Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the danger of SIDS. However, they are only recommended for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model has a lift-off bassinet you can use in the home and the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots and cots differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used until three years old. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard, which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger one.


MFM mom home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. It's easy to carry her child in and out for night feeding or soothing and that the quality is great in comparison to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.

Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has 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 compatible with 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. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able to be lower away from the way, so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially useful if you are recovering from a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.

You should also consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their children out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, other mums prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is a collapsible side you can press at the touch the button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head without assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is because of the danger of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that 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 they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to luxurious. The more expensive options could include features such as a built-in nightlight or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrating to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. You may also find some models that can be transformed into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to take your baby to the crib and move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesareans or who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby easier - especially after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded 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 rocking feature. It's a bit larger than some of the other bedside cribs we tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it's quite compact when not in use.

MFM mom home tester Leya loved the practicality of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is very maneuverable and is super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be opened down to facilitate access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from C-sections', she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is that it is able to be raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or their nappy. bedside rocking crib is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side with the push of a button. This way, you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is important, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to not add anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, like pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not feasible or effective to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will be examining these comments when it decides on the final rule which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.