Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without risk of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is old enough to be moved to a cot.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also comes with a manual rocking feature. It was easy to set up and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while they are typically used for up to three years. old. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot mattress. The larger one is a good option for children who want to sleep in it until they reach approximately three.
MFM mum home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too big for her baby's room. She says that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe and that it's quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.
Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a 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. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It also needs to be able to be dropped to the ground to allow you to lift your baby up towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For example, 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 mothers find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher level to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option, with one of our mum test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of one button.
Be aware that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally approximately 6 months. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you select a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a cot and vice versa, you must start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside crib, ranging from simple to lavish. Some of the more luxurious options include features like a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. You can also find models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to their own bigger bed.
For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was easy to use and made her baby much more manageable particularly after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we've tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and babies. It is a fantastic design that is incredibly simple to operate and is extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.
Safety
The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, soothe them or change their nappy. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. It is recommended to choose a design which allows you to lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to lift your child up without getting out of bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues like 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 the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. Attachments can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.
bedside cots uk is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November 2021.