11 "Faux Pas" That Actually Are Okay To Use With Your Large Bedside Cot

Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets or co-sleepers are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is old enough to be moved to the crib.

Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the feature that this model comes with an integrated bassinet that can be used throughout the house. It also features the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They also can be converted into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used up to three years old. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or a cot. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger one.

MFM mum home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot during evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is superior to others she has seen that are cheap and flimsy.

Another home test subject, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora is compatible with a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you do not need to purchase a new mattress every time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed be sure to choose one that can be raised to a level that is comfortable for you to feed your babies. It should also be able to be lowered down out of the way so that you can lift your baby up towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a C Section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.

Another thing to consider 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 at the smallest height, other mums prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mum test subjects saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible part that you can press down at the touch of the button.

Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head up with no assistance, which is usually at around 6 months. This is due to the risk of being suffocated. Be aware that if your child is old enough to convert a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, they will need to remove the sides when they are ready to do so. This will stop them from falling out or climbing out of the bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use, ranging from basic to lavish. Some of the most expensive options come with features like a built-in light, a soothing center which plays music and sounds and has two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is 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), perfect when your child is ready to move 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 an adjustable base that lets you take your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get up. This is ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in the bed for extended durations of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying it was simple to use and made reaching her baby easier especially after a c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than other cribs for bed that we've tested, but it folds up into its bag for travel, making it relatively compact when it's not in use.

bedside cot 6 months plus  liked the functionality of this crib for bed, describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It is lightweight and easy to move. She said that the bassinet's swivelling base was fantastic because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from C-sections.

Safety

A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important safety feature is that it can be easily moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed, comfort or change his or his or her nappy. This is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still recovering from a C section. It is recommended to choose an option that lets you lower the bed's side by pressing a button. This allows you to lift your child without having to get out of the bed. This is crucial, particularly when your baby grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to not add anything to the crib that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, such as pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product, such as gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example the products would need to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped by a bedside rail and an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as play yards and bassinets. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would 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 a bassinet.

The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be issued in November of 2021.