Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only recommended for use up to 6 months when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was easy to assemble and it came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are smaller than. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically used for children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from both large and standard both of which convert into a cot/toddler beds. The larger of the two is a good option if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of approximately three.

Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby’s room. She claims that it is easy to get the baby into and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing, and that its quality is superior to others she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is it's a drop-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike some international or European brands. This means that you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Find the ideal mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding baby. It also needs to be able to be dropped to the ground to allow you to lift your baby closer to you during night feedings or for soothing. This feature is particularly helpful in the event of recovering from a C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the smallest height, others prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It comes with an easy-to-fold side that you can press at the touch one button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided generally about 6 months. This is due to the danger of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to know that if you opt for a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.

Design

There are a variety of bedside crib that range from basic to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features such as a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and has two levels of vibrating to help soothe baby back to sleep, or the swivelling base which makes it easier to reach your child for large bedside cot feedings. Some models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air that won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has an adjustable base that lets you pick up your newborn and transfer 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 Caesareans or those who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mom who tried this product at home, said that it was easy to operate and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after the C-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as 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, however it folds into its travel bag, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.

MFM mom home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside cots for newborns crib she explained how it was created with babies and parents in mind. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. Its swivelling base is brilliant because it allows you to move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from their c-sections,' she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot, Article,'s main security characteristic is the fact that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or their diaper. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. It is recommended to choose the design that lets you lower the side of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child up without getting out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. You should also avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, like 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 that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.

A majority of the incidents reported in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multiuse bedside crib with wheels sleepers to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets by using an attachment that is removable and can be permanently connected or disconnected when the item is not being used as an actual bassinet.

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