Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their children at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby will be ready to move to an actual crib.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that can be used all around the house. It also comes with the ability to rock manually. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They also often convert into toddler beds, while they are typically used for up to three years. older. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot beds. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger one.
Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was a bit bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing and that the quality is great, compared with many she's seen that feel flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. In contrast to International or European cot brands, the Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase another mattress as your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be lower to a level that is not in the way so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is particularly helpful if you are recovering from a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
It is also important to consider how low you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level and others prefer a higher level to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice, with one of our mom test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of the button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper is only suitable until your baby can hold their head without assistance typically around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot, you must remove the sides when they are ready to do so. This will stop them from falling out or climbing out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to extravagant. Some of the more expensive options come with features like a built-in light and a soothing center that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. You can also find models which can be made into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a the bed for extended durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. bedside baby bed has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs we've tested, but it folds into its travel bag, making it compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and infants. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was fantastic because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety feature is that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or her nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that lets you lower the sides of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily raise your child without getting out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and more mobile. It is also important to not add anything to the crib that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of imposing additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the 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 through the use of an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will be examining these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be released in November of 2021.