Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to snuggle with their infant at night without fear of SIDS. However they are not recommended for use up to 6 months when your baby will be required to move into a cot, or a moses basket.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model has a bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also comes with a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble, and it came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds differ in size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. They also can be converted into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used up to three years older. If you're opting for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot bed. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger one.

Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for the room of her baby. She claims that it is easy to get the baby in and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing and that it's quality is better than other cots she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home-based test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has a reflux incline and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When you are choosing a crib that is bedside travel cot, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It also needs to be able of being dropped to the ground to allow you to lift your baby up towards you during night feedings or to soothe. This is particularly useful when you are recovering from 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 can be adjusted to 70cm.

You should also think about the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest level, some mothers prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easily collapsible side that you can press at the press of one button.

Remember that a bassinet/twin bedside cot sleeping device is only suitable in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you opt for a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a crib and vice versa, you must begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of bedside crib, ranging from simple to extravagant. Some of the more expensive options come with features such as an integrated light and a soothing center that plays music and sounds and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. You may also find some models which can be made into 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 won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is great for new mothers recovering from Caesareans or who have to remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made her baby much more manageable - especially after her c-section.

Another option 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 and includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's a bit larger than other cribs for bed we've tested but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it is relatively compact when not in use.

MFM mum home test Leya also appreciated the function of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with the needs of parents and children in mind. It has a great design that is incredibly maneuverable and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be opened down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or their nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who still be recovering from a C-section. You should choose a design which lets you lower the bed's side with a single button press. This will allow you to raise your child without getting out of the bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However, the CPSC determined that these requirements are not feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside travel crib sleepers that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for bedside crib and cot sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. The attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.

The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.