Why We Love Large Bedside Cot (And You Should Also!)

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 danger of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to transition to a crib.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also has the ability to rock manually. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots and cots differ in size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used by children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler bed. Selecting the larger of the two is a good option when you want your child to sleep in it until they reach approximately three.

MFM mom home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. She says it's easy to lift her baby into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is great, compared with many she's seen that are flimsy.

Another home test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the home, and it's a blast too. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable breathable liner. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so you can lift up your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from a C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.

You should also consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability.  bedside crib with wheels  is a popular choice and one of our mum testers saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible side that you can push down with the click of a button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby can hold his head up without assistance, which is usually around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. Be aware that if your child is old enough to convert a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, they will have to remove the sides once they are ready to do so. This will stop them from climbing out or falling out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features such as an integrated night light, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. You can also find models which can be made into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to a larger bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This is ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesareans or who need to stay in the bed for extended periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried this product at home, said it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after having a c-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's bigger than the other cribs we've tested, however it folds down into its bag for travel, making it compact 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 babies. It is lightweight and easy to move. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet from side-to-side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from C-sections,' she added.

Safety

The most important safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it is able to be adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappy. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from the c-section. It is recommended to choose the design that lets you lower the side of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to raise your child without getting out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation such as duvets and pillowcases, which can cause your baby to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing amount of instances where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multiuse bedside sleepers to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.