Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets and co sleeper bedside cot-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night without the danger of SIDS. However they are not recommended for use up to 6 months, when your baby is required to move into a cot, or a moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and an option to rock manually. 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. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However cots are generally used by children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot/toddler mattress. If you'd like your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a good option to select the larger size.

Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the room of her baby. It's easy to lift her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.

Emily, another home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for best bedside cot Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it requires an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be elevated to a height that's comfortable for you when feeding babies. It should also be able to be lowered out of the way, so you can raise your baby to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is particularly useful if you're recovering from a C-section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the push of the button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside cot mattress sleeping device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head without assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can convert into a cot, you will need to begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't climb out or get out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of styles of cribs for beds, ranging from simple to lavish. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in nightlight or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to get your baby bedside cot's food in the right place. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is great for new mothers recovering from Caesarean sections or who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, said that it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after the C-section.

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

MFM mom home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is easy to move and super-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 make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot wooden cot (rentry.co explains)'s main safety characteristic is that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or her diaper. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from an c-section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side with the push of a button so you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as pillowcases and duvets that can cause your baby to overheat.

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

In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as 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 determined that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets by using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.

The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November 2021.