Choosing a large bedside cot (
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Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or
co sleeper bedside cot-sleepers are designed to allow parents to sleep 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 will need to be moved into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model comes with a bassinet that can be lifted off to use in the home and an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used up to three years old. If you're opting for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger one.
MFM mother home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing and that it's quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&
baby bedside crib Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it will require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It also needs to be able to be dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This is particularly useful in the event of recovering from a C section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to think about is how low you want the cot's base to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher height to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option with one of our mum testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can push down with the click of the button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided, usually at approximately 6 months. This is because of the danger of suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to be able to convert a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, you will have to remove the sides as soon as they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the more expensive options come with features like a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling footrest, which makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Certain models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features 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 great for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who have to remain in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested this product at home, said that it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after the 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 and has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than the other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds up into its bag for travel, making it 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 babies. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was fantastic since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier, especially for new mums recovering from c-sections.
Safety
A large
bedside cot newborn cot's main safety characteristic is the fact that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or his or her diaper. This means that it's ideal for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side with the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby without getting out of the bed. This is important, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to become overheated.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However the CPSC determined that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use
bedside crib and travel cot sleepers which can be converted into different types of furniture, like bassinets or 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 an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is currently reviewing the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.