View Full Version : Portacot for every day and night!
I was just interested to know who uses a portacot and why?
tyler's mum
17-06-2006, 11:56
tyler has one at my mum and dads house we use in when we are outside as they have a pool,, also when we go away but she has a cot to sleep in when she stays there so we just use it to play in outside
*My Lil Blondie*
17-06-2006, 11:56
i considdered buying one when i was pregnant thinking it would be good if we went away somewhere, but now i really dont think i need one as ds loves sleeping in his pram when we go away or in bed with us, however we hav never stayed away from home for more than a night.
i also thought i may need one if he has a sleep over at someone elses house, but i wont let anyone babysit him lol he has only ever been left with either me or dh.
Yup we do, we borrowed my SIL's cot for both boys and she has just had her own bub, so we gave it back. DS2 was in his big boy bed but was sick a few weeks ago and he settled much better in the portacot.
Bub #3 will be in the portacot, we won't be buying one this time round.
We have a porta cot and it was the only cot that Wyatt felt comfortable enough to sleep in. He refused to sleep in his wooden cot (luckily it was given to us!)
He still sleeps in it. They are great little inventions.
Note though: The mattress they supply is not really comfy, so we got a piece of thick foam cut to size and use it like his mattress.
Note though: The mattress they supply is not really comfy, so we got a piece of thick foam cut to size and use it like his mattress.
Yup we've done this too!
We bought a portacot when i had #1 because we travel quite a bit and thought it would be handy to keep next door at my parents' place in case too.
Turns out we got more use both times at the start, because I had cesars and we have a double storey house. I couldn't take the stairs, so i spent the first couple of weeks sleeping downstairs and the baby (each time) sleeping in the portacot beside me. Meant I didn't have to move too much when DH was snoozing upstairs and it was time for a feed.
It was also handy when guests came to see the newborn. They slept in an environment where they got used to noise and light (they can sleep through anything thank God... anything but hunger! :kiss: ) and people could see them, without having to go through the house and upstairs.
Now we just pack it up in its carry bag and take it away when we go on weekend trips (which we haven't done for too long now...)
bilbymum
17-06-2006, 13:28
i got a portacot in preparation for our bub. (garage sale). I see lots of them advertised on eBay.
We're now in a place that has a living area at the back that has the only heater/air con in the house, so when you shut all the doors, the area is warm or cool . So when i'm trying to get a meal together, if the bub is in the portacot in the living area, i can monitor what bub is doing or hear if she cries.
This is just a theory, we haven't even properly moved in yet, so am yet to find out if portacot even FITS in this room, after we move the other furniture in!:fingerscrossed:
supposedly the portacot we got is a light one (12 kgs) but i struggle to lift it, so i don't really see the "portable" aspect to it. Visiting my aunt, who has a large open plan home (with stairs) we also thought of the portacot as one way to protect bub from exploring too much. But my partner will be the one carrying it in and out for sure!!!
Glad to hear of what other people have done re the foam. Ours has a mozzie net, which i'm glad of, just saw a bub the other day with mozzie bites, and she had gotten those in WINTER!!!
Briannabear
17-06-2006, 14:10
We have a portacot and use it every time we go away. Its really handy, and I dont know what we'd do without it!
We also use it if we go to someones house for dinner or something and we want to put our DD to bed.
Our portacot is used heaps. Both our families live away and so we use it when we visit. We have also used it so that we could have dinner etc at other people's places and when we went away on holidays. Bub is now 8 months and sleeping in the pram is not really an option for an extended sleep, only a nap. When he was tiny we had a cocoon that we used instead. We have also used the portacot when it was very hot and he slept in our office instead of his bedroom.
I think it all depends on your lifestyle and your parenting techniques. If bub sleeps with you then I guess you don't need one and if you don't go away very much and everyone lives close by then you can probably borrow one for those rare times that you need it!
For some people they are a waste of money. I have one friend who used hers a total of about 6 times - I probably used mine that many times in the first 3 months!
We had one for our parents house for overnight stays. But we have just bought it home, DS seems to sleep better in it in our room. so whatever works for now!!!
We have a childcare one and its great!!
mum2bubba
20-06-2006, 22:25
Hayley sleeps in a normal cot now but from when she was 5 months to 9 motnhs she was in a portacot coz her normal cot didn't have a matress, when we have another bubba I will put him ir her in the portacot coz I want to give the normal cot back to SIL coz (confused yet?)
My nephew sleeps in a portacot all the time so did a friend's daughter of mine up until she was 10 months the she slept on a really low bed (still does now and shes 2 and a half).
MrsMiggins
20-06-2006, 22:43
We have a portacot sitting in the garage that was DH's first daughter's. They used it heaps for her, but the most use we've ever gotten out of it was for when we had people from interstate come and stay with us for their babies' to sleep in.
We have never once had to use it for our 8 month old.
We have a playpen for her at home which is much large than the portacot when we need her to stay safely in one place momentarily and up until now we've had DD sleep in either her bassinet or snugglebed when we've gone away or gone out for the night, or when DD is being looked after at grandma & grandpa's house.
We anticipate we will use the portacot soon, once DD grows out of the snugglebed, which won't be long as she can crawl right out of it so easily now once she wakes up!
I don't think I'd ever use mine as a permanent cot though as the matress is nowhere near supportive enough.
Mum2AandJ
20-06-2006, 22:53
We bought a brand new cot 3 years ago for our 1st son, and he slept in it 3 times, just couldnt sleep in it, refused to, then mum bought us a portacot, and tried that and have never looked back, have had a baby 12weeks ago, and gave up with the wooden cot cause he sleeps like an angel in his portacot, So I sold the cot, waste of space. :yes:
Also we love camping so I can just fold up his bed off we go, also my mum has cats, which are not good for newborns, so i just fold up his bed when we go there and he's ready again... Love it :thumbsup:
I have been suprised how many ppl use portacots so decided to do a poll!
USed it when both kids were first brought home from hospital, so we could sleep downstairs. I had cesars and couldn't take the stairs, so we set up camp downstairs.
But other than that, it's great for travelling and for taking next door to my parents.
We take ours if we go anywhere and also since we had to give our cot back we use it for day and night time sleeps. I have never let the boys use it for 'play time', I think it will confuse the issue if you then want them to sleep in it.
But next bub will be in it for all sleeps as well.
InSaneOne
21-06-2006, 08:38
i love my portacot. when ever we go out it is usually in the car. when my olderkids have their youth group meetings we set it up in a corner of the hall and it becomes the creche. at one time we had 3 adorable bubs sleeping side by side in it. i am even considering putting beth out of the cot as she can nearly climb up the sides and in to the portacot at night as it is safer (she can't climb out of it).
we have paige sleep in the porta cot at night and her cot during the day..
we also had a foam mattress made up so its more cumfy.. I wanted her to sleep in our room but didnt want to take the cot out of the nursery
she isnt fussed where she sleeps But I would miss her if she slept in the other room.. (I have seperation issues :laughing: :o )
Mum2AandJ
21-06-2006, 10:01
Yeah I had a foam mattress made up for the portacot too, much more comfy for bubs. I myself, have had both of my kids with me since they were born, My 3 yr old is still in my bedroom, and will be until he wants to have his own room :thumbsup:
Taylors_mum
21-06-2006, 10:13
We have a 2 story house so when bubs was a new born if i was down stairs she would nap in the portacot (just easier rather then going up and down the stairs to check on her all the time).
Now that she is older i put her in it to play if i am busy in the kitchen/cleaning ect that way i know she is safe and isnt getting into anything she shouldnt be.
When we go on holidays we will also be taking it for her to sleep in.
I find it very usefull and you can pick them up quite cheap.
zephsmum
24-06-2006, 20:54
Yep we use a portacot too. Zeph uses it in our room at night (when she isn't in our bed- which is most of the time:rolleyes: ) and her wooden cot in her room during the day. We got a mattress from ToysRus made to fit most portacots.
Imogensmum
24-06-2006, 21:41
ha ha ha--- i felt so guilty until i read this post.
My DD has been sleeping in her portacot most of her 11 mths (or in with me) she screams blue murder in the wooden cot- i think it is too "open" for her????
I was so ashamed to tell people this as i thought it might be "wrong" for a but to constantly use her portacot.... lol i feel so much better now....:yes:
Terrible2+1cutie
24-06-2006, 21:46
My sister in law gave me her old portacot that she wasn't using any more cause her kids were grown, it was for when we went away etc but when we go away we generally stay in motels and since having 2 kids now it is easier and we have more room in the boot if we just hire one for as little as the cost is. When i had DS2 because DS1 was still in a cot DS2 slept in the portacot for 2 months before DS1 went into his bed.
Catherine
Mum to Blaze and Bailey
wa mum of 4
24-06-2006, 23:25
We use ours for stayovers and so does everyone else:laughing:
We have had ours for 6 years and still going strong.:yelclap:
I tell all my family and friends that they should go buy one of their own and they reply "Why? You have one" Cheeky buggers.
So long as it is returned in clean respected condition I dont mind.:D
blueeyes
25-06-2006, 16:46
We use our when we are over peoples places. Have never used it at home as he likes the cot, and isnt moving around yet. But I am sure that when he does he will soon learn to live in it, as we are building our home. :laughing:
Great idea for some, like us, I just leave it in the back of the car and take it wherever.
Mel:D
Up until EJ was 6 months she slept in a portacot with a shallower insert as a bed all the time. Now she's in a cot and I don't use a portacot at the moment with her
I used a portacot for when we went away with my dd, but with my ds he was in it exclusively from 5mo until he went into a big bed at 16mo.
He was just too long limbed and would wake up crying in the night with his arms and legs all tangled in the bars of the wooden cot, so as a "Mum sanity" measure, he was put in the portacot and there he stayed!
The main reason he was put into a bed is that he was finally too long for the portacot (very tall little man!) and he adapted happily to a bed within days.
I will never get rid of my portacot ... yesterday my friends 14 week old bub was in it as I had him for the day, we have friends that come over once a weeks and put their little girl down for a sleep ... and other bubs on a random basis use it too!
Same goes for my bouncinette and my highchair!
angcaltam
27-06-2006, 01:14
We got given one from my Cousin when I was pregnant with DS1. We love it. :yes: We have used it mainly around at my in-laws house to sleep bubs in, but use it when we go away also. I'm thinking of using it when DD gets to big for the cradle so that she can stay in our room for a little longer before putting her in her cot for night sleeps. She sleeps in her cot during the day at home though. My FIL cut some foam to use in the port-a-cot so it was more comfy.
our bub (near 9 months) has been sleeping in her porta cot since she out grew her bassinet (bout 2 1/2 months old) We were promised a cot but are still waiting for it!!! DD loves her porta cot and we will be using it with the next bub too (or prehaps we will finally get the cot....:rolleyes: )
as others have said the 'matress' that comes with them isint that great though so finding another solution (like the foam thing) is a good idea:D
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