Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. However, they are only suggested for use until 6 months of age when your baby will need to move into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble, and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while they are typically used up to three years old. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available that are large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot/toddler beds. If you'd like your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a larger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger size.
bedside baby bed was pleased that this bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She says that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. And it was 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 many international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a crib that is bedside pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be able to be lowered down so that you can lift your baby up towards you for night feeds or to soothe. This is especially useful when you're recovering from a C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to the height of 58cm. 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. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level and others prefer a higher level to provide them with more stability. bedside baby bed is a well-liked option, with one of our mom testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible part that you can push down with the click of a button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head without assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is because of the risk of inhaling suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you will have to remove the sides once they are ready to do so. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most extravagant options include features such as an integrated light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Some models can be transformed into an infant bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
For instance 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 an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after having a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than other cribs that we've looked at, but it folds flat in its travel bag so it is relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya loved the practicality of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with parents and babies in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is very maneuverable and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from the C-section. It is recommended to choose the design that lets you lower the bed's side by pressing a button. This allows you to raise your child without getting out of bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, including duvets and pillows, which can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues that include gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are entrapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. This attachment can be permanently fixed or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is considering these and other comments received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.