How To Get More Value With Your Large Bedside Cot

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. However they are only recommended for use up to 6 months when your baby will need to move into a cot or moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model comes with a lift-off bassinet you can use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble, and came with its own travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However cots are generally intended for children who are the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot mattress. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's an excellent idea to choose the larger one.

discover this  is an MFM mom who tried the product at home, said she liked that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too big for her baby’s room. She says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for night feeding or calming and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.

Emily is another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also is a rock. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that is breathable. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it will require a specific 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 also needs to be able to be dropped to the ground to allow you to lift your baby closer to you for feedings at night or soothing. This is particularly useful in the event of recovering from a C section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

You should also consider the level you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher height 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 which you can use to press of one button.

Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeper is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided typically around 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you choose a bedside or bassinet which can be converted into a crib it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this, so that they don't climb out or get out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to lavish. The more expensive options could include features such as a built-in nightlight and a calming centre which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels of vibrating to help soothe your baby to sleep, or the swivelling base which allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. You can also find models that can be converted to the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended durations of time. Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested this product at home, stated that it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after a C-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's bigger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds up into its travel bag to make it a small size when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from C-sections.

Safety

A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety characteristic is that it can be easily raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or her nappy. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. It is recommended to choose a design which allows you to lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to lift your child up without having to get out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to become overheated.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues that include gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. However the CPSC determined that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second 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 fixed or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.