14 Smart Ways To Spend Your On Leftover Large Bedside Cot Budget

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to rest close to their babies at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need to move into a cot, or a moses basket.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model features an integrated bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also comes with the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots and cot beds differ in size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used by children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes available - standard and large - both of which convert into a cot bed/toddler bed. The larger one is a good idea if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of at least three years old.

MFM mum home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly larger 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 excellent, compared with many she's seen that feel flimsy.

Emily is another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best bedside cots Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. In contrast to International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy another mattress as your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When choosing a bedside cot be sure to choose one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It must also be lowered out of the way, so you can raise your child towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is particularly helpful if 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.

Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot. Some moms find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher level to give them greater stability. One of our testers for mums mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has a collapsible side you can push at the press of a button.

Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at approximately 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. It's also important to note that if you select a bedside sleeper or bassinet that you can convert into a cot and vice versa, you must 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 bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to extravagant. The more expensive options could include features like a built-in night light or a soothing center which plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby to sleep, or even an adjustable base that allows you to easily get your baby's food in the right place. Some models can be converted into the 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 in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It is a swivelling base that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a bed for longer periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby easier especially after a c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a Rocking bedside crib feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we've tested, however it folds up into its travel cot bedside bag to make it compact when not in use.

MFM mom home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with parents and babies in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

The main safety characteristic of a bedside 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 nappies. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from the C-section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby bedside crib without having to get out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillowcases and duvets which could cause your baby to become overheated.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance they would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC concluded that such requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

Many of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets by using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the product is not being used as a bassinet.

The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside cot crib sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.