Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

bedside cot wooden cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is ready to move to the crib.

MFM home tester Mehack loved the fact that this model comes with a lift-off bassinet you can use throughout the house, as well as the ability to rock manually. It was simple to put together, and came with its own travel bedside crib bag.

Size

Cots and cots differ in size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. They also often convert into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used for up to three years. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big 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 the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger size.

Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the baby's room. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing and that it's quality is better than other cots 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 is a rock. It also has a reflux incline and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It requires 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 the ideal height for you. It should also be able to be lower out of the way, so that you can pull your baby to feed them at night or soothe him. This is particularly useful when you are recovering from a C section. The Next2me cot and the 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.

It is also important to consider the height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher elevation to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option with one of our mum test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can use at the push of one button.

Remember that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance, usually at about 6 months. This is because of the danger of being suffocated. 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, they must remove the sides once they are ready to do this. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most luxurious options include features such as an integrated light and a soothing center that plays music and sound and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. There are also 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 move to a larger bed.

For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your newborn and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean or require a bed for longer periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby much easier particularly after her c-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also includes an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we tested, but it folds down into its travel bag, making it 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 has a great design that is very maneuverable and is extremely durable. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is the fact that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or her nappies. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up without getting out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby bedside crib gets older and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues like 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 considered the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside travel crib sleepers that can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. Attachments can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is considering these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.