Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby at night without risk of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was also simple to put together and came with 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 beds for cots. bedside crib to cot convert into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used up to three years old. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler bed. Choosing the larger of the two is a good idea when you want your child to sleep in it until they are at least three years old.
Jasmine, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too large for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or calming and that the quality is great when compared to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. In bedside cot newborn to International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be lowered out of the way, so that you can pull your baby towards you to feed them at night or to soothe 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 up to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. While some mothers find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is an easily collapsible side that which you can use to push of the button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can be converted into a crib, you will need to begin removing the sides once 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 a variety of bedside crib with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. The more luxurious options may include features like an integrated night light and a calming centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even a swivelling base that allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesareans, or those who need to remain in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after having a C-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs we've tested, however it folds down into its travel bag to make it relatively compact when it's not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It has a great design that is incredibly simple to operate and is super-sturdy. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for moms who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The most important safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose the design that allows you to lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without getting out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. You'll also want to not add anything to the cot that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues, such as gaps between the 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, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers which would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. Attachments can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product's not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be released in November of 2021.