Large Bedside Cot Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby will be ready to be moved to the bed.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can 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 convenient storage.
Size
Cots and cots differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. 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 - big and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger size.
Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the room of her baby. It's easy to get her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it will require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lower away from the way, so you can lift up your baby to feed them at night or soothe him. bedside baby sleeper is particularly useful when you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
baby bedside crib to consider is the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the smallest height, others prefer a higher base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mom testers saying that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can push down with the click of one button.
Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance typically approximately 6 months. This is because of the danger of suffocation. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to turn an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you will have to take the sides off when they are able to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of bedside crib that range from basic to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features like a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to easily reach your child for feedings. 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.
For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your newborn and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or those who have to remain in bed for extended periods. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after the 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 and has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than the other cribs for bed we've tested but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed to be used by parents and infants. 'It has an excellent design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side at the press of a button so you can effortlessly lift your baby without getting out of the bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to become overheated.
The NPR of 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) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing components (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. Attachments can be permanently attached or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to be published in November 2021.