7 Simple Secrets To Totally Rolling With Your Large Bedside Cot

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without the risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is old enough to move to the bed.

MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model comes with a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble, and came with its own travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However cots are generally 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 cot. The larger one is a good idea when you want your child to sleep in it until the age of +/- three.

Jasmine, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too big for her baby’s room. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are flimsy.

Emily, another home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora - it is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with a reflux incline option 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. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it will require a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed, choose one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It also needs to be able to be dropped to the ground to allow you to lift your baby towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This is especially useful if you're recovering from C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.

You should also consider the level you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their children out of standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option with one of our mum testers stating that it is easy to use with a collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of a button.

Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance typically approximately 6 months. bedside cot 6 months plus is because of the possibility of inhaling suffocation. bedside cots for newborns should also be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert the bedside sleeper into a cot, you must remove the sides when they are able 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 such as a built-in night light and a calming centre that plays sounds and music and has two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back 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 transformed into a toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that allows you to take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require a the bed for extended durations of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, said it was simple to use and made it easier 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 lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's larger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it a small size when not in use.

MFM mom home test Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib, she explained how it was created with parents and babies in mind. It is a fantastic design that is very simple to operate and is super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant as it means you can move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to make access easier - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their c-sections,' she said.

Safety

The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they require to feed, comfort them or change their nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. You should choose the design that lets you lower the bed's side by pressing a button. This allows you to lift your child up without getting out of bed. This is essential, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as pillowcases and duvets which could cause your baby to become overheated.

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

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.

The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable. Attachments can be permanently attached or removed when the item is not being used as a bassinet for babies.

The CPSC is examining these comments and others received in response to the NPR on bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November 2021.