Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby is required to move into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has a bassinet that can be lifted off to use in the home and an option to rock manually. It was simple to put together and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used up to three years old. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot mattress. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's a great option to select the larger size.
MFM mum home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. Jasmine says it's easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe and that it's quality is superior to others she has seen that are less sturdy.
Emily, another home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted 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 other international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be able to be dropped down so that you can lift your baby up towards you during night feedings or soothing. This feature is particularly useful if you're recovering from 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.
You should also think about how low you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to lift their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, others prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is a collapsible side you can press at the touch one button.
Keep in bedside crib that turns into cot that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head without assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is because of the risk of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to turn an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you must remove the sides once they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for beds with a range of styles from simple to luxurious. Some of the most expensive options come with features like an integrated light or a center of calm that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep. Another option is a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. Some models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own 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 lets you pick up your newborn and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, stated that it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after a C-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs for bed that we've tested, however it folds down into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside crib describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet from side to side and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their c-sections,' she said.
Safety
The most important safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappy. This means that it's ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can effortlessly lift your baby without getting out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillowcases and duvets, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are entrapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November of 2021.