Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to snuggle with their infant at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to be moved to an actual crib.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They also often convert into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used for up to three years. older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. Choosing the larger one is a good choice for children who want to sleep in it until they reach approximately three.
Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too large for her baby’s room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that it's quality is better than other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Another home test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's a blast too. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that breathes. travel cot bedside crib was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It also needs to be able of being dropped down out of the way to allow you to lift your baby up towards you for feedings at night or for soothing. This feature is especially helpful in the event of 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.
Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mom testers saying that it comes with a simple collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head without assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to remember that if you choose a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot, you will need to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for beds, ranging from simple to extravagant. Some of the more luxurious options include features like an integrated light or a center of calm which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or require a the bed for extended durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby easier especially after a c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's a bit bigger than some of the other bedside cribs we tested but it folds flat in its travel bag so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for parents and infants. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their child when they need to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose a design which allows you to lower the bed's side with a simple button press. This allows you to raise your child without having to get out of bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, like 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, 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 miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these beds 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 practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that can be converted to other types of use, such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November of 2021.