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 risk of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However bedside cot mattress are typically intended for children who are the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a cot/toddler mattress. Selecting the larger one is a good option for children who want to sleep in it until they are +/- three.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says it's easy to lift her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is It's a bassinet that lifts off that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable breathable liner. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it requires a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed choose one that can be raised to a height that's comfortable for you to feed your baby. It should also be able to be dropped down out of the way so that you can pull your baby towards you during night feedings or to soothe. This is especially useful in the event of recovering from C-section. For instance 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.
Another thing to consider is how low you want the cot's base to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher level to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option with one of our mum testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can push down with the click of the button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable 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 danger of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for 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 able to do this to ensure they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as an integrated light and a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. rocking bedside crib may also find some models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. wooden bedside cot makes it perfect for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require bed for longer durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much easier particularly after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, but it folds down into its travel bag to make it a small size when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed for both parents and babies. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was a great idea since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The main safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them, or change their nappy. This is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still be 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 getting out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the crib that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these products meet 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 are not efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment. The attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will be examining these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be published in the month of November 2021.