Choosing a Large newborn bedside cot Cot

Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby is required to be moved into a cot or moses basket.

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

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while they are typically used until three years old. older. If you're opting for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available both large and standard both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot bed. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a great option to select the larger size.

Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for her baby’s room. It's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch when compared to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.

Emily is another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora - it is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you do not need to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When you are choosing a cot for your bed be sure to choose one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for you to feed your babies. It should also be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can lift your baby closer to you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is particularly useful if you're recovering from an operation such as 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.

Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. While some moms find it easier to lift their babies out of the standard Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has a collapsible side you can push at the press of a button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head up with no assistance, which is typically about 6 months old. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot, they must take the sides off as soon as they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to extravagant. The more luxurious options may include features like a built-in night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even the swivelling base which makes it easier to get your baby's food in the right place. You may also find some models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.

For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This is perfect for new mums recovering from Caesarean births or who have to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much more manageable especially after a c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&baby bedside cot Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib and has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking bedside crib feature. It's bigger than other cribs we've tested, however it folds down into its travel bag, making it a small size when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed for parents and babies. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it allows you to 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 security characteristic is that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who still recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the push of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without needing to get out of the bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to not add anything to the cot that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside crib that turns into 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 additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't feasible or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are trapped between a bedside rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside rocking crib sleepers which can be converted into different types of furniture, like bassinets or play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as a bassinet.

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