Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. baby bedside sleeper are only recommended up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to transition to an actual bed.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model has a bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble and it 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 for children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler bed. Selecting the larger one is a good choice when you want your child to sleep in it until the age of +/- three.
MFM mum home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says it's easy to carry her child into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great when compared to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with 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. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be elevated to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your babies. It must also be lower away from the way, so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from a C-section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted 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 mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher level to give them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is an easily collapsible side that you can push at the touch a button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance generally approximately 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot, they will have to take the sides off as soon as they are able to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.
Design
There are many styles of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features like an integrated night light, a soothing centre that plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. You can also find models that can be transformed into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This makes it ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean or require bed for longer durations of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much easier particularly after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than other cribs for bed we've tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is lightweight and easy to move. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was fantastic because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The most important security characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from an C-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side at the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of bed. baby bedside sleeper is crucial, particularly when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillowcases that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC 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), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of imposing additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. 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.