Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months when your baby will need to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the house. It also has an option to rock manually. It was easy to set up and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cots differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while they are typically used for up to three years. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's a great idea to pick the larger size.
Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses basket, but not too large 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 in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Contrary to some International or European cot brands, the 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. However, it will require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lowered out of the way, so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This is especially useful when you're recovering from C-section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted 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 babies from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that which you can use to touch one button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device should only be used when your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot, they must remove the sides once they are able to do so. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as an integrated night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and has two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. You can also find models that can be converted to the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to remain in bed for long periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much easier especially after a c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's larger than other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds into its travel bag, making it compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed for parents and babies. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was fantastic since it allowed you to 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 bedside cot's primary safety feature is that it can be easily moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or their nappies. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby up without needing to get out of the bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the crib 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 issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that they meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. Attachments can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.
large bedside crib is considering these and other comments received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.