7 Easy Tips For Totally Rolling With Your Large Bedside Cot

Choosing a large bedside crib Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to snuggle with their infant at night without the risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby will be ready to move to an actual cot.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and the ability to rock manually. It was also simple to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in size in size, with cots smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However cots are generally used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger one.

Jasmine, a MFM mom who tried the product at home, was pleased that it was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too big for the baby's room. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.

Emily is another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora which is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Contrary to some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it will require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can lift your baby towards you for night feeds or soothing. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a C section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.

Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. One of our mum testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has a collapsible side you can press at the press of one button.

Be aware that a bedside Travel crib or bassinet device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot you must remove the sides when they are able to do this. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of bedside crib that range from basic to lavish. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep. Another option is the swivelling footrest, which makes it easier for you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Some models can be converted into an infant bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards best bedside cot for newborn Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that allows you to take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is great for new mums recovering from Caesareans, or those who need to remain in bed for extended periods. MFM mum home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.

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

MFM mum home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib explaining how it was designed with the needs of parents and children in mind. It has a great design that is very simple to operate and is extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to make access easier - particularly for new mums who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.

Safety

The main safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be moved up or down to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed, comfort them, or change their nappy. This means that it's ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, including pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.

The CPSC's NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product that include gaps between a bedside cot co sleeper sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance they would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second option to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. This attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.

The CPSC is reviewing the comments and other suggestions received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it decides on the final rule, which is expected to be released in the month of November 2021.