Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, after which your baby will be ready to transition to the cot.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be lifted off to use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was easy to set up and even came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used up to three years older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger size.
MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than the 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 during night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot be sure to choose one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for feeding your babies. It should also be able to be lower away from the way, so that you can pull your baby towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
You should also consider the level you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice, with one of our mum test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible part that you can push down with the click of the button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is usually at around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you opt for a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a crib and vice versa, you must start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure they don't climb out or fall out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for beds, ranging from simple to lavish. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. You may also find some models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
For bedside cot bed that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from Caesareans, or those who need to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than other cribs that we've tried, but it folds flat in its travel bag so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet from side-to-side and one of its sides can be lowered down to make access easier - 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 moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed, comfort them, or change their nappies. This is why it's perfect for mothers who still be recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that 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 bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Continue Reading 'll also want to not add anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, including duvets and pillows, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues, such as gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as the 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 it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November of 2021.