Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to allow parents to rest with their baby at night without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby will be ready to be moved to a crib.

MFM home tester Mehack loved that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and an option to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while cot beds are generally only used for up to three years. older. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. Selecting the larger of the two is a good idea if you want your child to sleep in it until they reach at least three years old.
MFM mom home test Jasmine loved that the bedside cot was slightly bigger than the Moses basket, but not too large for her baby's room. It's easy to lift her baby in and out for night feeding or calming and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, is awed by the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also rocks. It also has an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for 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 that you don't have to purchase an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here you can find the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a crib for your bed pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It must 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 especially helpful when you're recovering from a C-section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted up to the height of 58cm. the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm, and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their children from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while some prefer a higher height to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mum testers saying that it is easy to use with a collapsible side that is easy to push down with the click of a button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should only be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance, usually at about 6 months. This is due to 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 and vice versa, you must remove the sides as soon as your child is ready for this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.
Design
There are many styles of bedside cribs, from simple to luxurious. The more expensive options could include features like a built-in nightlight or a soothing center which plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. Some models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance has won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that allows you to pick up your baby and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. 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 mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.
Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which was awarded Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the category of the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking function. It's bigger than other cribs we tested, but it folds down into its travel bag to make it a small size when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside crib's functionality. She claimed that it was designed to be used by parents and children. rocking bedside crib is a fantastic design that is very maneuverable and is super-sturdy. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet from side to side, and one of its sides can be lowered down to ease access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from c-sections,' she said.
Safety
The most important security characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be easily moved up or down to allow parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, comfort them, or change their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C-section. You should look for the design that allows you to lower the side of the bed by pressing a button. This will allow you to easily lift your child without having to get out of the bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and more mobile. It is also important to avoid adding anything to the crib that increases the chance 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 product issues, such as gaps between the 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 looked into the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements would not be feasible or effective to reduce the number of incidents in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
right here of the reported incidents in the NPR involved multiuse bedside sleepers that could be converted into other modes such as bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include a different option to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that can be removed. This attachment can be permanently fixed or removed when the item is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these comments and others received in response to the NPR on sleep at night. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November 2021.