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 risk of SIDS. However they are not recommended for use up to 6 months when your baby will need to move into a cot, or a moses basket.

Mehack is an MFM home tester, loved the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used all around the home. It also features an option to rock manually. It was simple to put together and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They also often convert into toddler beds, while they are typically used for up to three years. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard, which can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. Selecting the larger of the two is a good option when you want your child to sleep in it until they reach at least three years old.

MFM mom home test Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She says it's easy to carry her child in and out for night feeding or soothing, and the quality is top-notch when compared to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.

Another home tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. In contrast to International or European cot brands, the Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. However, it requires a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be able to be lowered down so that you can pull your baby up towards you for feedings at night or to soothe. This feature is particularly helpful if you are recovering from a C section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher level to give them greater stability. One of our testers for mums said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the press of one button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It is also important to be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you will need to remove the sides when they are able to do so. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of bedside cribs, from simple to luxurious. Some of the most extravagant options include features like an inbuilt light and a soothing center which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. There are also 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 their own bigger bed.

For example 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 pick up your newborn bedside cot and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after the 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 is machine washable and comes with a interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's larger than other bedside crib to cot cribs that we've tested, but it folds up into its bag for travel, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.

MFM mom home tester Leya also appreciated the function of this crib for bed, describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to ease access especially for mothers who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is the fact that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or her nappy. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that allows you to lower the side of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to lift your child up without having to get out of bed. This is especially crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases that can cause your baby to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside co sleeper sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using an attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.

The CPSC is currently reviewing the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to come out in November 2021.