Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to move to the crib.

MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was simple to put together, and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cots differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a bigger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger one.

MFM mom home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot newborn cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby in and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing, and that its quality is superior to others she has seen that are less sturdy.

Emily, another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also has a reflux incline 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 fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy another mattress as your baby grows. However, it does require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be raised to a height that's comfortable for you when feeding babies. It should also be able to be lowered to a level that is not in the way so that you can pull your baby towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This is especially useful when you're recovering from an operation such as 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 to 70cm.

You should also think about the height you would like the base of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their babies out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest level, some mothers prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mom test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can use at the push of a button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided typically about 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you choose a bedside crib or cot sleeper or bassinet that you can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or get out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to lavish. Some of the more extravagant options include features like an inbuilt 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 a swivelling footrest that allows you to reach your child to feed them. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesarean births, or those who need to stay in bed for extended periods. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was simple to use and made her baby easier especially after a c-section.

Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It includes a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than the other cribs that we've tested but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it is relatively compact when not in use.

MFM mum home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is a fantastic design that is extremely maneuverable and is extremely sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to facilitate access especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.

Safety

A large bedside crib bedside cot's main security characteristic is 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 their nappies. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from the C-section. You should look for an option that allows you to lower the bed's side with a single button press. This allows you to lift your child up without having to get out of the bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.

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

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

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use 4-in-1 bedside crib sleepers which can be converted into other types of equipment, like bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative 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 an attachment that is removable. This attachment can be permanently attached or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will be examining these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be released in November of 2021.