I know nothing about babies. Is this cot set up okay?

[Smorgasborb]

We have a small rental cottage and I recently bought a travel cot for guests who have small children. I know nothing about kids so please forgive my ignorance.

It's a pretty sturdy and well made thing but the 'mattress' can only be described as a vinyl covered hard board that creates the base of the cot with a tiny bit of padding. Think a centimetre of thin foamy padding under the vinyl cover.

Is that enough for a baby? Is it a safety feature? Am I supposed to buy a special mattress? I guessed it would be ready to go but frankly it seems hard as a board. Any guidance? I'd hate for guests to arrive and find it unusable but the ad said 'integrated mattress'. Surely buying another big mattress thing means it's not a 'travel cot'?

Also what other bedding should I provide?

Ta.

Thanks @cowburp. Just checked the Lullaby Trust and the Sleep Store and both said to never use additional mattresses in travel cots. The hard board and foam integrated 'mattress' is sufficient (if made to Uk/Aus/Nz standards which this one is) and very safe and the mesh sides make it dangerous if you add another mattress presumably because child can get wedged.

Phew. Well I'm glad I'm checked. Thanks for your help. I agree with a PP that I will explain what I offer and let parents decide if they need anything additional.

It was only because a family came to stay recently with a 6m old and asked for the travel cot to be put up. As as I showed them around the guest and her mum spent some time muttering in the background about the cot and 'rock hard' mattress so I thought I'd done something wrong.

That is standard and no pressing need to buy anything more however, if you were feeling nice you could buy a foam mattress of Amazon. They are so much comfier for little ones and very cheap to buy. Cos they're foam, they're wipe clean so no weird stains to worry about.

From the sleep store Nz

No you should not add an extra mattress for the travel cot. Assuming you're in NZ which follows the same Red Nose guidelines for safe sleep as AU..

"Only use the firm, thin, well-fitting mattress that is supplied with the portable cot. Never add a second mattress or additional padding under or over the mattress, which has been specifically designed for the portacot, as baby may become trapped face down in gaps between the mattress and the sides." rednose.org.au/article/portable-cots

I think you should make it clear in the listing that it only comes with the thin standard mattress, for safety reasons but that it’s a standard size if parents prefer to supplement it with their own mattress.

I’m glad you checked. I was just about to say that I would not be happy if a different mattress was used to the one originally supplied, as
I would be concerned about it’s safety and suitability. DD slept in a travel cot a few times and the hard mattress was no problem.

Thanks @Luciey!

If the mattress is the correct size for the cot, then that's not an issue.

For vacuous reasons, my 14 month sleeps full time in a travel cot, with a fully tested snd eu approved foam mattress added, it's the correct size and poses no danger to my infant.

I think it's little touches like that, that would make your visitors happy. A lot of people arnt happy for their kids to sleep on standard travel cot mattresses, so either be very clear that that's all that's provided, or buy a proper one.

No mattress needed. Babies sleep fine in travel cots without one, and adding anything could be a hygiene / safety issue. What you have is exactly what I would expect if a travel cot was offered.

I hate it when places say to bring your own bedding - we usually travel by train and it's a pain. I also don't get why all other bedding is provided but the baby can't get a sheet

@Wineandroses3

You need to buy a cot bed mattress! You can get them anywhere Amazon or try Argos. The baby doesn’t sleep on the hard board the cot bed mattresses are sold separately

It's a travel cot not a cot bed. They're supposed to sleep on the base for safety.

I just used to put a couple of blankets on the hard travel cot 'mattress' then tightly put a cot fitted sheet over the top to keep them in place. I'm sure the baby would have been perfectly fine just on the mattress but it looked so cold and uncomfortable!

If the guests baby was 6months old it is possible they have not come across a standard travel for before (either never used one or used family ones that have been supplemented with an extra mattress). I remember being shocked with how thin the mattress was the first time I used a travel cot! But DC was fine.

That is what I would expect to find. I always cover the mattress with a blanket to make it softer, but leave that to the parents to decide. Babies are light so they feel more comfortable on surfaces than adults, our weight presses down on nobbly bits iyswim.

At some point you'll have a baby puke or poo all over it and you'll be glad it's a wipe down one!

@Classicblunder

I hate it when places say to bring your own bedding - we usually travel by train and it's a pain. I also don't get why all other bedding is provided but the baby can't get a sheet

I agree. That's why I do have a sheet for the travel cot. I also provide two extra large towels specifically for baby for bathing, nappy changes and potential accidents.

@SheWoreYellow

I think you should make it clear in the listing that it only comes with the thin standard mattress, for safety reasons but that it’s a standard size if parents prefer to supplement it with their own mattress.

I wouldn't even encourage them to supplement it with their own mattress. Just list what is provided.

The thing is, you don’t understand about the rock hard mattress thing being standard until you encounter it for the first time.
We had a shit night’s sleep the first time! And then we bought a fold up travel mattress.

Also depending on how deluxe your rental is, a basket of toys and books for kids and/or some kiddy snacks goes down well.

It's nice when a host recognises kids are staying and makes them welcome rather than the 'there's a cot and high chair hidden in a cupboard somewhere' approach.

Definitely no mattress - babies aren't supposed to sleep on a mattress used by another baby (even sibling). Mine was fine on the hard travel cot surface.

It might not be suitable for toddlers though, simply because they'd be able to climb out or tip it over. A small cotbed would be better.

@Smorgasborb

Thanks *@cowburp*. Just checked the Lullaby Trust and the Sleep Store and both said to never use additional mattresses in travel cots. The hard board and foam integrated 'mattress' is sufficient (if made to Uk/Aus/Nz standards which this one is) and very safe and the mesh sides make it dangerous if you add another mattress presumably because child can get wedged.

Phew. Well I'm glad I'm checked. Thanks for your help. I agree with a PP that I will explain what I offer and let parents decide if they need anything additional.

It was only because a family came to stay recently with a 6m old and asked for the travel cot to be put up. As as I showed them around the guest and her mum spent some time muttering in the background about the cot and 'rock hard' mattress so I thought I'd done something wrong.

I didn't fully get your first message and misunderstood that you don't live in the house and you rent it out! I thought you'd meant that you were putting it in YOUR house (which YOU'RE renting!!) And you were providing it for guests staying with you. So I thought if they were friends kids then you should give them a mattress as an option!

I do agree for a rental you shouldn't provide a mattress but I stand by my second post to let people know exactly what's there - we have a travel cot mattress so if I'd read your description I would have decided to bring that, but not the actual cot. So just describe exactly what's there (and state there's no additional mattress or bedding) and people can decide accordingly!

Sorry for the total misunderstanding!

And plates, cups, bowls and cutlery for kids is always nice too

Agree that I wouldn't expect an additional travel cot mattress. I would rather it came as sold therefore meeting the safety standards.

Maybe you could post a link to the cot on your listing? So people know exactly what is provided?

We have a holiday rental. It has the babybjorn travel cot ( which does come with a decent mattress), x2 spare sheets for mattress, cot pillow and case, cellular blanket, sleeping bag and cot duvet and cover.

Now days most under 1 use sleeping bags rather than blankets, and older ones age 18months-3 still fit in cot but often prefer duvet. The blankets are very rarely used.

The highchair is the most asked for baby item. ( I guess makes all meals easier and takes up space travelling with one)

@makelovenotpetrol yes it's a little beach side holiday cottage. Two double beds. Most people come for a weekend and it's more of an 'adult' location in that most activities are wine tasting, restauranting, hiking so babies are few and far between

Also most people come without a car so I wanted to help out parents should they come so they didn't have to traipse here with beds and bedding.