Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to snuggle with their infant at night without risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to transition to the crib.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model has a bassinet that can be lifted off to use around the house and the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used up to three years older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard, which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's a good option to select the larger size.
Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked the fact that it was a little bigger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. It's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your babies. It must also be lowered away from the way, so you can lift up your baby to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is especially useful in the event of recovering from a C section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
You should also consider the height you would like the base of your crib to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point, while others prefer a higher height to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option with one of our mom testers stating that it comes with a simple collapsible side that is easy to push down with the click of a button.
Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head up without assistance generally about 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in night light, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. Some models can be converted into an infant bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to take your baby 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 Caesareans or who require a the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was easy to use and made it easier for her 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 includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs for bed that we've tested, however it folds up into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She claimed that it was designed for both parents and babies. It has a great design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. bedside cots is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to ease access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The most important security feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from a C-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side at the press of a button, so you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of the bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation, or injury, such as pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues, such as gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. 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 using an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or disconnected when the item is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.