How to choose baby cot

Cyndi

Registered User
We're expecting our 1st baby's arrival in 3 months. I'm anxious about getting everything ready beforehand. We've been to a few shops to check out the baby cots but cannot make up our mind in terms of getting a brand new or 2nd hand one.

Where is the best place to buy a new one?
Is it safe to get a 2nd hand cot?
Which brand is good?
Does it make sense to get one that can turn into a junior's bed?

Please to hear from all the experienced mums.

Thanks
Cyndi
 
Rini,

Sowwie .. I don't like people mentioning that other site. Users can click on their adverts which can be seen around here.

Shri
 
For my last baby instead of having a cot I used a sidecar arrangement. I found this very convenient, especially for breastfeeding at night. A sidecar is a cot with only three sides, which fits against the bed. This allows the baby to be close but in his own sleeping space and so not disturbed by the moving of the parents.

My brother-in-law made my sidecar but it is possible to buy commercial ones. I know that the Original Arm?s Reach sidecar was available from ebabyasia, but I don?t know where to get it now. The Arm?s Reach web site is http://www.armsreach.com/product_orig.asp

Best wishes,
Barb
 
The sidecar idea is great, but I'm afraid that will keep my husband up all night as well. He's got a demanding job, and I don't think it is necessary for the both of us up every feeding time. We'll take turns!

Is it safe to leave the baby in the next room by herself or should I move into the room with the baby for the first 3 months or so?

Thanks
 
Maybe it is just my husband but he seems to have the ability to slep through all night time distrubances. He hardly ever wakes up when I feed my baby and rarely does when the older children come into our room.

Studies in to SIDS suggest that room sharing (having the crib or other separate sleep surface along side the adult bed or sofa) reduces the likihood. Some people recommend that the baby share the parents bedroom for at least the first six months.

Best wishes,
Barb
 
smaller cots

I had read that it was important to get a cot with a rail that could be lowered with one hand (or hands free), so that you can hold the baby with the other arm. We also need a smaller size cot to fit restricted space. Having explored probably every shop in Hong Kong which stocks cots, I am pretty sure that all the smaller sized cots need two hands to lower the rail, as there are clips on both ends of the rail that you have to release.

Then I thought about it and suddenly realised - why not just leave the rail down when the cot is not being used? Then the only time you will need to handle the rail is when your baby is inside and you have both hands free.

For 2nd hand cots, it's supposed to be important to get a new mattress to lower risk of SIDS. Make sure you can buy exactly the right size new mattress before you buy the 2nd hand cot - there shouldn't be any gaps between the mattress and the edge of the cot that baby's body parts can get trapped in. Jusco in Tai Koo has a good selection.
 
www.choice.com.au has a good article about baby cots including the requirements to pass the Australian Standard.

I think the single hand lifting and lowering of the cot is not that important because when you take the baby out, you have to lower it anyway, so by the time you put him back, the rail is down.

What is important is a rail that lowers and lifts quietly. You wouldn't want to wake a sleeping baby with the noise from the latch.

Also, most cots that do not have the up/down sides are more safe because the chance of forgetting to put it up is zero. The hassle of these cots is that when you lower the mattress level, it is really hard to put the baby in.

The other thing is that when the rail is down, whether there is a large gap between the rail and the mattress so that a foot/ankle could get stuck, hence injuring your baby.
 
Ok I know this post is very old but I have a similar question- I have been kindly given a used baby cot from my husband's classmate. It has been used and loved by many babies, the first is now 16! It is made of wood and looks sturdy enouigh, but when I measured it, I found the distance between the bars is 3 inches, while the US crib safety standards say it should be no more than 2 3/8 inches. The reason is that the baby's head (or other body parts?!) can get stuck. This k makes me nervous, so I am thinking about whether I need to get another instead, or if there is another option? For example, could I avoid this problem if I use a smaller basket or crib for when the baby is very small and could potentially stick its head through? Or should I just toss it and get one that conforms to standard safety regulations? Thanks for the advice!
 
just get bumper guards all around they crib which should be safe enough - babies don't move THAT much! my one is a big mover, but with the bumper guards she is always within her little area. hands and feet get stuck more often then heads do.
 
Baby Cot

I just got a baby cot for my newborn from Okooko. The baby cot can convert to junior bed! I love this bed so much! I am now thinking to buy the kid's beds for my boy and girl also.
 
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