Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to move to a bed.

Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was simple to put together and came with its own travel cot bedside bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds differ in size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used for up to three years. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger one.

MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly 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 that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.

Emily is another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lowered out of the way, so you can raise your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially helpful when you're 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 can be adjusted to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets when they are at the lowest level, some mothers prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice and one of our mom testers stating that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of one button.

Remember that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance generally approximately 6 months. This is due to the possibility of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to turn the bedside sleeper into a cot, you must take the sides off as soon as they are able to do so. This will stop them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of styles of cribs for beds, ranging from simple to extravagant. The more expensive options could include features such as a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even a swivelling base that allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. Certain models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby to the crib and move them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require a bed for longer periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made reaching her baby easier particularly after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than some of the other cribs that we've tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.

MFM mom home test Leya also appreciated the function of this crib for bed, she explained how it was created with parents and babies in mind. It is a fantastic design that is extremely simple to operate and is super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet from side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their c-sections,' she said.

Safety

A large 4-in-1 bedside crib cot's main security feature is that it can be easily adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or her diaper. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from an c-section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button, so you can effortlessly lift your baby without needing to get out of the bed. This is important, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. You should also not add anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at least the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped by the bedside crib rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as the bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.