Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to transition to a bed.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as the ability to rock manually. It was easy to set up and it came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas they are typically used up to three years old. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.

MFM mum home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly larger than the Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe and that it's quality is better than other cots she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product it's a drop-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a 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. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can lift your baby closer to you during night feedings or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful when you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.

Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. Some mothers find 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 give them greater stability. One of our mum testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that you can press at the push of a button.

Be aware that a bedside crib travel or bassinet device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head up without assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is because of the danger of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to convert a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, they will need to take the sides off when they are ready to do this. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of styles of bedside crib with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. The more expensive options could include features such as a built-in night light or a soothing center which plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even an adjustable base that makes it easier to reach your child for feedings. You may also find some models which can be made into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or those who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made her baby easier - especially after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the best bedside cot Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's a bit larger than some of the other bedside cot reviews cribs we tried, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's quite compact when not in use.

MFM mum home tester Leya loved the practicality of this bedside cots for newborns crib, explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is very easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was a great idea since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.

Safety

The most important security feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side with the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby without needing to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside cot sale sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets using a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as an actual bassinet.

The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be issued in the month of November 2021.