Unsure if our cot is safe

[Reastie]

Currently pg and have dd (8). Our cot is a wooden slatted side drop mammas and papas cot that is roughly 17 years old (handed down to us from family). Worked a treat for dd, no issues. Had been planning to reuse with new baby (new mattress obv).

Have just discovered safety issues with side drop cots in USA which is worrying me. As our cot is so old it might not meet more current uk safety guidelines. The main issue I’m concerned about is the side drop mechanism. From a quick google it looks like most cots in the uk now are not drop side cots, and those that are seem to have a different type of mechanism to the one in our cot (presumably more safe).

Now I don’t know if we should use our cot again or get a new one. I don’t want to get one if it’s not needed and dh will probably think I’m being ott about it but now I know the mechanisms are different and safety standards improved and the issue with side drop cots I can’t ignore it.

Some websites seem to be fine about using second hand cots and there is no mention of older types of side drop fastenings being a potential issue to look out for (they focus more on old paint with lead) so I don’t know if I’m worrying unnecessarily about this.

Do you know what this safety issue is with the "problem" mechanism - and is that something you could mitigate for (eg if it creates too big a gap then attach a chain or something to stop the side going down so far - just an example but yswim?).

It seems ridiculous to buy a new cot when you have one. But once you have the thought in your head it is difficult.

Is the mechanism on yours the "problem" mechanism - or just different to modern ones?

Could you just screw/bolt the side so it is no longer a drop side cot? Then this would surely solve the issue a lot cheaper than buying a new cot.

www.babymore.co.uk/news/safety-of-drop-side-cot-bed/

Just googled it as was interested - I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as the mechanism still works and needs 2 actions to unlock it. If you are concerned then seriously, just bolt the side in so it is not an issue.

As long as it’s one of the ones where you have to unlock it top and bottom to lower and raise, it’s fine. We have one at my mum’s, which you have to squeeze towards you with your foot at the same time as pulling the top rail, and that’s safe. The hardware is all wood and metal. US ones were made with plastic which snapped or bent easily, and this allowed the bottom of the cot side to be loose, meaning the baby could roll off the side of the mattress and into a gap.

Fenellamaxwell unlock top and bottom? From memory ours has a kind of plastic thing you push out the way on each side of the top to lower it, nothing on the bottom to undo.

The issue from what I’ve found isn’t the child lowering the side but the actual catch breaking at the bottom which gives a gap that the baby can get stuck in and suffocate. Apparently chances are increased with use of cot and age of cot. So just by screwing the mechanism locked at the top it won’t solve the problem (because of the way it’s d signed you can’t secure and screw at the bottom.

Are your catches at the BOTTOM metal or plastic?

If you do decide to get another one, ask around friends. Loads of people have cots (newer than yours) gathering dust in the loft that they’d be happy to be rid of or lend you.

I think plastic. The actual pole it slides down is metal but catches are plastic. I’m worried now about any second hand cot! I don’t want anything with pull down sides.

No, yours doesn’t sound safe then I’m afraid. Sorry!