Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to move to the cot.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and the ability to rock manually. It was easy to assemble, and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cots differ in size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used up to three years older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or large bedside cot a cot. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger size.

MFM mother home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. It's easy to carry her child in and out for night feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.

Emily is another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase another mattress as your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It should also be able to be lowered away from the way, so you can raise your child towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This is especially useful if you're recovering from 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 think about how low you would like the bottom of your crib to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher level to provide them with more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mum test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible side that you can use at the push of the button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bedside cot sale sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a cot, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this, so that they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.

Design

There are many different styles of bedside crib with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. Some of the more expensive options come with features such as a built-in light or a center of calm which plays music and 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. There are also models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that allows you to take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This makes it ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesareans or who require bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after the C-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. 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.

MFM mom home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside travel cot crib, explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is very simple to operate and is extremely durable. Its swivelling base is brilliant as it means you can move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access especially for mothers who are recovering from C-sections,' she added.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security feature is that it can be easily adjusted or Large Bedside Cot moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or his or her diaper. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without getting out of the bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to become overheated.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues, such as gaps between a bedside cot crib sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted to other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for bedside crib with changing table sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.

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