Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby at night without risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to move to a cot.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used all around the house. check comes with the ability to rock manually. It was simple to put together, and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. The larger of the two is a good option for children who want to sleep in it until the age of at least three years old.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for her baby's room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that the quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are flimsy.
Emily, another home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be elevated to a height that's comfortable for you to feed your babies. It must also be lowered away from the way, so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially useful when you are recovering from a C Section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the level you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to get their babies out of the standard Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers 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 a collapsible side you can press at the press of the button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used until your baby is able to hold their head up unaided generally around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you choose a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can convert into a cot, you will need to begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this to ensure they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.
Design
There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. The more expensive options could include features like a built-in night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and has two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that makes it easier to reach your baby for feedings. You may also find some models that can be transformed into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example 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 pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, said that it was easy to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after a C-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than the other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat into its travel bag so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she appreciated the bedside crib's function. She said it was designed to be used by parents and children. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. wooden bedside cot said that the swivelling bassinet base was fantastic because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The main safety feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappies. This means that it's ideal for mothers who still be recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of the bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of imposing additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these beds satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. 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 requirements for bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected 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 take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.