Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as 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 bed.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the home. 4-in-1 bedside crib comes with a manual rocking feature. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However cots are generally used for children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler bed. Choosing the larger of the two is a good choice when you want your child to sleep in it until they reach +/- three.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says it's easy to get her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Emily is another home tester, is awed by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It also needs to be able of being dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby closer to you for feedings at night or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful when 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 to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, others prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has an easily collapsible side that you can press at the push of one button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head up with no assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you must remove the sides as soon as they are ready to do this. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many styles of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to reach your baby for feedings. You can also find models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This is ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, said it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after the C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's a bit bigger than the other bedside cribs we tried, but it folds flat in its travel bag so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she appreciated the bedside crib's function. She claimed that it was designed for parents and babies. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier especially for new mothers who are recovering from C-sections,' she added.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety characteristic is the fact that it can be easily moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or his or her nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from an C-section. It is recommended to choose the design that allows you to lower the sides of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child without getting out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation, like duvets and pillows which could cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets through the use of an attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as an actual 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 voting on the final rule that is expected to be published in November 2021.
