Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is ready to be moved to an actual bed.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use in the home and a manual rocking function. It was easy to set up, and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However cots are generally used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger one.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses basket, but not too big for the room of her baby. It's easy to lift her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Another home-based 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 can be moved around the home, and it's a blast too. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also 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 you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for feeding your babies. It must also be lowered out of the way, so that you can pull your baby to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from C-section. For example 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 consider is how low you want the base of your cot to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice, with one of our mum testers saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable in the event that your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is typically about 6 months old. 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 ready for this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of bedside crib that range from basic to luxurious. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as an inbuilt light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that allows you to reach your child to feed them. You may also find some models which can be made into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesarean sections, or those who need to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, stated that it was easy to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after a C-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as 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 for bed that we tested, but it folds into its travel bag, making it a small size when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she appreciated the bedside crib's function. She said it was designed to be used by parents and children. It has a great design that is very easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you 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 security feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their baby when they require to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from the c-section. You should choose the design that lets you lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily raise your child without having to get out of bed. This is important, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, such as pillowcases and duvets that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as 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 In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to different modes like bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. Attachments can be permanently attached or removed when the product is 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. cots4tots will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November 2021.