Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their children at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months when your baby is required 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 all around the house. It also comes with the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds differ in size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger one.
Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. It's easy to carry her child in and out for night feeding or soothing and the quality is top-notch when compared to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Emily is another 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 a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also nominated 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 don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time 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, look for one that can be raised to a height that's comfortable for you when feeding baby. It also needs to be able of being dropped down so that you can pull your baby towards you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is particularly useful in the event of 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 up to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot. While some mothers find it easier to lift their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the lowest level, some mothers prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is an easily collapsible side that which you can use to push of the button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device is only suitable in the event that your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is usually at around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you choose a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a cot it is necessary to remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of bedside crib, ranging from simple to extravagant. Some of the more extravagant options include features like an integrated light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep. Another option is a swivelling footrest that allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. There are also models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This makes it perfect for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier 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 has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than other cribs that we've looked at, but it folds flat in its travel bag so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. bedside travel cot said it was designed for parents and children. 'It has an excellent design that is incredibly simple to operate and is extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from C-sections', she said.
Safety
The main safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they need to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappy. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from a 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 raise your child without having to get out of the bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby 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) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.