Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suggested for use until 6 months, when your baby is required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model has a bassinet that can be used all around the house. It also features the ability to rock manually. It was simple to put together, and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used for up to three years. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger one.
Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses basket, but not too big for her baby’s room. She says it's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing and the quality is top-notch in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora - it is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. 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 other international or European brands. This means that you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so that you can pull your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is especially helpful when you're recovering from 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.
Another thing to think about is how low you want the cot's base to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option with one of our mom testers stating that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can push down with the click of the button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeper is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head up without assistance generally around 6 months. This is because of the possibility of inhaling suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you will have to remove the sides as soon as they are ready to do so. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for beds, ranging from simple to lavish. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as an inbuilt light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. There are also bedside travel crib that can be transformed into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby to the crib and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of bed. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a bed for longer durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made her baby much more manageable especially after a c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs we've tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it a small size when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed for both parents and children. 'It has an excellent design that is incredibly simple to operate and is extremely durable. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to facilitate access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary safety characteristic is that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. It is also important to not add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets, which 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), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative 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 by using a removable attachment. This attachment can be permanently connected 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 account these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.