Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to transition to an actual cot.

MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used for up to three years. old. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which will convert into a cot/toddler beds. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger one.

Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to get her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel 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 home, and it's a blast too. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It also needs to be able to be lowered down out of the way so that you can lift your baby towards you for feedings at night or for soothing. This feature is especially helpful when you're 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.

It is also important to consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that you can push at the push of one button.

Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you must remove the sides when they are able to do this. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in night light or a soothing center that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. You can also find models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.

For example the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is perfect for new mothers recovering from Caesarean births or those who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby much easier especially after a 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 and has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other bedside crib vs cot cribs that we've tested, but it folds up into its travel bag, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.

MFM mum home test Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib, she explained how it was created with parents and babies in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was fantastic since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from C-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is the fact that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or her nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from a C-section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side with the push of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of bed. This is crucial, particularly when your baby bedside cot grows and becomes more mobile. You should also not add anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the 4-in-1 bedside crib sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of imposing additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that they 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 concluded that such requirements are not feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bedside co sleeper bassinet.

The CPSC is reviewing the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR on bedside co sleeper sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.