Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night without the risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is ready to be moved to a crib.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used all around the house. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used up to three years old. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger one.
MFM mum home test Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. 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 seen that are flimsy.
Emily is another home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it will require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It also needs to be able to be dropped down out of the way to allow you to lift your baby up towards you for night feeds or soothing. This feature is especially useful in the event of recovering from a C section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. While some moms find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest 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 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 up with no assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is because of the possibility of being suffocated. Be aware that when your child is old enough to convert a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, you will have to remove the sides when they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for beds that range from basic to extravagant. Some of the most luxurious options include features like an inbuilt light, a soothing center that plays music and sounds and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. Some models can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or require a the bed for extended durations of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made her baby easier particularly after her c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs for bed that we've tested, however it folds down into its bag for travel, making it compact when not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside crib, describing how it was designed with the needs of parents and children in mind. It has a great design that is very simple to operate and is super-sturdy. bedside crib travel said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important safety feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them, or change their nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side with the press of a button so you can easily lift your baby without needing to get out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, including pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't feasible or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. This attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is reviewing the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.