Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to move into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features a lift-off bassinet you can use throughout the house, as well as the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. Choosing the larger of the two is a good choice if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of +/- three.
MFM mom home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little 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 feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also has an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed be sure to choose one that can be raised up to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your the baby. It also needs to be able to be lowered down out of the way so that you can pull your baby up towards you during night feedings or soothing. This is especially useful if you're recovering from a C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. While some mums find it easier to get their babies out of the standard Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, others prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. made my day has an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the push of one button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable in the event that your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you select a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a crib and vice versa, you must remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this to ensure they don't climb out or get out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs that are bedside, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most luxurious options include features such as an inbuilt light and a soothing center which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. Some models can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the other side of the crib without having 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 periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after the C-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's a bit larger than other cribs for bed we've tested but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She said it was designed for parents and babies. It is a fantastic design that is very simple to operate and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant 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 - particularly for new mums who are recovering from C-sections', she said.
Safety
The most important security aspect of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without getting out of bed. This is crucial, particularly as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues that include gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these beds satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements are not feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative provision 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 attached or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to come out in November 2021.
