Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the home. It also comes with a manual rocking feature. It was simple to put together and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. They also often convert into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used up to three years older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available that are large and standard both of which convert into a cot/toddler bed. If you wish for your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger size.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. She claims that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for night feeds or for soothing, and that its quality is superior to others she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways It's a bassinet that lifts off that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a new mattress every time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
bedside cosleeper
When you are choosing a cot for your bed choose one that can be elevated to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It also needs to be able to be lowered to the ground to allow you to lift your baby closer to you during night feedings or for soothing. This is particularly useful if you are recovering from a C section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is how low you want the cot's base to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point, while others prefer a higher elevation to give them greater stability. One of our testers for mums said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It comes with an easy-to-fold side that which you can use to push of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at about 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to turn an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you will have to remove the sides once they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside crib that range from basic to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features like a built-in nightlight and a calming centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. There are also models that can be converted to the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. travel cot bedside features a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in bed for longer periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much easier particularly after her c-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's bigger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds up into its travel bag, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib, she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant as it means you can move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The most important security feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from the c-section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows that can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as 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 the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at least the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However the CPSC found that these requirements are not feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. Attachments can be permanently fixed 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 consider these comments when it votes on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.