Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also referred to as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or moses basket.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was easy to set up and it came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds differ in size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. Cots can also convert 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, which can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. Choosing the larger of the two is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until they are approximately three.

Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses basket, but not too large for the room of her baby. It's easy to carry her child into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or calming and that the quality is great when compared to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.

Another home test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. 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 buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it does require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.

Height

When you are choosing a crib that is bedside, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be able of being dropped to the ground so that you can pull your baby up towards you for night feeds or to soothe. This is especially useful if you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to a height of 58cm while 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 base of your cot. Some moms find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level and others prefer a higher level to give them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It is a collapsible side you can push at the press of one button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is because of the risk of suffocation. It's also important to know that if you choose a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can convert into a cot and vice versa, you must start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to extravagant. The most luxurious models could include features like a built-in night light and a calming centre that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibration to help soothe baby back to sleep, or even a swivelling base that makes it easier to reach your child for feedings. You can also find models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best bedside cot uk Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or need to stay in the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested this product at home, stated that it was easy to operate and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after 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. It has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs we've tested, however it folds down into its travel bedside crib 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 parents and children. It has a great design that is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to facilitate access especially for new mothers who are recovering from C-sections', she said.

Safety

A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety characteristic is the fact that it is able to be raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or her diaper. This means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that allows you to lower the bed's side by pressing a button. This will allow you to lift your child up without having to get out of bed. This is crucial, particularly when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.

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

In its NPR the CPSC examined 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 rails that are lowered. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements weren't feasible or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped between the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR involved multiuse bedside travel crib sleepers which can be converted to other types of use, such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet.

The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November 2021.