Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby will be ready to be moved to the bed.
MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model comes with a bassinet that can be lifted off to use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was also easy to put together and came with its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. They also can be converted into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used until three years old. old. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard, which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a great idea to pick the larger one.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for her baby’s room. She claims that it is easy to get the baby in 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 flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase another mattress as your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It should also be able to be lower away from the way, so you can lift up your baby towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from 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.
bedside cots uk is also important to consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher height to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option, with one of our mom testers stating that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can use at the push of one button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeper is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally about 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. Be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, you will have to take the sides off as soon as they are ready to do this. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as an inbuilt light, a soothing center that plays music and sound 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 in order to feed them. Certain models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than the other bedside cribs that we tested, but it folds into its bag for travel, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed for both parents and infants. It is a fantastic design that is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. She said that the bassinet's pivoting 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's main security feature is that it can be easily moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or his or her nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from a C-section. You should choose the design that allows you to lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This allows you to lift your child without getting out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows which could cause your baby to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).
In wooden bedside cot looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing number of instances in which infants are trapped between a bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or disconnected when the item is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.