Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suggested for use until 6 months when your baby is required to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use in the home and the ability to rock manually. It was simple to put together and even came with a travel cot bedside crib bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However they are typically used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. Selecting the larger of the two is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until the age of +/- three.

MFM mother home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for her baby's room. She says that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home-based test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's a blast too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.

Height

When you are choosing a crib that is bedside, choose one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be lowered away from the way, so you can raise your baby towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This is especially useful in the event of recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.

You should also consider the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest level, some mothers prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is a collapsible side you can press at the touch a button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should only be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance typically around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib and vice versa, you must remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this, so that they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of bedside cribs, from basic to extravagant. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in night light and a calming centre that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. Some models can be transformed into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best bedside cot uk Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is great for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean sections or who have to remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made her baby much more manageable particularly after her c-section.

Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's slightly larger than the other cribs that we've tried, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's quite compact when not in use.

MFM mum home test Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is extremely simple to operate and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic 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 C-sections', she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security feature is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or his or her nappies. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from the C-section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and becomes more mobile. You should also not add anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, like pillows and duvets, which could cause babies to become overheated.

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

In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped by the bedside travel crib rail and an adult bed.

Many of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as the 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 released in the month of November 2021.