Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their babies at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to transition to an actual crib.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, loved the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used around the home. It also features an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However they are typically used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.
Jasmine, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, liked the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to carry her child into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. wooden bedside cot comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. bedside cot mattress requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised to a height that's comfortable for you to feed your the baby. It also needs to be able to be dropped down so that you can pull your baby towards you for feedings at night or soothing. This is especially useful if you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For example, 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.
rocking bedside crib should also think about the level you would like the base of your crib to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while others prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option, with one of our mum testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance typically around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, they must remove the sides when they are able to do so. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to extravagant. Some of the more extravagant options include features like a built-in light or a center of calm which plays music and sounds and has two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child 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.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mums who are recovering from Caesareans or who require bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, said that it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after a C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's larger than other bedside cribs that we tested, but it folds down into its bag for travel, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib, explaining how it was designed with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is a fantastic design that is very maneuverable and 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 ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or her nappy. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from an c-section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without getting out of bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets which could cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing components (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into different modes like play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product 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 on sleep at night. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.