14 Creative Ways To Spend Extra Large Bedside Cot Budget

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 recommended for up to 6 months, after which your baby is ready to be moved to an actual cot.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model comes with a lift-off bassinet you can use throughout the house, as well as an option to rock manually. It was easy to set up, and it came with a travel bag.

Size

Cots and cots differ in terms of size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be transformed into toddler beds. However cots are generally used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots, large and standard - which can be converted into a toddler bed or cot. If you want your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.

Jasmine, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was a bit bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for the room of her baby. Jasmine says it's easy to lift 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 tester, Emily, likes how versatile the Maxi-Cosi Lora is it's a drop-off bassinet that you can move around the house, and it rocks too. It also has an option for inclining the reflux and a machine-washable liner that breathes. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Unlike some International or European cot brands, the Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. However, it requires a special bespoke bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a cot for the bed, look for one that can be raised to a height that's comfortable for you to feed your baby. It should also be able to be lowered away from the way, so that you can pull your baby to feed them at night or to soothe him. This feature is especially useful in the event of recovering from a C section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to the maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.

You should also think about how low you would like the bottom of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest point, while others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. One of our mom testers mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It is an easily collapsible side that which you can use to press of the button.

Remember that a bassinet/bedside co sleeper cot sleeping device is only suitable until your baby can hold their head up unaided typically around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you opt for a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can convert into a cot, you will need to start removing the sides when your child is ready for this to ensure that they don't get out of bed or get out of bed.

Design

There are many different styles of bedside sleeper cot cribs, from simple to luxurious. The more luxurious options may include features such as a built-in night light, a soothing centre which plays music and sounds and has two levels of vibration to help soothe baby back to sleep, or an adjustable base that makes it easier to reach your baby for feedings. Some models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot (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&Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It features 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 the bed. This makes it ideal for new mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who require bed for longer periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much easier - especially after her c-section.

Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs we tested, but it folds down into its travel bag, making it compact 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. It is a fantastic design that is very simple to operate and is extremely durable. Its swivelling base is fantastic because it allows you to move the bassinet from side-to-side and one of its sides can be lowered down to facilitate access especially for new mothers who are recovering from C-sections,' she added.

Safety

A large bedside cot's main security characteristic is the fact that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their baby to feed or comfort them, or change his or his or her nappy. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from a C-section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side at the push of a button so you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the risk of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets which could cause your baby 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), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer misassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside co sleeper sleepers. For example, these products would have to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets, or at least the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.

A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside rocking crib sleepers which can be converted to other modes, such as play yards or bassinets. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses that would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets 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 and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule, which is expected to be released in November of 2021.