Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is old enough to move to the cot.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also features an option to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used until three years old. old. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger size.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, liked the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for the baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also has a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Unlike some International or European cot brands The Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lowered out of the way, so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly helpful if you are recovering from a C Section. For instance, 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 base of your cot. While some moms find it easier to lift their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the lowest level, some mothers prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option with one of our mum test subjects saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can push down with the click of a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually around 6 months. rocking bedside crib is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot, you will need to remove the sides when they are able to do this. This will stop them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features like a built-in nightlight and a calming centre which plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even the swivelling base which makes it easier to get your baby's food in the right place. You may also find some models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made her baby much more manageable - 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 larger than other cribs we've tested, but it folds down into its travel bag to make it relatively compact when it's not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for parents and babies. It has a great design that is very easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The most important safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it is able to be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. You should look for a design which allows you to lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This will allow you to lift your child without getting out of bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and more mobile. You should also not add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation, or injury, like pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues 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 components (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are entrapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many 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. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment. The attachment can be permanently attached or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November 2021.