Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is old enough to transition to the crib.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble, and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. baby bedside sleeper are smaller than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only intended for children who are the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot beds. Choosing the larger of the two is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until the age of at least three years old.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, was pleased the fact that it was a little bigger than the typical 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 for evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is superior to others she has seen that are less sturdy.
Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated 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 many 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 perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It should also be able to be lowered to a level that is not in the way so you can raise your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This is especially useful when you're recovering from a C-section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
You should also consider how low you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest level, some mothers prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is a collapsible side you can press at the press of a button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should only be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to remember that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a cot, you will need to begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this to ensure they don't climb out or get out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features like a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and has two levels of vibration to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even an adjustable base that allows you to reach your baby for feedings. You can also find models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended durations of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's a bit larger than the other cribs that we've tested but it folds flat in its bag for travel, so it's quite compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib she explained how it was created with parents and babies in mind. It is a fantastic design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet from side-to-side and one of its sides can be let down to facilitate access especially for new mothers who are recovering from C-sections', she said.
Safety
A large bedside cot's main safety feature is that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or her diaper. This makes it ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side at the push of a button, so you can effortlessly lift your baby without needing to get out of bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as pillowcases and duvets, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that they meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped between the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to different modes like play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is examining the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.