Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. However, they are only recommended for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also has 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 are smaller than. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used by children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a cot/toddler bed. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's a good option to select the larger size.
MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. It's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product it's a drop-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's a blast too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot, look for one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for you to feed your babies. It also needs to be able of being dropped down out of the way to allow you to lift your baby closer to you for feedings at night or for soothing. This is particularly useful when you are recovering from a C-section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is how low you want the base of your cot. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is situated at the lowest level and others prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that which you can use to push of one button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance generally around 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib, you will need to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure they don't climb out or get out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. The more expensive options could include features such as a built-in night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibration to help soothe baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that makes it easier to reach your child for feedings. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot bed (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 and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or need to stay in the bed for extended durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, stated that it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after having a C-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we've tested, however it folds up into its travel bag to make it relatively compact when it's not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She claimed that it was designed for parents and children. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from the C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side at the push of a button. bedside cot co sleeper , you can effortlessly lift your baby without needing to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However, the CPSC determined that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different provision to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.