Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without fear of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is ready to be moved to a cot.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also comes with an option to rock manually. It was simple to put together and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available that are large and standard both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot bed. Choosing the larger of the two is a good option when you want your child to sleep in it until they are +/- three.

Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too large for the baby's room. She says it's easy to carry her child into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.

Another home-based tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi is a versatile product it's a drop-off bassinet that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy a new mattress as 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 make sure it can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lower to a level that is not in the way so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This is especially useful if you're recovering from C-section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to an elevation of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

It is also important to consider the height you'd like the base of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest level, some mothers prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice, with one of our mum test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of one button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head up without assistance, which is typically at around 6 months. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. You should also be aware that if your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, they will need to remove the sides when they are ready to do this. This will stop them from getting out or falling out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most luxurious options include features like an integrated light, a soothing center which plays music and sounds and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. There are also models that can be transformed into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to move to a bigger bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your newborn and move 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 births or those who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was easy to use and made her baby much easier especially after a c-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's bigger than other cribs for bed that we've tested, but it folds up into its travel bag to make it relatively compact when it's not in use.

MFM mom home tester 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 easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to 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 their c-sections,' she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot (funsilo.Date)'s main security feature is that it can easily be raised or lowered so parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or their nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose an option that lets you lower the bed's side with a simple button press. This allows you to raise your child without getting out of the bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, including duvets and pillows, which can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product like gaps between the bedside cosleeper 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 the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were trapped between the 4-in-1 bedside crib sleeper and the adult bed.

Many of the incidents reported in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other types of equipment, like bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multi-use bedside crib and travel cot beds to enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or disconnected when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.

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