Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their babies at night without the danger of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months when your baby is required to move into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model features a bassinet that can be lifted off to use around the house and the ability 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 also can be converted into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used for up to three years. old. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard, which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. Choosing the larger of the two is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until the age of approximately three.
MFM mom home test Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. It's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Unlike some International or European cot brands, the Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding baby. It should also be able to be dropped down so that you can lift your baby up towards you for feedings at night or for soothing. This is particularly useful if you are recovering from a C section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. best bedside cot find that it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher elevation to give them greater stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the press of one button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot you will need to remove the sides as soon as they are able to do so. This will stop them from falling out or climbing out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as an integrated night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base 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 mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than other cribs for bed we've tested but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed for both parents and infants. It is lightweight and easy to move. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access especially for mothers who are recovering from their c-sections,' she said.
Safety
A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is that it can easily be raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or her nappies. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side at the push of a button so you can effortlessly lift your baby without getting out of the bed. This is important, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation, or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of imposing additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted to other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. Attachments can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.