Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their children at night without the danger of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby will be ready to transition to a cot.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also comes with a manual rocking feature. It was also easy to put together and came in 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 also often convert into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used until three years old. older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot beds. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's a good option to select the larger one.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Another home test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is It's a bassinet that lifts off that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy another mattress as your baby grows. However, it requires a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
click here
When choosing a crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able to be lowered away from the way, so you can lift up your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.
It is also important to consider how low you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their babies out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest level, some mothers prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can push at the touch the button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should not be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance generally approximately 6 months. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you select a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a crib, you will need to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this, so that they don't get out of bed or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside cribs, from simple to luxurious. Some of the most luxurious options include features such as a built-in light and a soothing center which plays music and sounds and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child to feed them. Some models can be converted into an infant bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesarean births or those who have to remain in bed for long periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby much more manageable - especially after her 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 a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's a bit larger than the other cribs that we've tested but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya loved the practicality of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was fantastic since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier, especially for new mums recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The most important security feature of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. You should look for an option that lets you lower the side of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without getting out of bed. This is important, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as 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 they meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. wooden bedside cot suggested the CPSC include a different provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. This attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.