Why We Enjoy Large Bedside Cot And You Should Also

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside Co Sleeper Cot cots, also referred to as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their infants at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to transition to a bed.

MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model comes with a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was also simple to put together and came with its own travel cot bedside crib bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in size and size, with cots being a bit smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in a larger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.

MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. It's easy to lift her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing, and the quality is top-notch, compared with many she's seen that feel flimsy.

Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that is breathable. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best cot for bedside Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands The Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy another mattress as your baby grows. However, it requires a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.

Height

When you are choosing a cot for your bed choose one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It must also be lowered out of the way, so you can lift up your baby towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially useful when you are recovering from a C section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.

You should also consider how low you would like the base of your crib to be. While some moms find it easier to get their babies out of standard Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, others prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. One of our mom testers stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has a collapsible side you can push at the push of the button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is typically about 6 months old. This is because of the possibility of being suffocated. Be aware that when your child is old enough to turn an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot bedside you must take the sides off once they are ready to do this. This will stop them from falling out or climbing out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs for beds that range from basic to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features like an integrated night light or a soothing center that plays sounds and music and comes with two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even an adjustable base that allows you to easily reach your baby for feedings. Some models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is great for new mothers recovering from Caesarean sections or those who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, stated that it was easy to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after the c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's larger than other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and babies. It is lightweight and easy to move. Its swivelling base is brilliant as it means you can move the bassinet from side to side and one of its sides can be opened down to ease access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from C-sections,' she added.

Safety

A large amazon bedside cot cot's main security feature is that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or her nappy. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from a c-section. You should choose an option that allows you to lower the sides of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without getting out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets that can cause your baby to overheat.

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

In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at least the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements weren't feasible or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped between the bedside cot 6 months plus rail as well as an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment. Attachments can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.