Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots (also called co sleeper bedside cot-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to snuggle with their infant at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are only suitable for use up to 6 months, when your baby will need to move into a cot, or a moses basket.

Mehack is an MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model features an integrated bassinet that can be used around the home. It also comes with an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and even came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from that are large and standard both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot mattress. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.

MFM mum home test Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was a little bigger than the Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that the quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.

Emily, another home-based tester, is thrilled by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable liner that breathes. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to purchase another mattress as your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for you to feed your the baby. It also needs to be able to be dropped to the ground so that you can lift your baby closer to you during night feedings or soothing. This is especially useful in the event of 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 up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is how low you want the base of your cot to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their children out of traditional Moses baskets when they are at the lowest level, some mothers prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mum testers saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of a button.

not in use.

MFM mom home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is incredibly simple to operate and is super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing 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 added.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety characteristic is that it is able to be raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed or comfort them, or change his or his or her diaper. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still be recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that allows you to lower one side with the press of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without having to get out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to avoid adding anything to the cot that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, such as duvets and pillows, which can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product problems like 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 miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of imposing additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as 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. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing the number of instances in which infants are trapped between the bedside co sleeper cot rail and an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleeper cot sleepers with multiple uses which can be converted to other modes such as play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment. The attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments as well as other submissions received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it decides on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November of 2021.