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. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will be required to move into a cot or moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features a lift-off bassinet you can use throughout the house, as well as a manual rocking function. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.

Size

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

Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than a Moses' basket but still not too large for her baby’s room. She says it's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent, compared with many she's seen that feel flimsy.

Another home test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also has a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best bedside cot Cot, 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 requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be raised to a height that is comfortable for feeding your baby. It must also be able to be lowered to the ground to allow you to lift your baby up towards you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a C section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

It is also important to consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has a collapsible side which you can use to push of a button.

Be aware that a foldable bedside crib or bassinet device is only suitable when your baby is able to hold his head up without assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is due to the risk of being suffocated. It's also important to know that if you choose a bedside or bassinet which can be converted into a crib, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this to ensure they don't get out of bed or get out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to lavish. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as an inbuilt light, a soothing center which plays music and sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot bed (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 Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is perfect for new mothers recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was easy to use 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 in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It includes an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's bigger than other cribs we've tested, however it folds into its travel bag, making it a small size when not in use.

MFM mom home tester Leya loved the practicality of this crib for bed, describing how it was designed with the needs of parents and children in mind. It has a great design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant as it means you can move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.

Safety

The most important safety aspect of a large bedside travel cot cot is that it can be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. You should look for a design which lets you lower the sides of the bed with a single button press. This allows you to lift your child up without having to get out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. It is also important to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, like duvets and pillows, which can cause babies to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 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 side height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped by the bedside cot crib rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that can be removed. This attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.

The CPSC is reviewing the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside cot wooden sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.