Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, after which your baby will be ready to move to a bed.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use in the home and an option to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used for up to three years. old. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard, which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. The larger of the two is a good choice when you want your child to sleep in it until they reach at least three years old.
MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. She says it's easy to carry her child in and out for night feeding or calming and that the quality is great when compared to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Emily, another home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with 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. 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 another mattress as your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here cot bedside can find the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot, look for one that can be raised up to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It must also be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can pull your baby closer to you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the level you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is a collapsible side you can push at the push of a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is because of the possibility of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you will need to take the sides off as soon as they are able to do this. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of bedside crib, ranging from simple to lavish. The more expensive options could include features like an integrated night light and a calming centre that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to reach your baby for feedings. There are also models which can be made into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in bed for longer periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was simple to use and made her baby much easier especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we've tested, but it folds up into its travel bag, making it a small size 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 babies and parents in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was a great idea because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary security feature is that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or her nappies. This means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side at the push of a button, so you can effortlessly lift your baby without needing to get out of bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In bedside cot crib In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.