops to its lowest position is only 65mm. There should always be a minimum 120mm height to prevent your baby's head from rolling off the side of the dropside crib.

We also found it's possible to access the filling materials of the mattress because the zip doesn’t require a tool for opening, nor is there an inner cover that you can’t remove. This poses a potential choking hazard for your baby. There were shrinkage issues with the cover too, and after washing, drying and refitting the cover the mattress was compressed slightly. This can cause gaps where a baby can trap a limb and it's important to make sure there are no gaps larger than 2cm between the mattress and crib.

Best bedside cribs: we explain how much to spend, where to buy one and what features to look out for

The Gaia Baby Hera crib modification kit

We relayed our concerns to Gaia Baby and they were very willing to work with us on rectifying the safety issues we identified in our tests. 

Gaia Baby removed the Hera crib from sale and created a modification kit for parents who own it, which they claimed would remedy the problems. They have told us that these changes have also been implemented into all future production models.

Our lab received a modification kit and we retested some of the specific safety concerns with the crib that we found in our initial tests.

Gaia Baby told us they have contacted every consumer that has previously bought a Hera crib directly from them or one of their retailers. If you have this bedside crib and have not been contacted, get in touch with Gaia Baby directly.

What does the new kit include?

A new drop-side bar that does not contain removable plastic caps, which has remedied the choking hazard. 

However, in our subsequent testing, this bar still deformed when a 20kg force was applied, which mimics an adult leaning on it to raise or lower a baby. This indicates a strength issue. Because of the deformation on one side, our lab replicated the same test on the other side of the crib. Upon doing so, one of the fabric retainers which is used to lower/raise the drop side detached resulting in the upper bar coming off completely. It appears that it is only secured by a kind of double-side tape (see image below). If a parent/carer would continue to use it, the minimum height of the top bar (which is meant to be 200mm, according to the safety standards), would no longer be present and could impair its safe function.

New side panels so that in all positions (including reflux) the depth is over 120mm between the top of the mattress and the top of the drop side. 

But subsequent testing found that despite the new side panels and edits to the instructions, when the bedside crib is in the reflux position with the drop sides down, it is possible that some of the measurements of the depth of the sides are very slightly below the 120mm requirement (we measured 117 to 116.5mm). While we appreciate the measurements weren't far off, when considering the importance of safety when it comes to baby and child products and how they could be used in a real-life situation, we're considering reasonable use. The minimum height requirement was met when in other positions.

Gaia Baby has sourced a new mattress. 

We have not retested it and therefore can't comment on its safety.

So while the new modification kit has remedied some of the issues, in our view it hasn't removed all of the concerns that our lab testing uncovered.

What did Gaia Baby say?

Gaia Baby told us that they had commissioned an independent expert who found no safety concerns and, as such, Gaia Baby said: 'Gaia Baby disputes any of Which’s findings relating to any potential safety issues. We have provided evidence that the item is safe and meets all safety standards.'

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Are bedside cribs a good idea?

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own separate sleep space on a flat and firm surface - a bedside crib enables this.

Bedside cribs can fasten to the frame of your bed on one side, so you're effectively lying next to your baby, and the side can usually be dropped down for easier access. This should make night-time feeds and nappy changes for the first six months much more straightforward.

Bedside cribs can be used from birth until your baby reaches the age of six months - or until they can sit up unaided.

An alternative is a moses basket or bassinet, but babies often outgrow these before they reach six months so it could end up only being a short-term purchase.

For more advice, take a look at our advice on the best cot mattresses or head straight to our cot mattress reviews