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.

@cowburp

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

Yep. The listing states 'portacot available, please advise if you want this to be set up' and I send the link to the cot to guests when they book.

Ooh. Never thought of high chair. Good call.

[quote Smorgasborb]@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. [/quote]
I understand now!! Sorry!

As for a highchair can I recommend this one

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/antilop-highchair-with-tray-white-silver-colour-s29067293/

It's what they have in most cafes for kids because it completely comes apart and you can clean it all properly. It's cheap and works well. You can buy inserts for smaller kids but that's not needed.

I always just assume the travel cot will be tiny and uncomfortable and that (a) we’ll bring our own and (b) DD will get in the big bed with us anyway.

Totally fine. I have stayed in a number or different places where this is provided with no linen or blankets whatsoever. Not even a sheet

Whatever you have or don’t have in holiday apartment seems to be fine, as long as your clearly state in advance. You have, you show picture or send link, and guests can then decide themselves whether to use or not

If you’re providing a cot, I’d provide a proper mattress for it. They’re not terribly expensive so IMO it’d be very stingy not to.

Owners of holiday rentals are hardly unknown for being stingy when providing basics (lumpy mattresses, ancient pancake-like old duvets, etc.) but you don’t have to be one of them.

I wouldn’t have put my baby on a mattress that somebody else’s baby had used. You’re not supposed to use them second hand.
The shity board “mattress” that comes with a travel cot can be wiped with hot soapy water and antibac.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

If you’re providing a cot, I’d provide a proper mattress for it. They’re not terribly expensive so IMO it’d be very stingy not to. Owners of holiday rentals are hardly unknown for being stingy when providing basics (lumpy mattresses, ancient pancake-like old duvets, etc.) but you don’t have to be one of them.

It's a travel cot! It's not supposed to have a mattress, lumpy or not! It's safety not stinging, ffs

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

If you’re providing a cot, I’d provide a proper mattress for it. They’re not terribly expensive so IMO it’d be very stingy not to. Owners of holiday rentals are hardly unknown for being stingy when providing basics (lumpy mattresses, ancient pancake-like old duvets, etc.) but you don’t have to be one of them.

The safety guidance I've posted above states that it's unsafe to use anything else other than the 'mattress' that comes with the cot. So for the sake of 'luxury' I'm unwilling to provide anything else.

Some weird responses on here.

As the majority of people have said, standard travel cots have an integrated base and "mattress", not a proper mattress but there is a bit of padding, and this is fine for short-term use.

You can also get a proper travel mattress to fit the travel cot - these are safe (don't know why people are saying they're not) as long as they're the right size. Some parents might have their own that they bring with them (they would need to know the dimensions of the travel cot mattress) but most wouldn't, I expect. If you provide one, there would be an issue about keeping it clean, so you would need to provide two waterproof mattress protectors (one to use and a spare in case of accidents). I wouldn't expect this but if it was provided I would appreciate and use it.

DH and I have had debates about the travel cot issue, he's always said the integrated "mattress" is too hard whereas I've said it's fine. We did end up buying a travel mattress (because I got sick of the debates!) which we take with us when we are travelling by car, but obviously can't take it if we're travelling by train or plane.

A high chair is essential, and the IKEA Antilop is good. Bonus points if you provide the tray with it and not just the chair! As PP said you can take it apart to store.

I don’t see how a mattress that’s intended for the purpose, from a reputable retailer, can possibly be unsafe.

I bought a purpose made cot mattress from John Lewis for the travel cot my Gdcs very often slept in here.

I dare say the safety advice has in mind the sort of person who might think it OK to pad it with e.g. an ordinary duvet folded up - they can’t possibly assume that everyone is blessed with a modicum of common sense.

The travel cot will be fine as is. No mattress needed and it'll be what parents expect. You could provide some sheets and a baby sleeping bag in a couple of sizes, perhaps?

As a parent, I'd appreciate a toilet training seat/potty and some child sized cutlery/cups etc. As a pp suggested, the IKEA highchair is cheap and easy to clean so that's a good bet.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

I don’t see how a mattress that’s intended for the purpose, from a reputable retailer, can possibly be unsafe.

I bought a purpose made cot mattress from John Lewis for the travel cot my Gdcs very often slept in here.

I dare say the safety advice has in mind the sort of person who might think it OK to pad it with e.g. an ordinary duvet folded up - they can’t possibly assume that everyone is blessed with a modicum of common sense.

The mattress hasn't been tested with the cot.

Don't get a mattress. Your set up is fine. Mattress = safety issues that you don't need.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

I don’t see how a mattress that’s intended for the purpose, from a reputable retailer, can possibly be unsafe.

I bought a purpose made cot mattress from John Lewis for the travel cot my Gdcs very often slept in here.

I dare say the safety advice has in mind the sort of person who might think it OK to pad it with e.g. an ordinary duvet folded up - they can’t possibly assume that everyone is blessed with a modicum of common sense.

John Lewis still sell sleepyheads and the like.

When we went in holiday with our eldest when she was a baby I was horrified to encounter a travel cot with rock hard plastic covered "mattress". I did not put her in it, she slept in bed with us instead.
I'm surprised it's standard as I would not put a baby on such a cold hard surface to sleep, it looked like something out of Dickens.