Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only recommended for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need to move into a cot, or a moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model has an integrated bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also features the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble, and it came with a travel bag.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used up to three years older. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. The larger of the two is a good choice if you want your child to sleep in it until they reach approximately three.
Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses basket, but not too large for the room of her baby. Get More Information to get her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that is breathable. 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 many international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when 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 crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lower out of the way, so that you can pull your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is particularly useful if you're recovering from C-section. For similar site , the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is how low you want the cot's base to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their children from standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the press of one button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided, usually at approximately 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or fall out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for beds, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most expensive options come with features like an integrated light and a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling footrest, which makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. You can also find models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried this 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.
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 comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds down into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib, explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The most important security aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, soothe them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who still be recovering from a C-section. Find a model that lets you lower one side at the push of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of the bed. This is important, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You should also avoid adding anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues, such as gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need 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 were not practical or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets using an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule that is expected to be published in November 2021.