Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suggested for use until 6 months of age when your baby is required to move into a cot, or a moses basket.

Mehack, a MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be used around the home. It also has an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and it came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available that are large and standard both of which convert into a cot/toddler bed. Selecting the larger one is a good option if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of at least three years old.

MFM mum home test Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is superior to others she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as 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 fits South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy a new mattress every time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When you are choosing a crib that is bedside pick one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be able of being dropped down to allow you to lift your baby towards you during night feedings or to soothe. This is particularly useful if you are recovering from a C Section. For instance, 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 think about the height you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It comes with an easy-to-fold side that which you can use to push of one button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head up without assistance generally around 6 months. This is because of the possibility of being suffocated. Be aware that if your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot you will have to take the sides off as soon as they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features such as a built-in night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that makes it easier to get your baby's food in the right place. Certain models can be converted into an infant bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require bed for longer periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, stated that it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after having a C-section.

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

MFM mum home tester Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside crib explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for mothers who are recovering from C-sections.

Safety

The most important safety feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from an c-section. Find bedside crib travel Cots 4 Tots Links to an external site. that lets you lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby 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 risk of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows which could cause your baby to become overheated.

The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems like 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 considered the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However, the CPSC determined that these requirements are not 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 incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like bassinets or play yards. 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 requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.

The CPSC is examining the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will be examining these comments when it decides on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.