Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to be moved to the crib.

MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was simple to put together and came with its own travel bedside crib bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds differ in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.

MFM mom home test Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cots uk cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. It's easy to lift her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.

Emily is another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed make sure it can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so that you can pull your baby to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly helpful in the event of recovering from a C Section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.

You should also think about the height you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher elevation to provide them with more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with a collapsible side you can press at the press of a button.

Remember that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance generally around 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bedside 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 to ensure they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.

Design

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

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you 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 Caesarean births or who require a bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after a C-section.

Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds up into its travel bedside crib bag to make it compact when not in use.

MFM mum home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. She also said that the swivelling bassinet base was fantastic because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier for moms who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or his or her nappies. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up 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 suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillowcases that can cause your baby to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside cot used sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that they meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are entrapped by the bedside rail and an adult bed.

The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR regarding bedside crib with wheels sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to come out in November 2021.