Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
bedside rocking crib cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only recommended for use up to 6 months when your baby will need to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. If you’re opting for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot beds. If you wish for your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a bigger cot, it’s a good idea to pick the larger one.
MFM mum home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket, but not too big for her baby’s room. It’s easy to carry her child in and out for night feeding or calming and that the quality is excellent, compared with many she’s seen that feel flimsy.
Another home test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product It’s a bassinet that lifts off that you can move around the home, and it’s a blast too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable breathable liner. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be raised up to a height that’s comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It must also be able to be dropped down out of the way so that you can pull your baby up towards you for feedings at night 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 consider is how low you want the base of your cot to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher height to provide them with 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 press of a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or foldable bedside crib sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you select a bassinet/bedside travel cot sleeper that can convert into a cot it is necessary to remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this, so that they don’t climb out or get out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the more luxurious options include features such as a built-in light and a soothing center which plays music and sounds and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. You may also find some models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine, a 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 the C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It’s larger than other bedside cribs that we’ve tested, but it folds up into its travel bag, making it relatively compact when it’s 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 a great design that is very simple to operate and is super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be let down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from c-sections,’ she said.
Safety
A large newborn bedside cot cot’s main security feature is that it can be easily moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or their nappies. This means that it’s ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up without getting out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and more mobile. You should also be careful not to add anything to the crib that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.
The CPSC’s NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would permit them to meet 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 bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be released in November 2021.