Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby at night without fear of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months when your baby will need to move into a cot, or a moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has a lift-off bassinet you can use in the home and the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically used for children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available both large and standard both of which convert into a cot bed/toddler bed. Choosing the larger of the two is a good idea when you want your child to sleep in it until the age of approximately three.

MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket but not too large bedside crib for the space of her baby bedside crib's. She says it's easy to get her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch when compared to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.

Emily, another home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. Unlike some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it does require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be elevated to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It should also be able to be dropped down out of the way so that you can lift your baby bedside crib closer to you during night feedings or to soothe. This is especially useful when you're recovering from C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

You should also consider how low you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is an easily collapsible side that which you can use to push of a button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally approximately 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you select a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a cot, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this, so that they don't get out of bed or get out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for beds with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. The more expensive options could include features such as an integrated night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which makes it easier to reach your baby for feedings. 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 larger bed.

For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib 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 new mums recovering from Caesarean births or who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby easier particularly after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than some of the other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat in its bag for travel, so it's quite compact when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and children. 'It has an excellent design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely durable. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was fantastic since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security feature is that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or his or her nappies. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side with the press of a button, so you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby bedside co sleeper gets older and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillowcases and duvets, which can cause your baby to overheat.

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 disassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of imposing additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these beds satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents where infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that can be converted to other modes such as bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable. This attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is considering these and other comments received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.