Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

newborn bedside cot cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to be moved to the bed.

MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact 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 in its own travel bag for convenient storage.

Size

Cots and cot beds differ in terms of size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only intended for children who are the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes available that are large and standard both of which can be converted into a cot/toddler bed. If you wish for your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger one.

Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased that it was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the baby's room. It's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing and that the quality is great, compared with many she's seen that are flimsy.

Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. Unlike some International or European cot brands, the Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it does require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When you are choosing a cot for your bed choose one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for feeding your the baby. It should also be able to be lower away from the way, so you can raise your child towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is especially helpful if you're 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.

You should also consider how low you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It comes with an easy-to-fold side that you can push at the press of a button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby bedside crib is able to hold their head without assistance typically approximately 6 months. This is because of the danger of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you choose a bedside or bassinet which can be converted into a crib it is necessary to begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or large bedside cot get out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. Some of the more luxurious options include features such as an inbuilt light and a soothing center which plays music and sounds 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. You can also find models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air For instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesarean sections, or those who need to stay in bed for long periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was simple to use and made reaching her baby easier particularly after her c-section.

Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's slightly larger than some of the other bedside cribs we tested but it folds flat into its travel bag so it's relatively compact when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She claimed that it was designed for parents and infants. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's swivelling base was fantastic because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety feature is that it can be easily moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or her diaper. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. You should look for an option that lets you lower the bed's side with a simple button press. This allows you to raise your child without having to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillowcases that can cause your baby to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include 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 considered the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside baby bed sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped between the twin bedside cot rail as well as an adult bed.

Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into other types of use, such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets using 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 currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will be examining these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.