Large Bedside Cot: A Simple Definition

Choosing a Large bedside crib cheap bedside cot Cot

Bedside cots, also referred as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the risk of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby will be ready to move to an actual cot.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used around the home. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was easy to assemble, and even came with a travel cot bedside bag.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. They can also be converted into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used up to three years older. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. Selecting the larger one is a good choice when you want your child to sleep in it until they are at least three years old.

MFM mum home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot bed cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. Jasmine says it's easy to get the baby in and out of the cot during night feedings or soothing and that the quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as 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 other international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib, choose one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lower away from the way, so you can raise your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is particularly useful when you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. For instance, 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.

It is also important to consider the level you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to lift their babies out of standard Moses baskets at the smallest height, other mums prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice, with one of our mum testers stating that it comes with a simple collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of one button.

Remember that a bedside or bassinet should only be used until your baby is able to hold their head without assistance, usually at about 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. Be aware that if your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, you must remove the sides once they are able to do this. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to lavish. Some of the more luxurious options include features such as an inbuilt light or a center of calm that plays music and sounds and has two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. Some models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This makes it perfect for mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require a the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was simple to use and made her baby much more manageable particularly after her c-section.

Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket and comes with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's bigger than the other bedside cribs that we've tested, but it folds down into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She said it was designed to be used by parents and children. It is lightweight and easy to move. She also said that the bassinet's swivelling base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier, especially for new mums recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is that it can easily be adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or her diaper. This is why it's perfect for mothers who still recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side with the press of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of the bed. This is important, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to be careful not to add anything to the cot that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets, which could cause babies 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) and consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of imposing additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However, the CPSC concluded that such requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds that can be transformed into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would enable them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets through the use of an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as the bassinet.

The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will be examining these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be published in the month of November 2021.