Why We Are In Love With Large Bedside Cot And You Should Also

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to move to an actual cot.

Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model features an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the home. It also comes with the ability to rock manually. It was simple to put together and came with its own travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot for bedside. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a bigger cot, it's a great idea to pick the larger one.

Jasmine, an MFM mother who tested the product at home, liked the fact that it was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch in comparison to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.

Emily, another home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also rocks. It also has a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you don't have to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it requires an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lower to a level that is not in the way so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or to soothe him. This is especially useful if you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher elevation to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular option and one of our mum testers stating that it comes with a simple collapsible side that you can press down at the touch of one button.

Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually about 6 months old. This is because of the possibility of being suffocated. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can be converted into a crib, you will need to begin removing the sides once your child is able to do this, so that they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of bedside crib with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. Some of the more expensive options come with features such as an integrated light or a center of calm that plays music and sounds and has 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. You can also find models that can be converted to an infant bed or a 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 was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of the bed. This is ideal for new mums recovering from Caesareans or who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than the other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat in its travel bag, so it's quite compact when not in use.

MFM mum home tester Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside cot 6 months plus crib (click to find out more), she explained how it was created with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is extremely simple to operate and is super-sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's swivelling base was a great idea since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier for moms who are recovering from C-sections.

Safety

The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it is able to be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that lets you lower one side with the press of a button so you can effortlessly lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is crucial, particularly as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to not add anything to the crib that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR released by the CPSC NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents); consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleeper cot sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule that is expected to be released in November 2021.