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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Has anyone used a travel cot as main bed?

26 replies

UrsulaSings · 01/02/2020 11:09

Hi I've just been getting completely overwhelmed by the choices in cots!

Was just wondering if anyone has used a travel cot as a main cot? The lullaby trust website says it's ok to use a travel cot as a main cot if you're squeezed for space, but it worries me that the mattresses are thinner and I imagine not as comfortable.

Just wondered what peoples experiences of this were?

Particularly looking at the joie kubbie travel cot.

Thank you!

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BertieBotts · 01/02/2020 11:15

We did for a while. I bought a folding mattress on amazon and used that for it. Later I read that this isn't advised because it creates a gap between the side of the mattress and the sides of the cot which a baby can become trapped in. The problem is travel cot mattresses are literally about half a centimetre thick and plastic, so they feel cold when you put the baby down. Even covering it with a sheet doesn't warm it that much and the sheet can't get a good tight fit because the mattress is too thin. I don't feel worried about the folding mattress now he is one, but I wouldn't have wanted to use it for his main bed for long term as it would sag in the middle and just didn't seem as sturdy or supportive for his back as a proper cot or bed.

You could look at cribs if you're stuck for space, they tend to be smaller. Or a Moses basket. Personally I had a side cot as I think these are the best for breastfeeding in the early days - the travel cot was our attempt to introduce the idea of a separate sleeping space but didn't go fantastically well TBH! Although official advice is to share a room until 6 months, the risk of SIDS drops so much at 4 months, I would have been OK (breastfeeding/not settling aside) to move baby into their own room by 4 months - you will have to read the guidance and see what feels right to you. But this could allow for using a smaller sleep space the baby may grow out of.

KittenVsBox · 01/02/2020 11:15

I'd do it with a seriously upgraded mattress, if that was what space required. The other issue with travel cots is they are very low down, so it's a lot of bending to get a sleeping baby into them without waking them (maybe that was just my babies!)

AmelieTaylor · 01/02/2020 11:16

I have friends who had a one bedroom apartment and gas their kids in travel cots in their bedroom until they were able to move when the girls were 2&4. I don’t think it’s ideal & wouldn’t do it myself, Despite babies/young kids being light, I think a good mattress is important.

In their situation I would have given the girls the bedroom & had our bed in the lounge, less than ideal, but needs must.

Whatever you do though, if you do use a travel cot, do NOT put a different mattress in it or a duvet underneath or anything...it’s very dangerous.

If you give more details about you space available I’m sure you’ll get some suggestions of which cots to look at.

MyDcAreMarvel · 01/02/2020 11:18

Just get a space saving cot from IKEA.

BertieBotts · 01/02/2020 11:20

How much space do you have? Most travel cots are the same size as a standard cot (60x120cm)

MrsL2016 · 01/02/2020 11:20

Are you planning on getting it because you are squeezed for space? My friend gas that travel cot and she used it downstairs for daytime naps and obviously when they travelled. The raised bassinet part is really useful and the mattress is just the same as alternatives for when they are really young. But I would worry about using a travel cot mattress long term. Could you buy a better mattress that would fit?

BertieBotts · 01/02/2020 11:26

OK I see the Joie one you linked isn't.

Space Saver cots seem to be about 100x50cm if that is any use. Our bedside one is 90x55 and my tall baby fit into it comfortably until about age 1 (it's not one with a 9kg weight limit). I still use it as a bed guard now but couldn't put him in it if it was enclosed.

For example this would take a thicker mattress than a travel cot type one:

www.amazon.co.uk/Babymore-Space-Saver-Cot-White/dp/B0839HKQVL/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

PleaseStopRingingMe · 01/02/2020 11:30

I just got a space saving cot which is 100x50 and lasted DC until at least a year old. Then they went into a normal 140x70 cotbed which they are still in now at 3.5. My parents used a travel cot at their house for sleepovers, just with a proper cot mattress which is 120x60 as DC couldn't sleep on the horrendous piece of cardboard that came with it. The only issue is that the travel cots only have one level which is practically on the floor, so not really ideal from newborn, especially if you have a C-section or back problems.

Sharonthetotallyinsane · 01/02/2020 11:31

Yes, as I had a small gap between two of mine and the first one was in a cot.

Sharonthetotallyinsane · 01/02/2020 11:31

The big cot

User478 · 01/02/2020 11:32

DD (almost 2) is still in a travel cot, she was in a chicco lullago until she was 6m or so then we moved her to a travel cot (red kite -asda I think) I measured the dimensions and got a proper mattress to fit (Travel cots are not remotely standard sized, they all seem different sizes!!). The only problem is finding fitted sheets for it, but they do exist.

SuziGeo · 01/02/2020 11:34

If space is tight you could look for a pram that is suitable for overnight sleeping. I know the icandy Lime, the Jane Micro and a Silvercross one are all suitable for this.

Original poster

UrsulaSings · 01/02/2020 11:34

The thing I like about that one is you can attach it to the bed so baby is next to you, whereas space saving cots that I've seen dont tend to be ones you can have next to the bed. It's also a bonus as my family dont live nearby so will be using a travel cot when visiting family, and you can use it until baby is 15kg.

I suppose what I'm looking for is a cot that can go next to the bed in a narrow space, is easy to transport, and you can use until baby is 2 years or so. And isn't stupidly expensive. Not much to ask!!!

Thank you for your help - theres so many out there it's too confusing!!

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Original poster

UrsulaSings · 01/02/2020 11:35

@User478 where did you get a mattress to fit?

OP posts:

Willow4987 · 01/02/2020 11:38

We used a travel cot when DS outgrew the chicco next to me but was still under 6 months and in our bedroom.

It’s fairly chunky though so I’m not sure what you’re looking for exists?

PepsiLola · 01/02/2020 11:39

We had a travel for in our bedroom for nights when they wouldn't settle or were poorly.

We bought an proper mattress for it, it worked fine

PepsiLola · 01/02/2020 11:39

I believe we got the mattress off amazon for ours

Orangesanddachshunds · 01/02/2020 11:43

We used the joie kubbie as a cot with ds 1, our moses basket was terrible so in the depths of sleep deprivation and despiration we tried him in our travel cot - and it worked like a dream he stayed in it untill 6 months, when he went in his own room.

Ds2 had a chico next to me from birth but when we recently moved house (ds now aged 2) we got rid of our wooden cot and used the joie kubbie again as a main cot because we didnt want to move house and put him straight into his toddler bed.

It's been a life saver for us!

Original poster

UrsulaSings · 01/02/2020 11:49

@Orangesanddachshunds thats reassuring you found it so good. And did you find the mattress ok? Or did you get another one?

OP posts:

Orangesanddachshunds · 01/02/2020 11:55

Yes the mattress was absolutely fine, when they are young a firm matress is really important anyway, and if you use a grow bag that will help to cushion them :)

Original poster

UrsulaSings · 01/02/2020 12:08

@Orangesanddachshunds thank you for replying! That's good to know. I think I'll probably end up getting that one as I keep looking at others then coming back to it. Thank you

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BertieBotts · 01/02/2020 15:21

Not a standard size? Every single travel cot I've ever used which is about 5 or 6 have all been 120x60cm.

timeforawine · 01/02/2020 15:45

Yep i did, it had a bassinet level for newborn then when she moved to the lower level i bought a travel cot mattress. We used the Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot - Benny and Bell
I like the mesh sides as was always worried about arms/legs getting stuck in cot bars

muddlingmyway · 01/02/2020 20:02

We don’t use a travel cot as our main cot but we have used the joie kubbie as a travel cot and it’s absolutely lovely. The bassinet level is so handy and baby (who was probably about 4 months at the time) slept like a dream in it. I think he liked the fact it was quite small and has mesh sides, nice and cosy. I imagine that will be nice for a newborn too.

Clickncollect · 01/02/2020 20:13

We used the Grace Petite Bassinet travel
Cot for DS until he was 7 months and went into his own room and into a proper cot.
It was really reasonably priced, smaller than a standard travel cot and also the sleepyhead fitted into it. I loved that it had the bassinet piece high up so I didn’t have to keep bending down to get him when he woke in the night for a breast feed, I would just lean over and grab him.

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