The Ultimate Glossary Of Terms About Large Bedside Cot
Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night without the risk of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will need to be moved into a cot or a moses basket.
Mehack, a MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with an adjustable bassinet that can be used around the house. It also features an option to rock manually. It was easy to assemble and came with its own travel bag.
Size
Cots and cots differ in terms of size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However bedside cot bed are generally used by children up to the age of three. If you're opting for a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available both large and standard both of which convert into a cot/toddler beds. Selecting the larger one is a good idea if you want your child to sleep in it until they are approximately three.
MFM mother home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was a little bigger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot for night feedings or soothing and that the quality is better than other cots she has seen that are flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, is awed by the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora which is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. And it was shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. Contrary to some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't have to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot be sure to choose one that can be raised up to a height that is comfortable for you when feeding babies. It must also be able of being dropped down out of the way so that you can lift your baby up towards you for feedings at night or for soothing. This feature is particularly helpful when you are recovering from a C section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch can be adjusted to 70cm.
You should also think about the height you would like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest level, while some prefer a higher level to give them more stability. One of our mom testers said that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It comes with a collapsible side you can press at the touch the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device is only suitable when your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is typically about 6 months old. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. Be aware that if your child is old enough to be able to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you will have to take the sides off once they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from falling out or climbing out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to extravagant. Some of the more extravagant options include features such as an integrated light or a center of calm which plays music and sounds and has two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep or the swivelling footrest, which makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. You can also find models that can be transformed 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 was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean or require bed for longer durations of time. Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested this product at home, said that it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby, especially after a C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It comes with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline and rocking function. It's bigger than other bedside cribs that we've tested, however it folds up into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.
MFM mom home test Leya also appreciated the function of this bedside crib she explained how it was created with the needs of parents and children in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is extremely maneuverable and is super-sturdy. She said that the swivelling bassinet base was brilliant because it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The most important security aspect of a large bedside cot is that it is able to be raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they need to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still be recovering from a C-section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side at the press of a button. This way, you can easily lift your baby without needing to get out of bed. This is particularly important as your baby gets older and more mobile. You should also be careful not to add anything to the crib that could increase the chance of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.
The CPSC's 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 misassembly (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rails that are lowered. The CPSC found, however that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR included multi-use bedside beds which can be converted into different types of furniture, like play yards or bassinets. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add an alternative option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. The attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.
The CPSC is currently reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to come out in November 2021.