Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without fear of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is old enough to be moved to the crib.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, large bedside cot are usually only used by children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. Choosing the larger of the two is a good option if you want your child to sleep in it until they reach at least three years old.
MFM mom home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket but not too large for her baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby in and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are less sturdy.
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 comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it does require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able to be lowered down so that you can lift your baby up towards you during night feedings or for soothing. travel bedside crib is particularly useful 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 to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the level you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher level to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can push at the press of a button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is typically about 6 months old. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to turn an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you will have to take the sides off as soon as they are able to do so. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of bedside cribs, from basic to extravagant. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as a built-in light and a soothing center that plays music and sounds and comes with 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 a toddler bed or cot (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 for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby much more manageable - especially after her c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than other cribs for bed we've looked at, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for parents and infants. 'It has an excellent design that is very simple to operate and is extremely sturdy. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary security feature is that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or their diaper. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side with the press of a button so you can easily lift your baby without needing to get out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to become overheated.
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) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing number of instances in which infants are trapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add a second clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment. This attachment can be permanently fixed or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.