Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are not suggested for use until 6 months when your baby is required to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the home. It also has an option to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They also often convert into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used up to three years older. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which convert into a cot/toddler beds. If you'd like your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a great option to select the larger size.
Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. bedside baby bed says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch, compared with many she's seen that are flimsy.
Another home test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways It's a bassinet that lifts off that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also has a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot, 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 another mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your baby. It must also be lowered out of the way, so you can raise your baby to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
You should also think about the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their children from standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option, with one of our mom test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of one button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head up without assistance, which is typically about 6 months old. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to remember that if you opt for a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a cot and vice versa, you must begin removing the sides once your child is ready for this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to extravagant. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in nightlight and a calming centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to reach your baby for feedings. Some models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, stated that it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after the c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than some of the other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's quite compact when not in use.
MFM mum home test Leya loved the practicality of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is very maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet 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 added.
Safety
The main 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 nappy. This means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button, so you can effortlessly lift your baby without getting out of bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues like 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 considered the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these beds satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to other types of use, such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. 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.