Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night without the danger of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby is old enough to move to an actual bed.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was simple to put together, and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However bedside crib with wheels are typically used for children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available - standard and large - both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot bed. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's a great idea to pick the larger size.
Jasmine, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for the room of her baby. She says that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are less sturdy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. bedside crib with wheels means that you do not need to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot choose one that can be raised to a height that is comfortable for you to feed your babies. It must also be lower to a level that is not in the way so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This is especially useful if you're recovering from C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.
You should also think about how low you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has an easily collapsible side that you can push at the press of the 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 typically about 6 months old. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to note that if you select a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib and vice versa, you must begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of the bed.
Design
There are many styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features like an integrated night light and a calming centre that plays sounds and music and has two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to reach your baby for feedings. Some models can be converted 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 which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best 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 having to get out of bed. This is perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or those who have to stay in bed for extended periods. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby easier particularly after her c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and includes an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's bigger than other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds down into its travel bag, making it compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for parents and babies. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be opened down to ease access especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.
Safety
The most important safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from an C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the push of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without getting out of the bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. cheap bedside cot found, however that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside beds to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.