Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. However they are not recommended for use up to 6 months, when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or moses basket.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also has the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble, and came with its own travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They also often convert into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used up to three years old. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available both large and standard both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot bed. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger size.

MFM mother home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. It's easy to get her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or calming and that the quality is great in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.

Emily, another home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the best bedside cot for newborn Cot or Moses Basket category. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It also needs to be able to be lowered down to allow you to lift your baby towards you for night feeds or soothing. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.

You should also consider the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets when the base is situated at the lowest level and others prefer a higher level to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the touch one button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside cot mattress sleeping device should only be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance generally around 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot, they will need to take the sides off as soon as they are able to do this. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of bedside crib to cot cribs, from simple to luxurious. Some of the most luxurious options include features such as an integrated light, a soothing center which plays music and sounds and has two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. 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 bigger bed.

For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesareans or who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried this product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby bedside cot - 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. It is machine washable and comes with a lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than the other cribs that we've looked at, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's relatively compact when not in use.

MFM mum home tester Leya also appreciated the function of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with babies and parents in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it allows you to move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from C-sections', she said.

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 or comfort them, or change his or large bedside cot her nappies. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. It is recommended to choose a design which lets you lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This allows you to raise your child without getting out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly as your child grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases that can cause your baby to become overheated.

The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance they would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However the CPSC determined that these requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were trapped 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 different modes like bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets using an attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as a bassinet.

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