Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to move to a crib.

MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model features a bassinet that can be lifted off to use around the house and an option to rock manually. It was easy to set up and even came with a travel bedside crib bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden bedside cot cot, you'll find two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot mattress. Choosing the larger one is a good idea for children who want to sleep in it until they reach approximately three.

MFM mother home tester Jasmine loved that the cheap bedside cot cot was slightly larger than the Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. She says that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing and that the quality is better than other cots she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home-based test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it will require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a crib for your bed make sure it can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must also be able to be dropped down to allow you to lift your baby towards you for feedings at night or to soothe. This is especially useful if you're recovering from C-section. For example, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

You should also think about how low you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their babies out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest height, other mums prefer a higher base to give them more stability. One of our mum testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easily collapsible side that you can press at the press of a button.

Be aware that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should not be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance typically approximately 6 months. This is because of the possibility of inhaling suffocation. It's also impos amazing because it lets you move the bassinet side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to ease access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from C-sections', she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is the fact that it is able to be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or her nappy. This makes it ideal for new mothers recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose the design that allows you to lower the sides of the bed by pressing a button. This allows you to lift your child without having to get 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 become overheated.

The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues like gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements were not practical or effective in reducing number of incidents where infants are entrapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted to other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. Attachments can be permanently connected or removed when the item 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 cot used sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November 2021.