Cot Design - why can't they be better?

[ShuvDugg]

Am I missing something, or can someone please explain why cots are designed they way they are with wooden bars all around? MJ seems to spend his entire time getting arms and legs stuck through the gaps, or his face wedged up against the bars (and yes his cot does conform to all the safety standards) - his travel cot has mesh sides that are breathable and flexable, making them far less disruptive to his sleep - surely this is better, and if so, why don't normal cots follow suit?

I have no idea, maybe because the mesh can harbour more dust and absorb sweat? I have seen one with perspex sides it was like having a baby on a fish tank but no arm or legs straying out.

We sorted the problem by getting a Grobag.

Used grobags for a while, but found when MJ started rolling around in his sleep (which he does a lot!) he got frustrated by the grobag and woke up constantly - may be we should try again?

I totally agree and took ds2 out of his cot at about 4 months as he got so tangled and bashed his head against the bars!

He has slept in his travel cot ever since and is now 17 months old. Much better and bigger.

Glad we're not the only ones.
We've also reverted back to his travel cot, which he moved into when he outgrew his mosses basket but still slept in our room. Now he's in his own room, and we thought time to be in his cot, but I'm afraid the travel cot is back up again (now in his room) and he seems to find it much more comfortable! Pleased to hear that the travel cot will remain suitable for that long!

Do you have a proper cot mattress in your travel cot, or just the normal travel cot one? My only thought on using a travel cot f/t is that the mattress wouldn't be comfortable / supportive enough.

I bought an additional mattress from mothercare especially for travel cots, as I also didn't think much of what came as standard. It's not that much thicker, and certainly nothing like the usual cot mattresses, but does seem to be ok. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on this, particularly if there's an osteopath/physio or some such professional who can give us there two penny's worth?

just wanted to say that we bought a babydan travel cot that is the same size as a normal cot - so we just transferred ds' cot mattress into it (like you, used it in our room when he outgrew the moses basket). might be worth considering - they're only about £40 - think it was from kiddicare.

My friends son only ever had a travel cot and they got a second mattress for it and he used it f/t fot over 2yrs with no problems, like you i think they are a much better design than wooden cots

My only other suggestion would be trying the mesh bed guards you can buy inside the cot under the mattress to stop the arm/leg issue and it would be a familar item when moving to a big bed.

In last year's Verbaudetcatalgue, on one of their page spreads there was a really fab looking cot. The sides were a transparent, clear panel - no bars. Wasn't for sale though.

I always thought the perspex things you get in hospital were a brill design.
Where did you see that Chandra?
I would have bought it.
Here in Turkey,they are all incredibly low (no mattress to top of rails stipulations as in UK)
My dh searched for weeks for one even remotely accceptable.

I'd imagine the bars are for ventilation, can't imagine anything worse than being in plastic goldfish bowl