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 not suggested for use until 6 months when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model features a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a larger cot, it's a good option to select the larger one.
Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses basket, but not too large for her baby’s room. She says that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that the quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has 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 other international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it will require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be lower away from the way, so you can lift up your child towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is especially useful in the event of recovering from a C section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.
You should also consider the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can push at the touch one button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should not be used until your baby is able to hold their head up unaided typically approximately 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot you will need to take the sides off once they are ready to do this. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside crib, ranging from simple to lavish. Some of the more expensive options come with features such as a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. There are also models that can be transformed into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This makes it ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesareans or who require bed for longer periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, stated that it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after having a C-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. bedside crib and cot won 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 bigger than other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed for parents and babies. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The main safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who still recovering from a C-section. You should choose a design which lets you lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily raise your child without having to get out of the bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation, like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of 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 feasible or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are trapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or disconnected when the item is not being used as the bassinet.
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 consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be released in November of 2021.