Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night without the danger of SIDS. However they are not suggested for use until 6 months of age when your baby will be required to move into a cot or moses basket.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model features an integrated bassinet that can be used all around the house. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was also easy to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used until three years old. older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot bed. If you'd like your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger size.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She says it's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing and that the quality is great in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed make sure it can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It also needs to be able of being dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby closer to you for feedings at night or to soothe. This feature is particularly helpful when 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 how low you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mum test subjects saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible side that is easy to push down with the click of one button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided, usually at about 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It's also important to note that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can be converted into a crib, you will need to begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this, so that they don't climb out or get out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to luxurious. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as an integrated light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. Some models can be converted into an infant bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
For example 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 pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is great for new mothers recovering from Caesarean sections or who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby much more manageable particularly after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than the other cribs that we've tested but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and babies. It is a fantastic design that is very maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it allows you to move the bassinet from side-to-side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to ease access especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The most important safety feature of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they need to feed, comfort them, or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side with the press of a button, so you can effortlessly lift your baby without needing to get out of the bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to not add anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of imposing additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing number of instances in which infants are entrapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Cots 4 Tots of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into different modes like bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November of 2021.