Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their babies at night without the danger of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby bedside crib will be ready to be moved to an actual crib.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used up to three years old. If you're opting for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot beds. If you wish for your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a larger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger one.

Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby’s room. She says it's easy to carry her child in and out for night feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.

Emily, another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. In contrast to International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it requires a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It also needs to be able to be lowered down out of the way so that you can pull your baby closer to you for night feeds or soothing. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a C Section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher level to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice and one of our mom test subjects saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of one button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance generally about 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to convert an existing bedside cot crib or bassinet into a cot you must remove the sides once they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of bedside cribs, from simple to luxurious. The more expensive options could include features such as a built-in nightlight or a soothing center which plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. You can also find models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards best bedside cot uk Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or those who have to remain in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said that it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after a C-section.

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

MFM mum home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib vs cot crib describing how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be let down to ease access especially for mothers who are recovering from C-sections,' she added.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is the fact that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or their diaper. This makes it perfect 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 easily lift your baby without getting out of bed. This is particularly crucial 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 which could cause your baby to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product like gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at the very least, 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 sleeper and the adult bed.

A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that can be converted to different modes like play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for amazon bedside cot sleepers that are multi-use that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. The attachment can be permanently attached or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to come out in November 2021.