Large Bedside Cot: A Simple Definition

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to let parents sleep close to their infants at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are not suggested for use until 6 months when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, loved the fact that this model features a bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also has an option to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots and cots differ in terms of size in size, with cots smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However they are typically intended for children who are the age of three. There are  cotsfortots  of wooden cots, large and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. The larger one is a good option if you want your child to sleep in it until they reach approximately three.

MFM mum home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. She says that it is easy to get the baby in and out of the cot during night feeds or for soothing and that it's quality is better than 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 home, and it's rocking too. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable breathable liner. 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 need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed be sure to choose one that can be elevated to a height that is comfortable for feeding your babies. It must also be lower to a level that is not in the way so you can raise your baby to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is particularly helpful in the event of recovering from a 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 can be adjusted to 70cm.

It is also important to consider the level you would like the base of your crib to be. While some mothers 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 option with one of our mum test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that is easy to press down at the touch of a button.

Be aware that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up without assistance generally around 6 months. This is because of the risk of inhaling suffocation. It's also important to note that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can convert into a cot, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this to ensure they don't climb out or fall out of the bed.

Design

There are a variety of styles of bedside crib with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. Some of the more luxurious options include features like a built-in light, a soothing center that plays music and sounds and comes with 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 which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to transition to their own bigger bed.

For example 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 lets you take your baby and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This is ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in bed for longer durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, stating that it was easy to use and made her baby much more manageable especially after a c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib and has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than the other bedside cribs we looked at, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's relatively compact when not in use.

MFM mom home test Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib, describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind.  It is a fantastic design that is very easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely durable. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it lets you move the bassinet from side to side and one of its sides can be lowered down to make access easier especially for new mothers who are recovering from their C-sections', she said.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main safety feature is that it can be easily adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed, comfort or change his or their nappy. This is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. You should look for an option that lets you lower the sides of the bed with a single button press. This allows you to lift your child up without having to get out of bed. This is essential, especially when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation, such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to overheat.

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-side 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 they meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that can be converted to different modes like play yards and bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for multi-use bedside sleepers that would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment. This attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.

The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule which is expected to come out in November 2021.