Should I keep new cotbed??? No drop sides!

[Mumyum1]

Reposting here for traffic.

I have just received delivery of my new nursery set - the Boori Sleigh Royale. Cost a pretty penny, and absolutely beautiful to look at, the cotbed is HUGE and SOLID. However to my utter dismay and disappointment the sides were all screwed firmly in place - the guy who did the assembly laughed at my panic when I said 'but it's solid, the side, it doesn't come down!!??' He said in bemusement, why didn't you enquire beforehand, I replied that it hadn't crossed my mind that cots were made where sides didn't come down!!!! He then suggested I get into the cot with baby when I put him to sleep !! Anyway, I'm five foot and a half - baby is currently 6mo and is rocked to sleep then put in cot. The base is on the higher setting which means in time the mattress will go even lower, as I would not have grown it's going to be (I imagine!) impossible to put baby down asleep. There were a few scratches and the saleslady informed me that they would exchange the whole set for this reason and replace with same. I'm almost tempted to explain my dilemma but worried that they may refuse to refund if that's what I choose as I was the idiot who spent a fortune on furniture without doing my due diligence. Does anyone have any experience with this set? Opinions on whether I should try to exchange for a cotbed whose sides lower, or should I make do and work around it for the sake of a gorgeous cotbed? Why the he'll make a cotbed with sides that don't lower????!!!!! I'm so annoyed. It's so lovely. I'm an idiot. Opinions please??

Posted in your other thread

Our cot doesn't have a side that lowers.
Just like you I panicked!
But 3 DCs later it was fine. Actually more than fine.
It had 3 settings for the base board.
1 when tiny, lowered when sitting up and now the final one when capable of standing up.
I am just over 5ft and it's great.
And I really liked the stability when they were little as the side was never in danger of dropping accidentally.
As soon as they sit up, you pop them down sitting. And they stand to be picked up too.
Don't worry!
Good luck.

Thanks, I replied too!

juggling that's good to know. I love how chunky and absolutely solid this cotbed is. I was dreading sending it back. It's like buying a completely impractical and very uncomfortable but absolutely gorgeous pair of shoes - am I going to kick myself for keeping or sending back?? What an expensive mistake if I try it out for a few months and then don't like it!?

Apparently they are all like this now, when we went to mothercare they said it was for safety and you just adjust the settings as baby grows.

The problem is I put LO down already asleep. Damn!! Am going to have to work on that because looks like I'm keeping the cotbed - I also posted in 'products' and all the moms are saying same thing.

Really littlef00t? I bought a drop side cot from mothercare when DD was born and she's 3yo only. I wouldn't consider a non drop side as I'm really short like OP. (5 foot 3). I cannot reach the mattress on the lowest setting when the sides are up.

However, don't despair. What you could do is remove one side and use a bedrail. We started doing that when DD is nearer 3 and she wanted to get out of the bed herself. She still couldn't stay inside though without the bed rail. This might be an option for you.

I think some parents move them to toddler beds around 1yo to 18mo. They can still sleep in sleeping bags. (Those who have children closer togher than me. They'll have to move the cot along for the younger).

Mothercare still selling them, on checking their website
www.mothercare.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-MCENGB-Site/default/Search-Show?q=dropside%20cot%20bed

I have the east coast nursery one.

I was under the impression they didn't make drop side cots any more, due to many accidents.

I've never had a cotbed that does down, normal cots yes but not a cotbed - theyre solid, and I have 4

My cotbed doesn't have drop down sides and the mattress can only be at one level (the bottom!) and can't say I've ever had any problems! I'm short too.

Another drop side cot bed. This one from kiddicare.

www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_85430_10001

It's definitely rare. What's so dangerous about it? I'm getting a bit scared now. But I don't want to buy yet another cot/cotbed! New baby due in September and planning to just get a new cotbed mattress.

Additional footboard allows easy conversion to toddler bed (from the description on kiddicare website).

That is definitely useless though. We have taken the lazy route and just took the drop side off to make a toddler bed.

Mine drops. It is so noisy doing it that it would probably wake the baby. I have hardly ever "dropped" it so I wouldn't worry too much if yours doesn't. Not sure why it would be dangerous though if used properly, but am off to google!

Right I see it's mostly due to the side not being on properly, especially when reassembled for a second baby. We did this, but he didn't sleep in the cot till about 9 months as ha bed nest. I was going to free cycle the cot when done with it but I'd better not now!

Drop side cots have caused fatalities there are a few stories on Google from the mirror and what not, won't post a link.

I've had 3 Boori hotbeds. Mine all had drop sides. But I stopped using the dropsides very early, because the 'clunk' of raising them woke my babies up, which was extremely irritating!

So I just lower the baby in over the raised side. When I was doing this with an older baby, and pregnant at the same time (so had back ache) I put a step (one of those toddler steps) in front of the cot, so I could stand on that and get a bit of extra height to put the baby down gently.

cotbeds not hotbeds!!!!

I think I'll go and buy a new cot bed now and leave DD in the old cot bed. I can't reuse that old drop side cotbed now that I've read about it banned in the US. I think I'll take driven's advice and use a step to lower baby when we made it to the lowest setting.

(I was going to move DD into the guest bed).

Well it sure is good to know I'm not the only one who didn't know about the drop-side saga!!! Was beginning to feel really foolish - well, i do feel foolish for buying what I have with no research but oh well it's done now. Taking down the side and using a rail is a great idea!!!! I'm going to have to teach my child to be stair safe as I'm on the floor above ... Actually won't/can't think about that right now !! I guess it'll be the footstool for now tho. Should have great arm and core muscles soon!

This may sound a little insulting but...
Could you get a little step? Like a toddler would use to reach the sink.

Yes home that's what I have to do with the new baby. Most toddler steps are too flimsy to take my weight. But I have a ikea wooden two step one that feels sturdy enough.

I've got the footstool ... Soooo much better!!

Yes, ours was too noisy and woke nicely snoozing babies.

Also, when lowered, there were nasty little finger trapping gaps.

Once DD could climb out (which she did from far too small), we left the side down and cable tied it very tightly to the legs, so the gaps were closed.