Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to snuggle with their infant at night without fear of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby is required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
bedside cot sale was impressed that this model features an adjustable bassinet that 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 are smaller than cots. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used by children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler beds. If you'd like your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger size.
MFM mom 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. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is superior to others she has seen that are flimsy.
Another home tester, 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 a blast too. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able of being dropped down so that you can lift your baby towards you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For travel cot bedside crib , 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 the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has an easy-to-fold side that which you can use to touch a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot, they will need to remove the sides when they are able to do so. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features such as an integrated night light, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. You can also find models which can be made into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was simple to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than some of the other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat into its travel bag so it is relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for parents and infants. It is a fantastic design that is incredibly maneuverable and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it allows you to move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to facilitate access especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.
Safety
The most important safety feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. You should choose a design which allows you to lower the sides of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child without getting out of bed. This is crucial, particularly when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets that 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 a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are entrapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers which can be converted to different modes like play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multiuse bedside sleepers to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets using an attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will be examining these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.