Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without fear of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need 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 a manual rocking function. It was easy to set up, and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used until three years old. older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available that are large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot/toddler beds. Selecting the larger of the two is a good idea when you want your child to sleep in it until they are approximately three.
MFM mom home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket but not too large for her baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby in and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe and that the quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it requires a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lower to a level that is not in the way so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This is particularly useful in the event of recovering from a C Section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
You should also think about the height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their babies out of standard Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, others prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the press of the button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It's also important to know that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure they don't climb out or get out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which makes it easier to reach your child for feedings. Some models can be transformed into an infant bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births, or those who need to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made her baby much more manageable - especially after her c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also includes an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than other bedside cribs we tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She claimed that it was designed for both parents and babies. bedside cot mattress is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant since it allowed you to 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 can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).
In right here in its NPR, the CPSC looked into 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 lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers which 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 a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will be examining these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.