using travel cot as main cot

magali

I live in a one bedroom flat and the baby is due for end of november, because of the space I am thinking of getting a travel cot that can be used from birth but will get a better matress, what do you think about comfort and safety?

Justie

you won't necessarily save space or money by buying a travel cot. One big advantage of a regular cot is that they usually have 2 heights that you can set the base so that when baby is small you have it higher and it saves your back a bit - trying to lift a baby in and out of a travel cot isn't easy and you don't get the option of drop sides etc. I don't think I'd be happy about using a travel cot all the time for my baby - I can't really give you chapter and verse as to why but I supect that the support isn't as good from the base. You would also get some storage space under a regular cot that you wouldn't get under a travel cot.

If you want to save space to begin with then a crib or a moses basket would save you space - a crib would last a bit longer but still only a few months though.

tieg3

No absolutely not, travel cots are only made for use for short periods of time (2 weeks etc) as they don't have the support that is needed for long periods, you cant get proper mattresses to fit them and this is the reason why. If you was to put a normal cot mattres into a travel cot you would havelarge gaps at the side, if the child was to roll over they could get stuck in the gap and the unthinkable could happen.
Travel cots are not actually that much smaller anyway, yes cots are longer but they are slimmer.

tieg3

haha snap!
spot on justie
Personally I think a crib is a waste of money as you won't get much more use out of it as a mose's basket, and with a moses basket you can move from room to room easier

pingua

Cots can be bought for not too much second hand or try e-bay for a new one. You could always buy a new matress.

wendym

And travel cots are less stable, oddly. My granddaughter tipped hers over (while she was in it) when she first learned to stand up.

I'd go for a secondhand cot with a new mattress, for the sake of both your backs.

jordylass

I think a moses basket/crib is a complete waste of time. I don't have any information on the difference in support from a travel cot, but try your local freecycle group, there is often baby stuff on those.

crispeater

i had to use a travel cot as a man cot for about 2 months and fortunately i had a mattress that did actually fit the travel cot with no gaps round the sides so my ds didnt fall down the side. my friend had given me a cot but there were some bits missing so i had to contact m&p to get the spares an it took longer than i thought. sometimes its needs must but i definately wouldnt do it as a permenant sleeping arrangement.

kj*daisy

I think you can get mattresses to fit travel cots now (Sure I've seen them in mothrecare). Onlything is that they are difficult to lean in and out of with a small baby unless you get one with an adjustable base (which cost more)

If you are going to need a travelcot anyway then it will save you money. But you can get very cheap cots in Ikea.

Also try NCT nearly new sales - they will start again in the autumn.

fizzyfeet_2

Ikea cots are very good value! They've also changed all of their cots (apart from the cheapest £29 one I think) in the last few weeks so that you can now take the side off and use it as a cot bed. Even better value for money as it's going to last that much longer!

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90115997

susan1

oh for the days that a carry cot came with two stands! one for the cot when used for sleeping and one with wheels and a handle for using as a pram. i even had a car restraint for it. that doesnt help you much though. have seen the ikea cots they afre about the same price as a travel cot and not much bigger!