Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months old, at which point your baby will be ready to transition to an actual bed.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, loved the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also has the ability to rock manually. It was simple to put together and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cots differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However they are typically used for children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot mattress. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says it's easy to carry her child into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great when compared to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. This Web page is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your the baby. It also needs to be able of being dropped down so that you can pull your baby closer to you for night feeds or soothing. This feature is especially helpful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher level to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mum testers saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that is easy to use at the push of one button.
Remember that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at about 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. Be bedside cot 6 months plus that if 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 able to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside cribs, from basic to extravagant. Some of the most extravagant options include features like a built-in light or a center of calm which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. You can also find models 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 a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, said that it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after the C-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and is equipped 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, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and infants. It has a great design that is extremely simple to operate and is extremely sturdy. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was a great idea because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for mothers who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important security feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them, or change their nappies. This is why it's perfect for mothers who still recovering from a C section. You should look for the design that allows you to lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This allows you to raise your child without getting out of the bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to avoid adding anything to the crib that could increase the risk 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 product issues like gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. This attachment can be permanently fixed or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is examining the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.