The Evolution Of Large Bedside Cot

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also known as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to let parents sleep close to their babies at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months old, at which point your baby will be ready to move to an actual bed.

Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also has a manual rocking feature. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.

Size

Cots and cot beds differ in size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas cot beds are generally only used up to three years older. If you're looking for a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which convert into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's a good idea to pick the larger size.

MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket but not too large for the space of her baby's. She claims that it is easy to get the baby in and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing and that the quality is superior to others she has seen that are flimsy.

Another home-based test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is - it's a lift-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also comes with a reflux incline option and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib or Moses Basket. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it does require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the right mattress for your cot here.

Height

When choosing a bedside cot choose one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so you can lift up your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him.  bedside crib vs cot  is especially helpful if 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 height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to lift their babies out of traditional 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 option with one of our mom test subjects saying that it comes with a simple collapsible side that you can use at the push of a button.

Be aware that a bedside or bassinet device should only be used when your baby is able to hold his head up without assistance, which is typically around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you will have to remove the sides once they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs that are bedside, ranging from basic to lavish. The most luxurious models could include features such as an integrated night light and a calming centre that plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. There are also models which can be made into the form of a toddler bed or cot bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.

For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is great for new mothers recovering from Caesarean births or who have to remain in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mother who tested the product at home, said it was easy to use and made it easier 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. It has a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's slightly larger than 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 mum home tester Leya loved the practicality of this bedside crib, describing how it was designed with parents and babies in mind.  It has a great design that is extremely simple to operate and is extremely durable. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was a great idea because it allowed you to move it from side to side.  baby bedside co sleeper  of its sides could be lower to make access easier for moms who are recovering from c-sections.

Safety

A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety characteristic is the fact that it is able to be raised or lowered so parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or her diaper. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. Find a model 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 bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and becomes more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the chance of injury or suffocation, like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues like gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example they would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements would not be efficient or feasible to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

Many of the incidents reported in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other types of equipment, like play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement of bassinets through the use of a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or removed when the product 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 take into account these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November 2021.