Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without fear of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to move to an actual cot.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model comes with a bassinet that can be lifted off to use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. She claims that it is 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 flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. 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 an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a crib that is bedside make sure it can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be lowered out of the way, so you can lift up your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially helpful in the event of recovering from C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.
You should also think about the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mum testers saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can press down at the touch of a button.
Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you must remove the sides as soon as they are able to do this. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. Some of the most expensive options come with features like an inbuilt light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep. Another option is an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. There are also models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.
For example 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 pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or need to stay in the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after having a C-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also comes with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's slightly larger than other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She said it was designed for both parents and infants. It has a great design that is very maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet from side-to-side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access especially for new mothers who are recovering from C-sections', she said.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary security characteristic is that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or her diaper. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from the C-section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of the bed. bedside crib with changing table is particularly important as your baby grows older and more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); 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 additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that could be converted into other types of use, such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.