Is it OK for a baby to sleep in a travel cot every night?

Chell

My daughter is a pain in the bottom getting to sleep and was very restless. Recently when we went on holiday she slept in a travel cot. I wasn't sure if it was the cot or the very dark room that helped her to sleep.

The other night I decided to put her in the travel cot at home, she was much better and going off to sleep and seemed happier in the travel cot.

Is there any reason why she shouldn't sleep in it all the time? I notice Mothercare now sell travel cot mattresses, do you think she would be better with one of these rather than just the mattress that came with it?

Thanks,
Chell

augustsmummy

My sisters DD slept in her travel cot for about 6months and is ok. I would suggest however that you put a good quality proper matress in the travel cot, as the ones they come with are very thin, and I would worry about the effect that would have on your childs back over a long period of time.
I reccon if you do change the mattress to a proper cot one, it won't be that much different from her sleeping in a proper cot if you know what I mean?! hth

barnaby-bear

Chell wrote: »

My daughter is a pain in the bottom getting to sleep and was very restless. Recently when we went on holiday she slept in a travel cot. I wasn't sure if it was the cot or the very dark room that helped her to sleep.

The other night I decided to put her in the travel cot at home, she was much better and going off to sleep and seemed happier in the travel cot.

Is there any reason why she shouldn't sleep in it all the time? I notice Mothercare now sell travel cot mattresses, do you think she would be better with one of these rather than just the mattress that came with it?

Thanks,

Chell

If it works just go with what's right for your family.... kids survive in famine regions, kid happy, fed, alive - end of...

squashy

augustsmummy wrote: »

My sisters DD slept in her travel cot for about 6months and is ok. I would suggest however that you put a good quality proper matress in the travel cot, as the ones they come with are very thin, and I would worry about the effect that would have on your childs back over a long period of time.
I reccon if you do change the mattress to a proper cot one, it won't be that much different from her sleeping in a proper cot if you know what I mean?! hth

I would be wary. If you fit a mattress that is not an exact fit there could be dangerous gaps at the edges and pose a suffocation risk. The mattresses that come with them aren't really supportive enough for long term use.

You could weigh up some other options regarding your room arrangements, and perhaps not rule out co-sleeping as babies often settle much better if they can sense mum nearby.

Good luck with it!

barnaby-bear

Chell wrote: »

My daughter is a pain in the bottom getting to sleep and was very restless. Recently when we went on holiday she slept in a travel cot. I wasn't sure if it was the cot or the very dark room that helped her to sleep.

The other night I decided to put her in the travel cot at home, she was much better and going off to sleep and seemed happier in the travel cot.

Is there any reason why she shouldn't sleep in it all the time? I notice Mothercare now sell travel cot mattresses, do you think she would be better with one of these rather than just the mattress that came with it?

Thanks,
Chell

I can sleep on the floor ok... soft mattress not at all.... my *expensive* *VERY EXPENSIVE* osteopath says floor is great for back and sleep is good.... the kid isn't bothered by techicalities if it's happy to sleep wherever whenever jsut go with it

Chell

squashy wrote: »

I would be wary. If you fit a mattress that is not an exact fit there could be dangerous gaps at the edges and pose a suffocation risk. The mattresses that come with them aren't really supportive enough for long term use.

You could weigh up some other options regarding your room arrangements, and perhaps not rule out co-sleeping as babies often settle much better if they can sense mum nearby.

Good luck with it!

Sorry, she isn't a tiny baby, she was one last week. She is very small for age at 16lbs but very mobile and a fidgit in bed. If I got a mattress I would get the proper travel cot type and check the sizing. She comes into my bed at 5am when she wakes for a breastfed but then tries to climb over me and allsorts if she doesn't want to go back to sleep. She will dose if put in her cot though. I don't think co-sleeping is an option, we'd both get more sleep with her in her wooden cot.

jamespir

if it helps use it dont wory about the pc brigade

Chell

barnaby-bear wrote: »

I can sleep on the floor ok... soft mattress not at all.... my *expensive* *VERY EXPENSIVE* osteopath says floor is great for back and sleep is good.... the kid isn't bothered by techicalities if it's happy to sleep wherever whenever jsut go with it

My DH has recently brought a piece of MDF home which is under his side of the mattress. He was getting terrible back pain with just the bed slats and mattress.

JBD

My eldest son slept in a travel cot for ayear , from 12-24 months. He had no ill effects at all. We just used the matress that it came with.

Mutter_2

barnaby-bear wrote: »

If it works just go with what's right for your family.... kids survive in famine regions, kid happy, fed, alive - end of...

How true and when I was a child soon after WW2 when things were hard, often a drawer was removed from a chest, lined with blankets and that baby maybe is a parent or grandparent here.
More important is to keep baby close for six months. They like that.:A

pretzelnut

My kids have only ever settled in travel cots, think its the soft squishy sides that they prefer.

DS slept in his from 2 months till 3 years old and DD has slept in hers from birth and is almost 2 and just decided she wants to be in a proper bed.

I invested in a good mattress which cost me about £30. And the travel cot came with a bassinette bit for smaller babies which they used till they were about 6 months old.

There were nights where we co-slept - at the end of the day it has to be whatever works for you, and the little one.