Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to transition to the bed.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model has an integrated bassinet that can be used throughout the home. bedside cot mattress features an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came with its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cots differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. Choosing the larger of the two is a good idea if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of +/- three.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. She claims that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Emily is another home tester, is awed by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Unlike some International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy another mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised to a height that's comfortable for you to feed your babies. It should also be able to be lowered out of the way, so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. 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 the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
You should also consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. One of our mum testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that you can push at the press of the button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance generally around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot you must take the sides off as soon as they are ready to do so. wooden bedside cot will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to extravagant. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as an integrated light or a center of calm that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep. Another option is a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
For wooden bedside cot that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you pick up your newborn and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or require the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made her baby much easier especially after a c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than other cribs for bed that we've tested, however it folds into its travel bag to make it relatively compact when it's not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It has a great design that is extremely simple to operate and is super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was a great idea because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. It is recommended to choose a design which allows you to lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This allows you to lift your child up without having to get out of the bed. This is important, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are entrapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.