Helping a family who need accessible baby equipment

[KatyMac]

So I'm trying to work round it

I know about remap and how they can help but I'm pondering an accessible cot

So leaning over the side and picking up a bigger baby is not going to be ideal - what options are there?

If you have a cot that converts to cot bed, they usually can be used without the front on. Ie the ikea one.
then take the front cot panel, cut in half down the middle. Attach back on the front with hinges either side and then bolt in the middle as closure ( one at top, one middle). Then you should be able to fully open cot to put baby/ young toddler in, and then securely close like double doors back.

similar to this.
https://at3center.net/2017/09/11/creating-an-accessible-crib-for-parents-with-disabilities/

Something like that should work, but I still wonder if it should be higher (when the mattress is low) but maybe we can see how long I can make it work

I think it’s then not safe as could wobble or tip.
Most babies and children adapt to carer with disabilities. So by the time they can sit and crawl and reach up to you it should also be easier as you won’t have to reach as low to lift from laying.

Keeping it lower also means once walking, you could open front gate part and they can slide out themselves safely to floor ( put soft rug down) from 1-2 years age. So wouldn’t need lifting

Yes monitoring the situation and their development is probably the way to go

Post Christmas getting something longer than the moses basket is the priority along with some sort of carrier I think

Then in the new year look at altering a cot to have a gate

& worrying about lowering the mattress when it happens

Our Swiss friends introduced us to a Zewi sheet. Their babies went straight into a single bed with one of these on. They are also incredible as a very portable travel cot! We got one when our DS was about 16 months and never looked back.
If you used one of these, could you pick up from a tall single bed? Or sit on the bed, and stand whilst lifting?

Do they need to go in a cot? Could they nap in the pushchair in lie flat mode? Then they're naturally higher up.
I'm wondering if you could configure something out of a baby Dan playpen and a mattress? Actually, thinking about baby Dan playpens and the fact that ours was subsequently used by a friend for her puppies, you can get extra high stair gates for dogs. Again, you might be able to configure something using one of those.
This is one of those situations which dozens of other people must have dealt with so it's a question of finding one of those who have. Fingers crossed it is someone on this board! I always remember Dame Tanni Grey Thompson saying she put her DC in dungarees all of the time as then she could lift them by the straps

The original intent was a montessori type bed - but that won't work for me really but maybe the babydan might be useful in future

The zewi looks fascinating and I may do more research into that

& actually thinking outside the box I have a sofa in my room so maybe that could have a mattress and a side fitted to it, with rachet straps or something?

The difference between rules surrounding something sold to millions vs something individually created and risk assessed carefully for the specific situation can be huge