Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to move to an actual bed.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was also simple to put together and came with its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used for up to three years. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. The larger one is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until they are at least three years old.
MFM mum home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly larger than the Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. It's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or calming and that the quality is great, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home-based test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is it's a drop-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's a blast too. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. And bedside cosleeper was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that 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). Find the ideal 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 height that is comfortable for you when feeding baby. It should also be able to be lowered away from the way, so you can raise your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is especially useful when you are recovering from a C-section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up 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 base of your cot to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher level to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option with one of our mum testers saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of one button.
Remember that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head up without assistance, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It's also important to note that if you select a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for beds that range from basic to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in nightlight and a calming centre that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your child for feedings. You can also find models which can be made into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This is ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require bed for longer durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby easier especially after a c-section.
bedside crib or cot is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than other bedside cribs we tested but it folds flat in its bag for travel, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside crib, explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety feature is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or her nappy. This means that it's ideal for mothers who still recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that lets you lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This allows you to lift your child without having to get out of the bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation, or injury, like pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted to different types of furniture, like bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November 2021.
