Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their babies at night without the risk 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 moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed 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 easy to set up and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while they are typically used for up to three years. old. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available both large and standard both of which convert into a toddler bed or cot mattress. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger one.

Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested 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 says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.

Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised up to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It also needs to be able to be dropped down out of the way so that you can pull your baby up towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is particularly helpful in the event of recovering from a C-section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets when the base is situated at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our testers for mums mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easily collapsible side that you can press at the push of one button.

Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance, usually at approximately 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot and vice versa, you must remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this, so that they don't climb out or get out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to lavish. Some of the more extravagant options include features like an integrated light and a soothing center that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Some models can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the opposite 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 remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much easier particularly after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than other cribs for bed that we've tested, however it folds down into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.

MFM mom home test Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside crib describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is extremely simple to operate and is extremely sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or their diaper. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. You should look for an option that allows you to lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to raise your child without having to get out of bed. This is particularly important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to become overheated.

bedside cot bed includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).


In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these beds satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other modes such as bassinets and play yards. A number of 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 requirement for bassinets using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet.

The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.