Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to let parents sleep close to their infants 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 a moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, loved the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also comes with an option to rock manually. It was simple to put together, and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used up to three years older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available both large and standard both of which will 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 the age of +/- three.
Jasmine, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too large for her baby’s room. It's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or calming and that the quality is great in comparison to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home test subject, 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 a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy another mattress as your baby grows. just click the following website does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It should also be able to be dropped to the ground to allow you to lift your baby up towards you for feedings at night or soothing. This feature is especially useful if you are recovering from a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. 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 having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option with one of our mum testers saying that it comes with a simple collapsible side that is easy to use at the push of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should not be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance, usually at approximately 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib and vice versa, you must begin removing the sides once your child is ready for this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside crib, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most extravagant options include features like a built-in light or a center of calm that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. You can also find models that can be transformed into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot 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 having to get up. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesarean births, or those who need to remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby much easier especially after a c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's bigger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds down into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is a fantastic design that is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's pivoting 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 safety characteristic is the fact that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side at the press of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without needing to get out of bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillowcases and duvets that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included 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 examined the possibility of introducing 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 rails that are lowered. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into different modes like play yards and bassinets. A number of 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 an attachment that can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule that is expected to be published in November 2021.