Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to move to the cot.

MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and an option to rock manually. It was also simple to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots and cots differ in terms of size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot bed. Choosing the larger of the two is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until they are +/- three.

MFM mom home test Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe and large bedside cot that it's quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.

Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the home, and it's a blast too. It also has a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, 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 purchase a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it will require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It should also be able to be lowered down so that you can pull your baby up towards you for night feeds or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful when you're recovering from C-section. For instance, large bedside cot 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 situated at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher level to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option with one of our mum test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible side that you can press down at the touch of one button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside travel cot sleeper is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance typically around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you choose a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot, you will need to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as a built-in light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. There are also models that can be transformed into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both), perfect 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 and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from Caesareans, or those who need to stay in bed for extended periods. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made reaching her baby easier particularly after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than some of the other cribs for bed we've tried, but it folds flat in its travel bedside crib bag, so it's quite compact when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester Also, she acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and babies. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is 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 mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the press of a button so you can easily lift your baby without getting out of the bed. This is essential, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation, like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to become overheated.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside baby bed sleepers, such as the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR included multi-use bedside crib to cot beds which can be converted to different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. Attachments can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.