Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need to be moved into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cots differ in size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. baby bedside sleeper can be converted into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds 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 will convert into a cot bed/toddler bed. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's a good option to select the larger one.
bedside baby sleeper is an 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 room of her baby. She says it's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or soothing and the quality is top-notch, compared with many she's seen that feel flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Unlike some International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy another mattress as your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It should also be able of being dropped to the ground so that you can lift your baby up towards you for feedings at night or to soothe. This is particularly useful if you are 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.
It is also important to consider the level you would like the base of your crib to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher level to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option and one of our mom test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can use at the push of the button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance, usually at about 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you choose a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features such as a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or even an adjustable base that allows you to reach your child for feedings. There are also models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require a bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after a C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's larger than other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds into its travel bag, making it compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed for parents and infants. 'It has an excellent design that is very maneuverable and is extremely durable. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they need to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. It is recommended to choose a design which allows you to lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This will allow you to lift your child without getting out of bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. You should also be careful not to add anything to the cot that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, including duvets and pillows, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as 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 adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like bassinets or play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. Attachments can be permanently attached or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.