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Parenting

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Original poster

Advice with cots - I'm too short to lower my sleeping baby into a cot!

29 replies

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 06:17

My 8mo cosleeps, but we are looking to transition him into his cot which is wedged between our bed and the wall (tiny flat, nowhere else it can go). ATM he feeds to sleep or is carried to sleep. He is also still feeding a bit overnight.

The problem is that I am 5'2 with shirt arms and I can't for the life of me lift him horizontally into his cot whilst keeping him asleep. I can barely get him out of it when he's lying down, I have to lift him from under his shoulders. The cot is on the middle setting but should actually be on its lowest because lo is so tall and is pulling himself up.

It's partly because of the position of the cot, I can only access it from the end, not the side. But we have a travel cot too and I also struggle to get him in it whilst asleep.

Does anyone have this problem? I feel like this is a really stupid problem to have but I can't get him in and out to feed overnight, and I have to put him on the floor during the day to nap. I can't see a way around it beyond trying to get lo to self settle (working on it) or continuing to co-sleep. My DH can get him in and out (he's super tall) but he's not around during the day.

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Ivegotfamilyandidrinkcupsoftea · 17/04/2018 06:21

Best thing to do is put him in drowsy but awake

Triangularsquare · 17/04/2018 06:25

I hate this too. Part of the worldwide tall people conspiracy. We solved it by putting our baby on a mattress on the floor with foam bed guards at about the same age. Way easier.

Spam88 · 17/04/2018 06:42

Ah 🤔 I've got two inches on you and can just about manage it if I hold her under her neck:shoulders and her bum with my hands (although she does occasionally just roll off, always a tense moment). I don't think I'd be able to do it from the end though.

Do you think it would be any easier if you stood on something?

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Original poster

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 06:50

Thanks for the quick replies - I'm glad it's not just me! I feel like we need to solve this quickly as he's just getting bigger and heavier! A mattress on the floor is something we might consider. I think standing on something might pull me off balance though - neither of us can kneel on the bed and put lo in from the side.

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squidgesquodge · 17/04/2018 06:51

I'm 5'4" and also couldn't do it from the end, especially if the child had wiggled to the other end.

Could you saw the legs off the cot (I imagine you'd want some air flow underneath so not all of the legs) as then you could bend your upper body and arms in? Or a stool for you to stand on?

Is your child in a sleeping bag? I found they were quite substantial so you could (gently!) drag the child in them.

TeddyIsaHe · 17/04/2018 06:54

I struggled with this so much! I tried to put Dd I’m asleep once and dropped her in obviously she didn’t enjoy that! I got an old sturdy plastic step stool and used that to get a bit more height.

TheCatFromOuterSpace · 17/04/2018 07:00

Ha, I had this problem too.
Dc1 slept in a bedside cot., until she started to go to sleep on her own. She had to move from cot to bed at two because I was pregnant and couldn't lift her out of the cot at all.

Dc2 slept in our bed then moved straight into a toddler bed.

MrsAukerman · 17/04/2018 07:03

If you can't put him in drowsy but awake then get a stool like the IKEA one for kids to brush teeth on and stand on it.

Original poster

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 07:09

Is there a cot with some side access - a door you can open? I also keep looking at the travel cot and grouching about how much easier it would be if there was a zip in the mesh.

I agree, baby going on sleepy travels is a problem for us too! He pushes guys way to the head of the cot and turns himself right around.

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Original poster

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 07:13

I'm not sure a stool would work for me - he's just too tall (70cm) to lower him in from the end. I struggle to get him in the travel cot which is on the floor - it's doable but I make a hash of it and wake him up. 🙄

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Oblomov18 · 17/04/2018 07:14

I had this. But our cot had 2 or 3 depth settings, so I just asked Dh to move it right to the top.

YimminiYoudar · 17/04/2018 07:15

There are a huge number of designs of cot, and clearly you have one that doesn't work well for you.

We transitioned to cot using a mothercare cot (they don't seem to do this one any more but I expect similar cots exist somewhere) that would have been perfect for you, as the fourth side didn't just drop down 4 inches like most drop-side cots, but could actually be completely removed and replaced and secured very easily and quickly (with catches that kept it in place). It was basically a full size cot version of the bedside cribs that are quite prevalent now but we're tricky to find a decade ago. Like you the only space we had for a cot was wedged between the bed and the wall. If there had been more space the cot was designed to let you slide the 4th side underneath the cot for easy access but it was just as easy to take it away altogether. It was great for transitioning into separate sleeping as I could lie next to the baby with me on the bed and baby in cot - so not that different to both being in bed, then as baby got drowsy it was a matter of moments to grab the 4th cot side, slot the fixings into the catches and slip out of the room.

Mybabystolemysanity · 17/04/2018 07:15

My DD did exactly the same and kept waking herself up bashing her head on the sides and ends. We put her in a travel cot and never looked back. She's comfortable, she can see out and now she likes to sleep with her back against the sides. DC2 will be going straight in one too when he's old enough.

Original poster

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 07:16

Sorry I mean end access, out cot has a drop down rail, but it's not that helpful here.

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Justlikeisaiditwouldbe · 17/04/2018 07:18

You can buy a travel cot with a zip in the side! It was advertised on here in the top 10 travel cots thread yesterday.
Can’t help with normal cot tho sorry.

Original poster

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 07:18

@YimminiYoudar that sounds like a much better option for us. We had a next to me crib and I miss it so much. I guess I'd better get googling.

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SnugglySnerd · 17/04/2018 07:19

We have a drop side cot from John Lewis. We find the drop side too stiff to use so don't bother but if used all the time it would probably loosen up.
When ds was in hospital he had an awesome cot that could have the height adjusted just like a hospital bed. It was metal and unattractive but I really wanted one for home it would have saved my back!

Original poster

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 07:20

@Justlikeisaiditwouldbe thanks, I'll look it up!

We were give both cots for free - I feel bad that they aren't working out for us but I don't think we can keep going like this.

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TheCatFromOuterSpace · 17/04/2018 07:20

Is there any reason he can't just sleep in the travel cot full time?

SnugglySnerd · 17/04/2018 07:20

Sorry just read your update clearly our cottages would be no use either.

SnugglySnerd · 17/04/2018 07:21

*cot! I think I'd better have another cup of tea and start again today!

itispersonal · 17/04/2018 07:25

I'm only 5ft I had a cot with a drop down side for this reason. As knew they'd be no way I would be able to reach down otherwise

sashh · 17/04/2018 07:27

I know this would be an absolute pain but what about an inflatable mattress/toddler bed?

Put it in the cot blown up so the surface you put your baby in is higher then let the air out once he is in bed.

Original poster

Sunrise888 · 17/04/2018 07:45

@sashh I love your thinking!

After a bit of googling, seems like cot beds with one removable side might be an option. I'll have to discuss with DH.

Appreciate the tips everyone! We were given our cots so we never really looked into other possibilities.

OP posts:

OverTheMountain42 · 17/04/2018 07:53

4ft 6 here so no chance of lifting in and out of any cots! Although we did get the travel cot with a zip for a while and that was ok.

Co slept originally, did the mattress on the floor too and eventually just a bed with higher bed guards.

My tall friend having watched what I did, decided cots are a waste of money and for her second put the baby in a full size single from 12 months (co slept before that).

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