Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only recommended for use up to 6 months, when your baby is required to move into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use in the home and the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However cots are generally intended for children who are the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot mattress. If you wish for your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger size.
MFM mum home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, is awed by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it 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 nominated 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 need to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it does require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for feeding your the baby. It must also be able to be lowered to the ground to allow you to lift your baby towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest height, other mums prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easy-to-fold side that you can push at the push of a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should not be used until your baby is able to hold their head up unaided generally approximately 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. Be what is it worth that if your child is old enough to turn an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you will need to take the sides off as soon as they are able to do so. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to lavish. The more expensive options could include features like an integrated night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrating to help soothe baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that makes it easier to reach your baby for feedings. Certain models can be converted into the 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 won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This makes it ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable particularly after her c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also comes with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than the other bedside cribs we tried, but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed for parents and babies. It is a fantastic design that is very simple to operate and is extremely durable. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their c-sections,' she said.
Safety
The most important safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the push of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up without getting out of bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product like gaps between the 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 the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped between the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. Attachments can be permanently connected or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.