Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. However they are only recommended for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will be required to move into a cot or moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model has a bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble, and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However they are typically used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger one.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket but not too large for her baby's room. It's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also has a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. In contrast to International or European cot brands The Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy another mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed be sure to choose one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for feeding your the baby. It also needs to be able to be dropped down to allow you to lift your baby towards you during night feedings or soothing. This feature is especially helpful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. travel cot bedside crib and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
You should also think about the height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has a collapsible side you can press at the push of one button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that if your child is old enough to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, they must remove the sides when they are ready to do so. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as an integrated night light and a calming centre that plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to easily reach your child for feedings. You can also find models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.
travel cot bedside crib For instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&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 transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require a the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after the c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's a bit bigger than the other cribs for bed we've looked at, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, 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 parents and children. It has a great design that is incredibly simple to operate and is super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was a great idea because it let you 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
A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is the fact that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or his or her nappy. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. It is recommended to choose a design which allows you to lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without getting out of the bed. This is essential, especially when your baby grows and becomes 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 duvets and pillows, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of imposing additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are entrapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets through the use of an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or disconnected when the item is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will be examining these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be released in November of 2021.