Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is ready to be moved to an actual cot.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, loved the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used for up to three years. old. 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 cot/toddler beds. Choosing the larger of the two is a good option when you want your child to sleep in it until they reach at least three years old.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for the baby's room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is better than other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.
Emily is another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it will require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). Here's 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 able to be dropped down out of the way to allow you to lift your baby towards you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from a C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher height to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easily collapsible side that you can push at the push of one button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually at around 6 months. This is because of the danger of suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to convert a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, they will need to remove the sides as soon as they are able to do this. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features such as an integrated night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibration to help soothe baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which makes it easier to reach your baby for feedings. Certain models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or require 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 easier - especially after her c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's larger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds into its travel bag to make it a small size when not in use.
MFM mum home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib, describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because 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
A large bedside cot's main security feature is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or his or her diaper. travel cot bedside crib means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. You should look for the design that lets you lower the bed's side by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without having to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, like pillows and duvets, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. This attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.