Choosing a large bedside cot - This Resource site -

bedside cot crib cots, also referred as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suggested for use until 6 months when your baby will need to move into a cot or moses basket.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that can be used all around the house. It also comes with the ability to rock manually. It was easy to set up, and came with its own travel bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which will convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's a good option to select the larger one.

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

Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a bedside cot choose one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding baby. It should also be able of being dropped to the ground to allow you to lift your baby up towards you during night feedings or to soothe. This feature is especially useful when you are recovering from a C section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.

You should also think about the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mom testers saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can push down with the click of the button.

Be aware that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at around 6 months. This is because of the danger of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to lavish. The more luxurious options may include features such as a built-in nightlight or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and has two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even an adjustable base that allows you to reach your child for feedings. You may also find some models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to their own bigger bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded 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 ideal for new mums recovering from Caesareans or who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was easy to use and made reaching 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 as the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we tested, but it folds into its travel bag, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is lightweight and easy to move. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be opened down to ease access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or his or her nappies. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from the c-section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side with the press of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without needing to get out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly as your child grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to not add anything to the crib that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillows, which could cause babies to become overheated.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues that include gaps between the bedside baby bed sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside crib sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between the bedside cot for twins sleeper and the adult bed.

Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to other modes such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside cot sale sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product is not being used as the bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will be examining these comments when it decides on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November of 2021.