It's Time To Forget Large Bedside Cot: 10 Reasons Why You No Longer Need It

Choosing  newborn bedside cot , also referred as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their babies at night without the danger of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to move to the crib.

Mehack, a MFM home tester, was impressed by the fact that this model features an integrated bassinet that can be used around the house. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was also simple to put together and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.

Size

Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size, with cots being smaller than beds for cots. Cots can also convert into toddler beds. However, cots are usually only used for children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard that can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be able to sleep in a larger cot, it's an excellent idea to pick the larger size.

Jasmine, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too big for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to get her baby in and out for night feeding or soothing and the quality is top-notch in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.

Another home test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways - it's a lift-off bassinet that you can move around the home, and it's rocking too. It also has an option to tilt the reflux upwards and 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 other international or European brands. This means that you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised up to a level that is comfortable for you when feeding the baby. It must also be lower out of the way, so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This feature is especially useful if you are recovering from a C Section. For instance, the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to consider is how low you want the base of your cot. While some moms find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums stated that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It has an easily collapsible side that you can press at the press of a button.

Keep in mind that a bedside or bassinet should not be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance typically around 6 months. This is because of the danger of being suffocated. It's also important to note that if you opt for a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a crib it is necessary to remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this, so that they don't climb out or fall out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to lavish. Some of the more expensive options come with features such as an inbuilt light, a soothing center that plays music and sounds and comes with two levels that help to soothe your baby back to sleep. Another option is an adjustable footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child to feed them. Certain models can be converted into a toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready to go to their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who have to stay in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mum who tested this product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier to reach her baby, especially after having a C-section.

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

MFM mom home test Leya also liked the functionality of this crib for bed, explaining how it was designed with the needs of parents and children in mind.  It is a fantastic design that is very simple to operate and is super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing because it lets you move the bassinet from side-to-side, and one of its sides can be opened down to make access easier especially for mothers who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.

Safety

The bedside cot's primary security feature is that it can be easily adjusted or moved so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort him or their nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. You should choose an option that allows you to lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily raise your child without getting out of bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. It is also important to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation, or injury, including pillows and duvets, which can cause babies to overheat.

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) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing parts (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).

In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, like the requirement that these products meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC found that these requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were trapped between the bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that can be converted to other modes such as bassinets and play yards. Several commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would 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 an actual bassinet.

The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November 2021.