Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their children at night, without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only 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.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model features an integrated bassinet that can be used all around the house. It also has the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used up to three years older. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot mattress. The larger of the two is a good idea when you want your child to sleep in it until they are approximately three.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly larger than the Moses basket, but not too big for her baby's room. She claims that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is better than other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Emily, another home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards 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. In baby bedside cot to International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lowered away from the way, so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from C-section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.
baby bedside sleeper should also think about the height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to get their babies out of the standard Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, others prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is an easily collapsible side that you can push at the press of one button.
Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you will need to remove the sides when they are ready to do so. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to lavish. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in night light and a calming centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even a swivelling base that allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable - especially after her c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It includes an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's a bit bigger than other cribs for bed we've tried, but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with parents and babies in mind. It has a great design that is very easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely durable. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it lets you move the bassinet from side-to-side and one of its sides can be let down to facilitate access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from C-sections', she said.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they need to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from the C-section. You should look for a design which lets you lower the side of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without having to get out of the bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. You should also avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets, 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 a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as 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 would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second clause to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the item is 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 consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.