portable cots safe for every night use?

[flower gal]

When we have our baby, we would like to have our baby sleeping in our room for the first 3-6 months. We are quite restricted for space, and don't think that we could fit a cot in next to the bed. I have seen some portable cots that are a little smaller than normal cots but still big enough to last quite a while and thought we could squueze one of these in instead of a normal cot.

i have read that portable cots are not really safe. is this true?

i would prefer to use a cot rather than a bassinet so that we don't have to spend as much money, and also because I would like to pull it right up to my bedside as a side car to make it easier for breastfeeding.

I am also looking into carry baskets that you either put on the floor next to your bed or put onto a bedside table so that it is in line with the bed. anyone had experience with their baby sleeping in a carry basket every night for the first 3 months?

[toni796]

Portable cots are as wide as a normal cot just not as long.

As for the safety with portacots. If they were not safe they would not allow them to be manufatured so I don't see any reason why they would not be safe.

I have used a portable cot for both my DS's rather than a normal cot that costs so much more. I have found them to be fine until they are able to climb out of them. Which is also the same as what they can do with a normal cot.

No idea about the carry baskets though. I have never used one.

[biscotti]

My portable cot has a label on it that says "Must be used under parental supervision" which I have always found quite amusing.
Anyways, my 5.5 mth old is currently in the portable cot in our room while we wait for her 21 mth old sister to make the transistion to a bed (I didn't want to buy another cot for just a couple of months use as the baby has just moved out of the bassinet).
She is in our room and I think it's perfectly safe.

[punkbaby]

I have had indie in the portable cot with the bassinette insert in our room and havent had any problems, i dont think they would meet safety standards as toni said if they werent considered safe. I am only using it till i put her in her own room. THe only thing i dont like about them is without the bassinette insert they are quiet low and could get drafts etc, so thats why i only use it with that. Unless of course its just for an overnighter or something.

Not sure about the carry baskets, i wouldnt be putting it on a bench though :) just see if you can get stand for it, so it cant topple over, just encase it happens, which it can as its not recommened to put anything on a table etc for this reason.

We have a bassinette that we use as well for day sleeps, perhaps you would get one of them you can get them quiet cheap on special for about $99 if you need the space why bubs is little

[lizzymcfizzy]

When we have our baby, we would like to have our baby sleeping in our room for the first 3-6 months. We are quite restricted for space, and don't think that we could fit a cot in next to the bed. I have seen some portable cots that are a little smaller than normal cots but still big enough to last quite a while and thought we could squueze one of these in instead of a normal cot.

i have read that portable cots are not really safe. is this true?

i would prefer to use a cot rather than a bassinet so that we don't have to spend as much money, and also because I would like to pull it right up to my bedside as a side car to make it easier for breastfeeding.

I am also looking into carry baskets that you either put on the floor next to your bed or put onto a bedside table so that it is in line with the bed. anyone had experience with their baby sleeping in a carry basket every night for the first 3 months?

I don't think portables are intended for regular night after night use.. and how comfortable would it be for your baby on that hard mattress considering the amount of sleeping they do at that age?

portacots can be unsafe if used incorrectly such as extra padding added that the baby can suffocate in, if they close in if not put up properly or broken and then suffocate the baby also if it isn't put in a ventilated area, they are just a few ones I can think of.

I think they have the possibility of closing in on themselves if left up for long periods as they are intended for short term use ? but I'm not sure on that one.

I know you don't want a basinnete but I bought a 2nd hand one for only $100 and found it smaller than a portable cot and being on wheels, very handy to move around the bedroom and even have bubs beside me so it was easy to feed her during the night. A basinette would be a better height if you wanted a "sidecar" kind of thing, where as a portacot you will be leaning down to the floor every few hours.

hope that helps your decision.

[flower gal]

thanks so much for your replies girls - i will keep weighing up my options.

I am leaning towards a bassinet or snuggle bed if we could fit a normal cot into our bedroom.

I'm thinking maybe a bassinet might be the best option but if we want to keep the baby in our room for more than 3 or 4 months, then we will need to find an alternative after that.

:)

[nicoleE]

DD was originally in the bassinett attachment to our pram next to the bed when she was born and when she outgrew that slept in the portacot next to the bed until she was 6 months old, she has only just moved into her cot in her room in the last 3-4 weeks.

[workin'mumof2]

we have a potacot used since birth with our ds, we also bought a matress Cut to size so he wouldnt be sleeping on the hard matress they supply in it.. we love it, he loves it. infact he is still using it. and we take it everywhere with us if he needs a nap at a friends house. :yes: never had a prob with it at all..

my sister also has one and her todler is 2this month still using it. with an extra matress as well

[Ky]

I transferred my DS into a portacot when he was 5 months old as he kept getting tangled in the bars of our normal cot and I was getting so little sleep with having to get up and "rescue" him several times a night.

We bought an extra mattress and he stayed in the portacot until he was 15 months old and transitioned to a bed.

He was the size of a 2yo at 6mo, so a lot of allowances had to be made for his size ... extra large pram, maxi rider carseat at 6 months etc. Surprisingly enough, he is a pretty normal sized 5yo now ...

As for using the portacot constantly at bassinet level ... I don't think that it gives enough back support for bub - it tends to sag a bit.

[toni796]

I think they have the possibility of closing in on themselves if left up for long periods as they are intended for short term use ? but I'm not sure on that one.



The ones that are made now days can't close in on themselves. in the base you have to twist the handle underneath the base before you can lift it up and then the sides have locks on each side that you have to press under the padding to be able to fold them down.

I have used a portable cot full time for both my boys and it has been up 99% of the time since before DS1 was born and he will be 3 in July.

[SilverStarfish]

Becky has been in our portacot since she outgrew the bassinette a friend lent us. We had a mattress specially cut to the manufacturer's specifications for the portacot, so it's just as safe as any other cot.

A friend of mine's 3rd child was in a portacot from the day she came home to the day she graduated to the bottom bunk of her sister's bed.

I find it especially useful that when we go out or away, her regular bed comes with us. Makes getting her to sleep much easier :)

[greenie]

I actually think a portacot would be fine. I have a feeling that I've seen a mattress pad things for portacots in Babies Galore that was like a fitted sheet thing so very well fitting and secure if you want extra padding.

I have my baby in a Valco Rico Bassinette in our room and can recommend it. It's great as it's very sturdy etc but is also portable and fantastic for staying away from home. Was also cheaper than most of the others. Just depends how fast they grow out of it though.

Just another idea. If you end up wanting a cot we had a Sniglar cot from Ikea for DS1 which is quite a lot smaller than regular cots as we had very limited space for it. The side didn't drop down though so not sure if that would put you off with the breastfeeding.

[Bo0tifuL]

We have DS2 in a portacot. It has a thick matress so its just as cosy as any other cot. I dont see the harm in it. If baby is safe and sleeping why not?