Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has a bassinet that can be lifted off to use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was easy to assemble, and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically used by children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot beds. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger one.
Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses basket, but not too large for her baby’s room. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby into and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe and that it's quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it does require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be able to be dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby closer to you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is particularly helpful if you are recovering from a C Section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. bedside travel crib find it is easier to lift their children from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. bedside cot reviews comes with an easy-to-fold side that which you can use to press of the button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head without assistance, which is usually at around 6 months. This is because of the danger of suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot you will need to remove the sides once they are ready to do so. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to lavish. The more expensive options could include features like a built-in night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to reach your child for feedings. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and move them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a the bed for extended durations of time. Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried this product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib and has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than some of the other bedside cribs we tested but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib, explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is a fantastic design that is incredibly maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was fantastic because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, comfort them or change their nappy. This is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. You should look for the design that lets you lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily raise your child without having to get out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to be careful not to add anything to the crib that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillows, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that 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 a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be issued in the month of November 2021.