Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their infants at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are not recommended for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to move into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the home. It also comes with a manual rocking feature. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used up to three years old. If you're opting for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available that are large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot beds. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger size.
Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for her baby’s room. She claims that it is easy to get the baby in and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is better than other cots she has seen that are flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It should also be able to be lowered away from the way, so you can lift up your baby towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly useful when you're recovering from an operation such as 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 up to 70cm.
You should also consider how low you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to lift their babies out of standard Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It comes with a collapsible side you can push at the touch a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance, usually at approximately 6 months. This is due to the risk of being suffocated. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you must take the sides off once they are ready to do this. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to extravagant. Some of the more luxurious options include features like a built-in light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling footrest, which makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Certain models can be converted into an infant bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesarean births or those who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was easy to use and made her baby much more manageable particularly after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. travel cot bedside than the other cribs we tested, but it folds into its travel bag, making it compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib, she explained how it was created with babies and parents in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it allows you to move the bassinet from side to side and one of its sides can be let down to make access easier - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary security feature is that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or their nappies. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from an c-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side at the press of a button so you can easily lift your baby without needing to get out of bed. This is crucial, particularly as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of imposing additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these beds satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to different modes like bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will be examining these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.