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 the risk of SIDS. However they are only suggested for use until 6 months, when your baby will need to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model has a bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, bedside cot 6 months plus are usually only used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. The larger of the two is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until they reach approximately three.
MFM mum home test Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too big for her baby's room. It's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or calming and that the quality is excellent, compared with many she's seen that are flimsy.
Emily is another home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able to be lowered away from the way, so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is particularly helpful in the event of recovering from a C-section. For example 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.
It is also important to consider how low you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level and others prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option with one of our mom testers stating that it is easy to use with a collapsible side that you can press down at the touch of a button.
Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance generally around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It's also important to know that if you choose a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can convert into a cot, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this, so that they don't climb out or get out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside crib with a range of styles from simple to lavish. Some of the most expensive options come with features like an inbuilt light and a soothing center that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Some models can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won 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 move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This Web page is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after the c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's a bit bigger than other cribs for bed we've looked at, but it folds flat in its bag for travel, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mum home test Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with parents and babies in mind. It has a great design that is extremely maneuverable and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet from side-to-side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from an C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that lets you lower the bed's side by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily raise your child without having to get out of bed. This is essential, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows which could cause your baby to become overheated.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance they 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 decided, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different clause to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. Attachments can be permanently connected or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these comments and others received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November 2021.