Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby will be ready to be moved to a cot.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model comes with a bassinet that can be lifted off to use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was also easy to put together and came with its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cots differ in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However cots are generally used for children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a cot/toddler mattress. Choosing the larger of the two is a good choice if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of +/- three.
MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She claims that it is easy to get 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 less sturdy.
Emily, another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Unlike some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase another mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed be sure to choose one that can be elevated to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding baby. It must also be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can pull your baby closer to you during night feedings or soothing. This feature is particularly helpful if you are recovering from a C section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
It is also important to consider how low you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option and one of our mom test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can use at the push of a button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is because of the risk of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you opt for a bedside or bassinet which can be converted into a crib, you will need to begin removing the sides once your child is ready for this to ensure they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The more expensive options could include features like a built-in night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your child for feedings. Certain models can be converted into an infant bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. bedside crib that turns into cot makes it perfect for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable - especially after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than other cribs for bed we've looked at, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mum home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is very maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was brilliant since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for moms who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important security aspect of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they require to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from the C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that allows you to lower the bed's side with a single button press. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without getting out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillowcases and duvets that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into other modes such as bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets using a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be published in the month of November 2021.