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 risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to move to an actual crib.

MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model comes with a lift-off bassinet you can use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available both large and standard both of which convert into a cot bed/toddler beds. Choosing the larger one is a good idea if you want your child to sleep in it until they are at least three years old.

MFM mother home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside rocking crib cot was slightly larger than the Moses basket, but not too big for her baby bedside crib's room. She says that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are flimsy.

Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also has a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a new mattress every time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It should also be able to be lowered to a level that is not in the way so you can raise your child towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is particularly helpful in the event of recovering from a C Section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

You should also think about the level you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest level, some mothers prefer a higher base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice and one of our mum test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can press down at the touch of one button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the risk of being suffocated. It's also important to know 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 able to do this to ensure they don't climb out or fall out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to lavish. Some of the most luxurious options include features such as a built-in light and a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Some models can be converted into an infant bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean sections, or those who need to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than other cribs that we've tried, but it folds flat in its travel bag so it's quite compact when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and infants. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was fantastic because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for moms who are recovering from C-sections.

Safety

The most important security feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappies. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose the design that lets you lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to lift your child without getting out of the bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows that can cause your baby to overheat.

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

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into different modes like play yards and bassinets. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using an attachment that can be connected permanently or removed 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 on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.