Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. However, they are only recommended for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will be required to move into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be used around the house. It also comes with the ability to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots and cots differ in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used for up to three years. old. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot bed. Selecting the larger of the two is a good option if you want your child to sleep in it until they reach +/- three.
Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too big for the room of her baby. It's easy to get her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing and the quality is top-notch, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means that you don't have to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
bedside crib with changing table
When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for you to feed your baby. It must also be lower to a level that is not in the way so you can lift up your child towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This is especially useful if you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted 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 mums find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest height, others prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option, with one of our mum testers saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of the button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. It's also important to know that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot and vice versa, you must remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't climb out or fall out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of bedside crib, ranging from simple to lavish. Some of the more expensive options come with features such as an integrated light or a center of calm that plays music and sounds and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep. Another option is a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own 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 a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This is great for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or those who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable especially after a c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's a bit bigger than some of the other cribs that we've looked at, but it folds flat into its travel bag so it's quite compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib she explained how it was created with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is incredibly maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier for moms who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety feature is that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or their diaper. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Find a model that lets you lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without getting out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows that can cause your baby to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. Attachments can be permanently attached or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.