Need to buy a cheap, basic travel cot for childminding..Any recomendations/deals?

[chloemegjess]

Hello. I have decided to get a second travel cot for doing childminding. I have just put a wanted post on freecycle, but if I dont get a reply by the end of the week, i am off to buy on on sunday, as I have a mindee due to start as soon as my registration omes through (any day now)

Anyway, I just want a very cheap, basic one as my DD has a really expensive one bought by MIL which was completly pointless as it had the vibrate settings, music, basonett etc which all came off when she leant to sit so hardly used! Pointless! Anyway, just wondering if anybody has any recomendations for a good one? Or what to look out for? Or seen any good deals?

Thanks

[simpson]

Hi think that tchibo do one for £32. Just look on their website. Sorry crap with computers can't do links

[chloemegjess]

Great, will have a look on their site. Argos have some good deals on, but would have no idea which one to go for!

Is there anything particular about travel cots or are they all the same? The only ones I have used are Graco, which are nice and easy to fold/pack etc. The matress folds round the rest of it - is this the same with all brands?

Also, are they all the same size?

[simpson]

TBH I don't know about sizes but I wouldn't have thought they vary that much. I have a bog standard one from mothercare £39 (think its the cheapest they do) and its not hugely easy (sometimes bloody hard!!)to get up but fine to get down!!The mattress folds round our one too so its easier to transport around. But it weighs an absolute ton.

[littleducks]

ooh i think iwant the tchibo one

but would dd be able to unzip the crawling arch and let baby escape

[NorthernLurker]

we have a M&P one which was around £40 7 years ago. It is very comfy and easy to put up, also looks quite nice - plain and attractive - but it is not in any sense lightweight to carry!

[simpson]

Had forgotten about zip little ducks. Unless that side of cot is against the wall.

[chloemegjess]

tchibo one does look good. But would also worry about children opening the crawling hatch. It seems a bit odd to me - usually if you put a child in a travel cot, you want them to stay there. Actually, the more I think of it, I dont think it would suit us, as I would need it to be suitable for children until they grow out of it, and would need to be able to leave them asleep and know they were safe while I look after the others.

[chloemegjess]

Oh and yes you could put it against a wall, but you would then be committed to it being there, and couldn't just stick it where ever

[littleducks]

will go check it out, borrowed a fisher price one and it was heavy, the being able to wheel it like a suitcase impressed me

[chloemegjess]

Yes that bit does look good. Might pop in to the shop - but I dont think they stock everything in store so it might not be there.

I am now wondering wheather to go for a graco one as I know they are easy to fold and are light etc. Just a bit expensive considering I am just using it for childminding - I have had soo many start up costs!

[simpson]

Looks like Argos do a travel cot for £30 with no zip which looks good It has metal frame & folds into a bag. Again sorry for not being able to do links

[chloemegjess]

Simpson - I was looking at that too! But then I was thinking that the next one in argis is the winnie the pooh one, which is £35 so an extra fiver, but was £70 and is on offer so likely to be better quality?

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Whereabouts are you I have one that I was going to list for sale for a tenner. Its a biggish Hauck one, I think they are all quite bulky and heavy.

My two can't get out of it at 2 and 3 if thats any help!

We are in lancashire if thats any good to you

(I have paid my cat subscription so I'm ok to sell )

[gooseegg]

I got a good sturdy one from Tesco.

Just a note to beware of using a travel cot for children older than it is recommended for. Most go up to a weight or to the age of 3.

If a child older than 3 were to get injured tryng to climb out head first then the minder could be found negligent.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

I think the winnie the pooh one is more expensive just cos its winnie the pooh not cos its a better travel cot.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

gooseegg I'm not trying to sell it on the grounds that you can keep a 3 year old in it, just that if mine can't get out of it then it must be pretty kiddie-proof

[chloemegjess]

No, I wouldn't use it for over the recomended age/weight.

I am in middlesex - so no good I am afraid!

I have just seen ones in tesco for £30 which looks ok. In pink or blue

[chloemegjess]

The Winnie the pooh is out of stock in all my local ones anyway!

[gooseegg]

flibberty sorry, I actually posted before reading your message so not meant as a reply to you.

I've used travel cots when travelling with my own children much over the recommended age, and my 6yr old would leap in it now if given half a chance.

[theressomethingaboutmarie]

We have a Samsonite one. I don't know how much it cost as it was a gift. It's fantastic and folds down to nothing.

[chloemegjess]

The samsonite ones are great, but my dd is too active already as she is sitting up and crawling. And also, I need it to use for childminding, so need to use it for older children too.