Like many parents we paid little thought to the choice of a cot for our new born until we arrived back from the hospital. We had purchased a moses basket but more thought was needed for a longer term solution. During this journey we found out about the range of cots and how to choose the right one, while taking into consideration all the factors.
Many people have strong opinions about where baby should sleep especially concerning co-sleeping. Hello baby does not subscribe to the co-sleeping lobby and will base the sleeping recommendations solely on the guidance from the UK Department of Health. Safety issues are considered at the end of this guide.
Types of Baby Beds
Moses Baskets
As you would expect, these baskets consist of a woven rush construction with side handles and a padded interior, often on an adjustable stand. It is usually kept next to mum’s bedside for convenient night time feeds and close bonding. The downside is that the basket has a very limited life as baby soon grows out of the restricted space and also parents want to encourage less night time disturbance!
A Cot for Baby
Most parents look for a basic cot which will last baby from birth to about 3 years old. When choosing a cot there are essential “must have” features which are found on all cots. The main additional features concern the mattress type and the ability to convert the cot into a toddler bed. The majority of cots are made from wood, painted in a baby safe paint/varnish and meet the requirements of BS EN 716:1996 safety standard.
What to look for when buying a cot:
1. Height adjustable base
Most cots have an adjustable base which supports the mattress. Usually there are 2 or 3 levels, all of which should allow easy lifting access when baby is new born. Since baby is not able to move from the flat position a higher position is fine; however as baby starts to stand then the lower position is essential.
2. Drop side
Drop sides are essential to allow lifting access without placing undue strain on your back. Usually only one side can be dropped but some cots allow both; others allow the side to fold out of the way to allow the Cot to be positioned next to mum’s bedside, thus allowing unhindered access.
There are various catches, or more complex mechanisms, to operate the drop side and some have single handed operation. In reality all of the systems are workable; some parents say simple is best!
Your baby may like to chomp on the edge of the cot! Some cots have specially designed and protected teething rails to prevent damage to the cot.
A good example of the above features, including the foldaway side, is shown in photos of the Cosatto “Close to Me” cot found under in the Nursery Furniture section of this website
3. Leg Castors
These allow the cot to be easily moved around the room and are particularly useful for ease of room cleaning. It is essential for the castors to be lockable particularly when baby starts to bounce around. My own preference is not to have castors.
Choosing a Mattress
Sizes
Mattresses come is several sizes so buying the correct size is vital. As a general rule, when a mattress is gently pushed to one side there should be no more than 4cm gap to the rails. This is to prevent baby from becoming trapped.
To overcome the problems of ensuring the correct mattress is chosen, Hello baby recommends that when a cot is bought the matching mattress is also purchased.
Mattress types:
a. Foam Mattress
There are the least expensive type and usually have a wipe clean PVC covering over a foam interior.
b. Sprung Mattress
These mattresses are of a similar construction to sprung adult mattresses. Usually one side is covered by a wipe clean PVC type material and the other side has a cotton covering. These covers are often removable for washing.
c. Fibre Mattress
This type is the most expensive and also the longest lasting. The construction is based on latex-coated coconut fibre to form an open cellular core which is finished with layers of felt and a wipe-clean covering. These mattresses are said to withstand considerable abuse (bouncing and jumping etc).
Cot Beds
It’s noticeable that Hello baby offers many more cot beds than simply cots. All the cot features, already discussed above, apply but the construction of the cot frame allows the structure to be converted into a bed for use up to at least 6 years old.
Different manufacturers make use of different techniques. Some supply an additional foot board; others have the head and foot board in two parts. The choice is wide. As with cots care must be taken with mattress sizes.
Managing baby in the Cot – Safety First.
These notes on baby sleeping are based on a Department of Health publication.
From birth, place your baby on its’ back to sleep; this has been found to be the safest position. Note that as babies grow they may start to roll onto their sides. This should not be prevented but you should gently turn your baby onto its back at convenient times.
Babies are sensitive to overheating and have little control over their temperature. At a comfortable room temperature of 18 degrees Centigrade Baby will only need 2 unfolded blankets with a sheet and a nappy, plus vest/babygro. At 20 degrees Centigrade only 1 blanket is needed.
Babies lose excess heat from their heads so it is vital that their heads cannot become covered during the night. The “feet to foot” position should be used which prevents baby from wriggling down under the covers. With Baby’s feet in contact with the foot of the cot the covers should reach no higher than baby’s shoulders. These covers should be securely tucked in so that they cannot slip over baby’s head. Never use hot water bottles or other artificial in-cot heating. Position the cot away from radiators and other heaters and avoid direct sunshine.
Co-sleeping has an appeal to some but it is considered by many to be a very dangerous practice. It’s always safest to put baby back in the cot before you go to sleep especially if you are very tired, have had that little extra G&T or are likely to sleep soundly. This also applies to sleeping on the sofa with baby; the risks are similar.
