Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to be moved to the bed.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model features an integrated bassinet that can be used around the house. It also has an option to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used by children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.

Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses basket, but not too big for the baby's room. She claims that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for night feeds or for soothing, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.

Emily who is a home-based tester, is thrilled by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for best bedside cot Cot Crib, 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 an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect 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's comfortable for feeding your babies. It also needs to be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can lift your baby towards you for feedings at night or for soothing. This is especially useful when you're recovering from a C-section. For example, 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 think about is how low you want the cot's base to be. While some moms find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the smallest height, others prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option and one of our mom test subjects saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible side that is easy to use at the push of the button.

Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance, usually at approximately 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to turn the bedside baby bed sleeper into a cot, they must remove the sides as soon as they are ready to do so. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs for beds, ranging from simple to extravagant. Some of the most luxurious options include features like a built-in light, a soothing center which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep or the swivelling footrest, which makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. You can also find models which can be made into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean sections or who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after having a c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs we've tested, but it folds into its travel bag, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed for both parents and children. 'It has an excellent design that is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was a great idea since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.

Safety

A large small bedside cot cot's main safety feature is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or his or her nappies. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from an C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side with the push of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows which could cause your baby 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 sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).

In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. Attachments can be permanently attached or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.

The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November of 2021.