Choosing a large Bedside cot (fakenews.win)

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are not suggested for use until 6 months when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use in the home and the ability 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 can also be converted into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used up to three years old. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard, which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger one.

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

Emily is another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for large bedside cot the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When you are choosing a cot for your bed, look for one that can be raised up to a height that's comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It must also be lower away from the way, so you can lift up your baby towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from a C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option, with one of our mum testers stating that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of a button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance typically approximately 6 months. This is because of the possibility of inhaling suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, they will need to take the sides off once they are able to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.

Design

There are many different styles of bedside crib that range from basic to luxurious. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as an integrated light and a soothing center that plays music and large bedside cot sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Certain models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesarean births or those who have to remain in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after the c-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than other cribs for bed we've tested but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it is relatively compact when not in use.

MFM mum home test Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib vs cot crib, explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was a great idea because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier for moms who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is the fact that it can easily be raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or her nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the press of a button so you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillowcases and duvets which could cause your baby to become overheated.

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

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped between the bedside crib with wheels rail as well as an adult bed.

Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside crib that turns into cot sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using an attachment that can be connected permanently 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 on sleep at night. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.