Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suggested for use until 6 months when your baby is required to be moved into a cot, or a moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features a bassinet that can be lifted off to use throughout the house, as well as the ability to rock manually. It was simple to put together, and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However cots are generally used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard that can be transformed 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 great idea to pick the larger one.

Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was a bit bigger 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 soothing, and the quality is top-notch when compared to other cots she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.

Emily, another home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora - it is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands The Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed make sure it can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It also needs to be able to be lowered to the ground so that you can lift your baby towards you during night feedings or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For example, 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 mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher height to provide them with more stability. One of our testers for mums said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the press of the button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is because of the risk of being suffocated. Be aware that when your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside travel cot or bassinet into a cot, they must take the sides off once they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to lavish. Some of the most expensive options come with features like a built-in light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and has two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child to feed them. You may also find some models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the best bedside cot Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a the bed for extended durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, stated that it was easy to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after the C-section.

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

Leya, MFM mum home tester also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed to be used by parents and infants. It is very easy to move and extremely sturdy. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was fantastic since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A Large bedside cot (https://squareblogs.net/liverkendo9/10-bedside-crib-that-turns-into-cot-that-are-unexpected)'s main security characteristic is that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or his or her nappies. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the push of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without needing to get out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).

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

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside baby bed sleepers which can be converted to other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC include a different provision to the proposed rule for bedside crib or cot sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet 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 on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to come out in November 2021.