Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months when your baby will need to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model has a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only intended for children who are the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger one.
Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, said she liked the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby’s room. She says that it is easy to get the baby in and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. 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 that you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a crib that is bedside make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lower away from the way, so you can lift up your baby to feed them at night or soothe him. This is particularly useful if you are recovering from a C section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
You should also think about the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to get their babies out of the standard Moses baskets at the smallest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is a collapsible side which you can use to push 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 without assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is due to the risk of being suffocated. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot you will need to take the sides off 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 bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features like an integrated night light, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrating to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even an adjustable base that allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. There are also models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to their own bigger bed.
For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is perfect for new mothers recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby easier especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. baby bedside crib 's a bit bigger than some of the other bedside cribs we tested but it folds flat in its bag for travel, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and children. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's swivelling base was fantastic since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for mothers who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary security characteristic is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or their nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from the c-section. You should look for the design that lets you lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This allows you to lift your child up without having to get out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, including pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The CPSC's 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) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped between the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. Several 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 a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the item is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.