Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night without the danger of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby will be ready to transition to an actual crib.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used around the home. It also comes with the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for convenient 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. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger one.
MFM mum home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby in and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing and that the quality is better than other cots she has seen that are flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that is breathable. 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 have to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a crib that is bedside, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It also needs to be able to be dropped down out of the way so that you can lift your baby up towards you for night feeds or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful when you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while 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 cot's base to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while others prefer a higher elevation to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option, with one of our mom testers saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible side that is easy to push down with the click of one button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at about 6 months. This is because of the risk of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can convert into a cot, you will need to begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to extravagant. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in night light, a soothing centre that plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. You can also find models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is perfect for new mothers recovering from Caesarean sections, or those who need to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, stated that it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after the 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. It has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than the other cribs that we've tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and babies. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was brilliant because it allowed you to 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 most important safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed, comfort them, or change their nappies. This means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. It is recommended to choose a design which lets you lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without having to get out of the bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. You should also be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation, or injury, like duvets and pillows, which could cause babies to become overheated.
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) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In best bedside cot for newborn considered 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 the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't feasible or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of an attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the item is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.