Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it safe for my 7 month old to sleep in the cot?

123 replies

YourZingyLilacDreamer · 18/07/2024 23:28

I'm having an awful time with baby and sleep.

If I put him in the cot and I stay in the bed, is it safe? I will be on the opposite side with a single duvet.

There is a gap where the two mattresses meet where the Ikea cot bar is. Can he suffocate? He can roll and has a snuze alarm on.

I'm worried sick but I need a way to transfer him back to the cot or co sleep safely

Is it safe for my 7 month old to sleep in the cot?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:00

SoddingSoda · 19/07/2024 00:57

This is our set up. A normal cot with one side off against our bed.

For us it’s minimising risk. In an ideal world somebody would stay up watching her sleep ‘just in case’ but that’s not realistic.

She has to be able to see me or she gets upset. She’s also breast fed and regularly wakes for milk.

I was falling asleep sitting whilst nursing her which is much more dangerous. I was also worried about the risk of exhaustion on all of us.

For us this was the safest solution that worked for us. Yes she’s got a pillow, but that’s the only way she’ll sleep in there. Until recently we’d cover the pillow with the fitted sheet to prevent her putting it over herself.

Different note, we found the lights more distracting.

You breastfeed so already safer than me.... Nice pic but is cot down a lot lower?

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:02
  • I can't work out the proportions because I've youve removed one side etc
OP posts:
Frozensun · 19/07/2024 01:09

Oh, you poor thing! It’s a such a difficult period. To make it as safe as possible, I got elastic cords and strapped the cot frame to the bed frame so it wouldn’t move. Made sure the mattresses were as even as possible (which yours seem to be). Then I laid the cot side on top of the cot base to ‘extend’ the base (so the cot mattress wouldn’t dip at all. And then, got a pool noodle, cut it lengthwise and stuffed it between the cot mattress and the far cot side. ( I actually made a square cardboard ‘tube’ and put the pool noodle inside so there was no chance bub would ever get stuck here). It worked in that the cot never moved and all areas were secure. I know it’s not fully ‘sleep safe’ but I figured having an exhausted mother was more of a concern. Bub is now 3. Used a blanket tucked in at the side of the adult mattress that folded over from the side.

SoddingSoda · 19/07/2024 01:11

YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:00

You breastfeed so already safer than me.... Nice pic but is cot down a lot lower?

Show quote history

The majority of woman formula feed in this country after 6 months. Don’t beat yourself up.

yeah the cot is a lot lower as we didn’t have anywhere else for our frame.

are you in the U.K.? It’s bloody hot. Can’t you just use a duvet cover and cosleep? When we cosleep we get so hot that I always throw the covers off. When I’m using the cover I put her higher up the bed (her tummy to my face height) so I can use my covers.

I’m pretty sure the concerns with gaps is babies becoming trapped and then rolled over/on/wedged in. Not just putting their nose into the gap.

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:15

I don't mind baby having the big bed and me sleeping on the floor. Is my Ikea mattress safe?

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:19

SoddingSoda · 19/07/2024 01:11

The majority of woman formula feed in this country after 6 months. Don’t beat yourself up.

yeah the cot is a lot lower as we didn’t have anywhere else for our frame.

are you in the U.K.? It’s bloody hot. Can’t you just use a duvet cover and cosleep? When we cosleep we get so hot that I always throw the covers off. When I’m using the cover I put her higher up the bed (her tummy to my face height) so I can use my covers.

I’m pretty sure the concerns with gaps is babies becoming trapped and then rolled over/on/wedged in. Not just putting their nose into the gap.

Show quote history

Yeah I'm not sure :/

With the breast feeding I've just been around two newborns and their mums are breastfeeding. When I gave birth everyone but maybe 20% were BF so at 6 months it's a choice women make... I never was able to feed and it makes me so sad :( but anyway that's my issue

I've got a bed set up on the floor as I gave baby the big bed last night and he sleeped for 12 hours (with breaks) but he did have ibuprofen.

OP posts:
professionalnomad · 19/07/2024 01:24

Why not just sleep together on your mattress on the floor?

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:25

Also the six month figures are for babies who have never had formula or solid foods. Even if people Co feed etc

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:25

professionalnomad · 19/07/2024 01:24

Why not just sleep together on your mattress on the floor?

I can't keep it safe as I use a cover up to my shoulders and don't keep the c position and have a big wedge pillow for my acid reflux

OP posts:
FlowerTink · 19/07/2024 01:28

I would put the side of the cot back on, that way you know baby can't roll out and is in their safe sleep space

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:30

FlowerTink · 19/07/2024 01:28

I would put the side of the cot back on, that way you know baby can't roll out and is in their safe sleep space

Too late as I would need to dismantle the cot
I know he's safe where he is if he does move

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:32

I think he might get trapped in it might fall on him

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 01:41

Would this be best with Ikea mattress?

Is it safe for my 7 month old to sleep in the cot?
OP posts:
Quitelikeacatslife · 19/07/2024 07:20

I don't have experiences of all these arrangements but I do suggest you keep working on getting him to sleep in his cot. He's getting big now. Maybe put him in when awake and happy , and keep persevering with transfer. You don't have to leave him crying for hours , but for a little while with your hand on him to get over the initial grizzle. Is the mattress comfy? Do you need and upgraded cot mattress? It can't be that much difference from being laid on a bed. He is getting mobile and though many people co sleep, think it sounds like you want the bed to yourself for the longer term

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 08:40

Quitelikeacatslife · 19/07/2024 07:20

I don't have experiences of all these arrangements but I do suggest you keep working on getting him to sleep in his cot. He's getting big now. Maybe put him in when awake and happy , and keep persevering with transfer. You don't have to leave him crying for hours , but for a little while with your hand on him to get over the initial grizzle. Is the mattress comfy? Do you need and upgraded cot mattress? It can't be that much difference from being laid on a bed. He is getting mobile and though many people co sleep, think it sounds like you want the bed to yourself for the longer term

I have my own bed in my own room. I don't give two hoots if he wants the big bed in his own room. I just want him sleeping safely.

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:19

Anything cheaper than this

Is it safe for my 7 month old to sleep in the cot?
OP posts:
CatchHimDerry · 19/07/2024 14:35

It’s hard OP, mine wouldn’t even be in the glass cot when he was first born at the hospital he’s always had to be held or next to one of us, especially me.

Hell would break loose if we tried to put him in the ikea cot. Same for a next to me. Also had a swinging crib. I’d get an hour or two then he’d realise he’s in there and want out.

It was try as safely as I can to co-sleep or not sleep at all for me.

We ended up with one of the house-shaped floor beds.

Hes just turned two, still BF and still sleeping with me 😂

We couldn’t be in a normal bed as even with bed guards he would scramble about and after the 2nd time falling off enough was enough.

I often find him just asleep, bum-up on the carpet now after rolling off his floor bed.

All you can do is your best OP. Don’t smoke, don’t drink, cellulose or knitted type blankets, warmer pyjamas etc if it’s cold I would say xx

TheOneWithUnagi · 19/07/2024 14:38

Sorry if already mentioned but you can close that gap by using a pool noodle on the other side. I.e. a pool noodle between the mattress and the side of the cot and your mattresses will be butted up together tightly with no gap.

AppleJuiceorBeer · 19/07/2024 14:47

YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 00:57

I find it hard to sleep so no cover makes it harder. I could get a sleep bag?

Show quote history

Sleeping bag is a good idea

Bananaadramaa · 19/07/2024 14:48

You can get adult sleeping bags like the ones you put baby in. I’ve seen them before.

I think try and continue to work on getting baby used to sleeping in cot without you being beside them if you are really worried. Maybe start with day time naps and work your way up x

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:52

Readytoevolve · 19/07/2024 14:30

Not sure why you bother asking if you’re not going to take the advice OP. It’s not safe, read this.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/five-month-old-baby-suffocated-23780652.amp

So basically she leaves her baby on a bunk bed and baby gets trapped between bed and wall. There is no such danger in my set up (mattress is moved away from the wall). My baby is also 8 months, not a 5 month old

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:53

Readytoevolve · 19/07/2024 14:30

Not sure why you bother asking if you’re not going to take the advice OP. It’s not safe, read this.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/five-month-old-baby-suffocated-23780652.amp

What advice? I've just shown you a double sized cot set up...... And you give me an article for entrapment

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:54

CatchHimDerry · 19/07/2024 14:35

It’s hard OP, mine wouldn’t even be in the glass cot when he was first born at the hospital he’s always had to be held or next to one of us, especially me.

Hell would break loose if we tried to put him in the ikea cot. Same for a next to me. Also had a swinging crib. I’d get an hour or two then he’d realise he’s in there and want out.

It was try as safely as I can to co-sleep or not sleep at all for me.

We ended up with one of the house-shaped floor beds.

Hes just turned two, still BF and still sleeping with me 😂

We couldn’t be in a normal bed as even with bed guards he would scramble about and after the 2nd time falling off enough was enough.

I often find him just asleep, bum-up on the carpet now after rolling off his floor bed.

All you can do is your best OP. Don’t smoke, don’t drink, cellulose or knitted type blankets, warmer pyjamas etc if it’s cold I would say xx

Thanks. I think I'll buy on of those big giant cots for a double bed. I'm terribly sleep. Deprived. He slept in the cot all night after I snuggled with him and transferred him.

I will see how tonight goes!

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 19/07/2024 14:55

You could get a big cellular blanket for yourself, or a sleeping bag for yourself