Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to let parents sleep close to their children at night without the danger of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to move to an actual crib.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, loved the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard, which can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.
Jasmine is 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 large for the baby's room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot for night feeds or for soothing and that the quality is better than other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Another home-based test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed be sure to choose one that can be raised to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your babies. It should also be able to be dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby up towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option and one of our mum test subjects saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually at around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you select a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a crib it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure they don't get out of bed or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside crib, ranging from simple to luxurious. bedside crib with wheels of the more extravagant options include features like an inbuilt light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep. Another option is the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child to feed them. You may also find some models which can be made into 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 has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who need to stay in bed for longer periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after the C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also includes an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's bigger than the other bedside cribs that we've tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it relatively compact when it's not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed to be used by parents and children. It is a fantastic design that is incredibly maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet from side-to-side, and one of its sides can be opened down to ease access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety feature is that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or his or her nappies. This is why it's perfect for mothers who still recovering from a C section. You should look for 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 bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. It is also important to avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, including duvets and pillows, which can cause babies to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues, such as gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that they meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers which can be converted to different modes like 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 requirement for bassinets using a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
bedside crib and cot is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to be released in November 2021.