Arthritis and cot beds - help please

[sepa]

Hello, I suffer with a weird arthritis called palindromic Rhumatism. Basically it means that my arthritis pain can come on at any time and last for as much time as it wants. It also causes me to go weaker when I am in pain. Rhumy now thinks that I could also have rheumatoid arthritis. I am looking for all baby stuff to be arthritis proof. I was hoping to get a drop side cot bed but I can only find drop side cots. Can anyone recommend a drop side cot bed or if you have arthritis let me know what cot bed you had (if it wasn't drop side) and how you found using it when in pain.

Thanks

Just get a cot bed and don't put the side on. We did that. They are right on the floor virtually so baby would just roll onto rug on floor at worse, but they learn not to. As a small baby they don't move anyway so you can use cot bed without side or use with side on highest setting until they sit up so first 6 months approx

Oh and without a side on you could sit down on the cot bed with baby to soothe so no standing for ages soothing. Once they can crawl it will also mean you can get them to climb in and out bed themselves if easier.

I have bypassed the cot bed stage and got a very low bed. I don't have RA but wanted to transition slowly from co-sleeping, so I can get in with DS at night to settle him. I got a stacking futon bed from the Futon Company (they are designed so you can stack two to have 2 spare single beds - I just bought one as they are very low to the ground.

I hadn't thought of that. I have however heard of parents putting one of the swimming noodles under a fitted sheet to stop kiddies rolling out. This was more for toddlers who have the sides down but could also be used

Yes if space I would get just a futon bed as mentioned. Or just get a cot bed mattress on the floor tbh. Mattresses on floor are fine now as long as you don't have a damp house, you can always air it weekly by turning over when you change sheet anyway. Then baby is safe as low down, you can lie next to them If needed, and once crawling just make sure the door is closed or you get a stairgate on stairs at top if they are asleep if you have stairs ( ignore if in flat or bungalow as doesn't matter if they crawl out)

I also have RA - we had the cosatto Hogarth drop sided cot bed for DS but I don't think you can buy new ones anymore - it was rather good though.
I found this online though www.saplings.com/shop/cot-beds/stephanie-cot-bed-black-and-white/

I couldn't get up from low down so having an adjustable height cot bed with drop side was safe but also easy for me to use. A mattress on the floor or low futon would have been more difficult for me.

It's hard to find things that work when you have severe RA and want to look after your baby as independently as possible.
Asking on the Arthritis Care website discussion boards may get some more tailored replies of people who have similar experience.
I avoided using stair gates (I couldn't open them) and had a bath support (couldn't hold him on my own to bathe him). An easy to use sling really helped with carrying him and just cuddling him - I used the close baby carrier.

Boori cotbed has a drop side, are expensive but super solid and readily available second hand.

I think if I had pain in my hips/knees it may be a problem getting down. I will have a look at the above suggestions.
Feel like I am fighting a loosing battle at the moment with this. Doesn't help this I get overly emotional when I think about not being able to do 'normal' things for DC when s/he comes

Sepa - I know how you feel but honestly it wasn't as bad as I imagined and as I never knew any different, our routines worked out for us and we're our normal, we muddled through it. DS is a very robust and independent 7yo now so we must have done something right. My HV was very helpful (I know not all of them are) and did loads of research for me. I think she found it kind of interesting.

We have a drop side cot bed - it's 3 years old so don't know if still available but it was from Babies 'R' Us. Had other matching furniture and reasonably priced.

Don't worry about not being able to do "normal" things for little one - they are very adaptable and the way you do it will be normal for them! Not quite the same but my MIL has very bad arthritis and DS1 quickly learned to position himself a particular way so she can lift him onto her knee.

Wonkylegs- looks like that one could be a winner. Just got to run it pass DP and my nan (as she is buying) but don't see there being issues.

Thank you for all your help. I was really stressing and getting down about it earlier