Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without risk of SIDS. However they are only recommended for use up to 6 months when your baby will need to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also features 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 vary in terms of size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger size.

Jasmine, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for her baby’s room. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing, and that its quality is better than other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.

Emily who is a home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that 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 is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for 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 requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so that you can pull your baby towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is particularly useful in the event of recovering from a C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.

You should also think about the height you'd 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 point, while some prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the press of a button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to note that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.

Design

There are many styles of bedside cribs, from basic to extravagant. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as a built-in light or a center of calm which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby bedside crib and move them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require bed for longer periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was simple to use and made her baby easier particularly after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than the other bedside cot bed cribs we tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it's quite compact when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also appreciated the bedside crib's function. She said it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is the fact that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or his or her nappy. This means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby without getting out of bed. This is crucial, particularly as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of injury or suffocation, like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product like gaps between a bedside cot for twins sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing number of instances in which infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to different modes like bassinets and play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of an attachment that is removable and can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.

The CPSC is reviewing the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in the month of November 2021.