Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for large bedside cot use up to 6 months when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has a bassinet that can be lifted off to use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was simple to put together and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used up to three years old. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.

MFM mum home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket but not too large for her baby's room. She claims that it is easy to get the baby in and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that it's quality is better than other cots she has seen that are flimsy.

Emily who is a home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable breathable liner. 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 buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lower out of the way, so you can raise your baby to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a C Section. The Next2me cot and 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 consider is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. While some mothers find it easier to lift their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has an easily collapsible side that which you can use to push of one button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside cot sale sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head without assistance generally about 6 months. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you select a foldable bedside crib or bassinet which can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for bedside co sleeper use, ranging from basic to lavish. The more expensive options could include features like a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or even an adjustable base that makes it easier to reach your child for feedings. Some models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&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 move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby much easier particularly after her c-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's slightly larger than some of the other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat in its bag for travel, so it's relatively compact when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also appreciated the bedside cots for newborns crib's function. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is the fact that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who still recovering from a C section. You should choose the design that allows you to lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to raise your child without having to get out of the bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. You should also avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, like 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, such as gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.

Many of the incidents reported in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of an attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.

The CPSC is reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be released in November 2021.