How would you feel about your childminder having 'Bunk Cots'

[KatyMac]

Sort of like this

I am worried it looks too institutional; & is it safe?

Drafts? Seriously? Mine were on futons on the floor from birth- don't seem to have suffered at all!

Drafts - yes seriously. Lots of houses have them, they aren't an usual occurance . If you lay on the floor and it's not colder/draughty in that room then it's less of a problem, but it just still doesn't seem right to me. I know some places have 'mats' and some people choose to sleep on a mattress on the floor - that's their decision, but my opinion is that I wouldn't like it. I wouldn't choose a nursery, but if I did, I certainly wouldn't choose one with sleeping mats and not cots/beds Just as well we are all different, it keeps the world spinning.

The vast majority of nurseries have sleep mats not beds, you'd really be limiting your childcare choices with that criterion.

inmysparetime that would be shoulder height for me, I still think it would be akward to lift the baby in and out, but possibly easier for linen changing I don't know, it just doesn't seem 'right' to me and it's not something I'd choose - but hey, each to their own :)

imst I am sure I would be, but it's highly unlikely a nursery is something I would choose to use, so it's not really an issue :) (thankfully)

underfloor heating

You see? It's really difficult to please everyone

It's hardly selfish Katy to want a bit of your home to yourself. I think they're fine for naps and would save space. My mindees nap in pushchairs (laid flat) but if I had more space I'd much prefer them to be in proper cots.

I'd much rather my children slept in the shanticots (i.e. a proper bed) than a sleep mat on the floor, or even a travel cot, on a regular basis.

I was really poorly 2 weeks ago & I had no-where to go

Every time I wanted a cuppa I went into the kitchen & I got collared a quick question or could I look at or what did I think about; I couldn't even stay in my PJs

& I was so poorly

I understand what DH's life is like now as he is retired

Go for it Katy if it will give you some life back if a parent really does not like them you can always give that parent the choice of their child sleeping in a pushchair

I can't imagine that cots v mats or travel cots would be a dealbreaker for most parents. Surely how happy their children are and the atmosphere in your setting will be much more important to them.

What fayrazzled said

Katy - you need a teasmaid

You need a nursery is what you really need, so that you can all have your house back.

What happened to the idea of getting another house to do the CMing in? (that was you wasn't it?)

If you put underfloor heating in, then some kind of floor sleeping wouldn't be sooo bad.

well i sleep in a futon as do my kids when little so the sleeping on the 'floor' isnt an issue with me and i would also much rather my kids slept in something like that that a pushchair, travel cot or a mat on the floor like they do in many nurseries.

tbh if you bought those then you look like someone taking their job seriously and investing in some good quality, long lasting equipment imo. my kids have had a look at them over my shoulder and are hugely impressed by them :)

almost worth having another baby for!

I need nursery

I know this, but I can't have one so.........

I personally wouldn't like to have to hoik them in and out of the top one! But them I'm short. And even then I'd probaby bump my head on the bottom one when sorting the downstairs child out!

They are flipping fantastic. I wish I had had one of these when the older boys were tiny. I don't think they look institutional at all.

I'm only 5"2' and have no problems. By the time they're in daycare they can sit up when they wake, and put their arms out, which makes it much easier. TBH I find it a lot easier on my back than fixed side cots or travel cots, where you have to bend right down to put babies in or out. Bunk cots keep them at cuddle level.

cherrypieplum - the side comes down completely, so you would put the child into the cot at adult height. Then you put the cot side up.

It's probably easier then bending down into a low cot all the time!

I don't like them because with mats and travel cots you can pack them away :)

Can I go back to the drafts?

What happens to you if you do sleep in a draft?

All I can think is that the child could be in an area much colder than the monitored temperature of the room, which may make them wake sooner.

A travel cot is only an inch or two off the floor (mine is anyway) so once you put the mattress on the bottom bunk, then the child would be sleeping in a higher position and not in a draught.

I think if you sleep in a draft you can get an achey back/neck/arm whatever the draft was 'drafting' on. This happens to me if I sleep with the window right next to the bed open.

I don't think drafts are only down low though! Surely you could be in a draft anywhere.

Umm the underfloor heating already exists......drafts unlikely tbh, neither is being cold