Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suggested for use until 6 months when your baby will be required to move into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model has a lift-off bassinet you can use in the home and a manual rocking function. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while they are typically used until three years old. older. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. Selecting the larger one is a good choice when you want your child to sleep in it until they reach at least three years old.
Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for the room of her baby. bedside crib to cot says it's easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted 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 other international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it does require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be elevated to a height that's comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It must also be able to be lowered to the ground so that you can pull your baby closer to you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is especially 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 up to 70cm.
You should also consider how low you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to lift their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mom testers stating that it comes with a simple collapsible side that you can use at the push of one button.
Remember that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance generally about 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you must remove the sides as soon as they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for beds that range from basic to luxurious. The more expensive options could include features such as a built-in night light or a soothing center which plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which makes it easier to get your baby's food in the right place. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require the bed for extended durations of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much easier - especially 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 lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's larger than other bedside cribs that we tested, but it folds down into its bag for travel, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed to be used by parents and children. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary safety characteristic is the fact that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or her diaper. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from an C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows, which can 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-sided 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 looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't feasible or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it decides on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November of 2021.