Portacot recommendation?

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

We are after a portacot that is really easy to assemble and take apart. We'd also like it to be comfortable for bubs. I'd really appreicate some recommendations as I can't ask the sales lady to take apart them all for me! Thanks

[*Ali*]

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong anyone, but I am pretty sure the way that portacots work is pretty universal. I have yet to come acorss one that has a particularly comfortable matress in them, because it would add too much bulk and there for not make them very portable. We have just got a Bruin one, it does the job for the amount of times we use it about 10 times a year max.

[widdly]

Im pretty sure they are all the same set up as well. I too have the Bruin one and it has been fantastic, so fantastic in fact that DS won't sleep in his brand new $200 cot only his $75 portacot! They don't have a matress as such just a padded bottom, DS was fine sleeping on the padded bottom with his sheepskin on top til he was about 9 months then i just cut up his cot foam matress (as he wasn't interested in sleeping in his cot) and now his portacot is his full-time bed.

Our portacot was REALLY difficult and incredibly frustrating to try and put up and take down for the first 8 or so times that we used it, now that we have been using it for so long it is extremely simple to do as the joints aren't so stiff.

[Rachel]

They do generally set up all the same, you basically pay for name, material and pockets! We have the cheapest least fancy one from babyco, Swallow light n easy, it is easy to assemble, we put the mattress protector on it then a sheet. DD slept for 6 nights in it when we were away and she wasn't bothered by it.

[aussienic]

I feel they are all pretty much the same as well.. I have a cheapy from Target.. does the job.. You can go to Clark rubber or some other store and get a mattress cut to size for it if neccesary

[blackbird]

They do get easier to use and seem to be all fairly similar. Some have wheels and some have a bassinet insert for using with small bubs. Angus sleeps in his several times a week as we spend a fair bit of time with his cousins and sleeps as well as in his cot. You need to be careful about putting extra mattresses in on top as they are not designed for this. The greatest safety issue with portacots is babies getting stuck between an added mattress and the side.

From Choice:
Don't use a portable cot if your child weighs more than 15kg.
Don't put additional mattresses in the cot.
Inside surfaces should be free of bumps, ledges and protruding parts so children can’t hit their heads, get their clothing snagged or use them as a foothold to climb out of the cot.
Look for possible entrapment areas, where children can trap limbs, heads or fingers.
There should be no sharp edges or points where a child could injure itself.
The mattress should be firm enough and fit snugly without gaps on any side.
Remove all toys from the cot when the child is sleeping.
The rails should have two locking mechanisms to prevent accidental collapse and closure. Check these before placing your child in the cot.
The cot floor shouldn’t sag. Press down on the base to check this.

[castle]

Yes, all the travel cots work in very much the same way. In my opinion, they are all a bit tricky to assemble/fold up. We got a nice one which was cheap due to discontinued colour. It has a vibrate function which has saved us many times!! when dd didn't want to settle...the noise & movement helped a lot.

[SSmiles]

We bought a 'whizz-bang' port-a-cot with a basinette and rocking arms (that go underneath to rock the whole thing)...it's bulky and heavy... I would recommend finding the cheapest (but good quality) and lightest port-a-cot out there unless you intend to use it all the time. We've used ours for about 5 nights so far all up... We had intended to use it with bubs in our room for the first 6 months but it made too much noise so we put him in his cot in his room instead.

A port-a-cot with all the 'extras' was a waste of money for us...

I have heard though that one thing to look out for is a port-a-cot with sides that are all mesh so that bubs doesn't suffocate up against the edge of it if they roll to a side.

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Thanks HEAPS for all the information. Gee this forum is fantastic! I will definitely eatch out for all the above when choosing one

[Snacks]

We got a $100 simple, no frills one. However a little while later I saw one in a big toy shop that was on special for the same price with a bassinett and change table attachment. I wish I had've held out until the sale - isn't it always the way?! So I'd recommend checking out the sales and seconds stores if you can be bothered and have time

[Snacks]

(except for my poor back!).

Yes! That's the trouble I have with them. We have used ours heaps as well, Natalie used to sleep in hers during the day downstairs to stay cool in summer - I wish I had've had the bassinett attachment! (Natalie is patted to sleep.)

[{sarah}]

My mum has looked after Zander every Friday from when he was around 3-4 months old so she has had to have a decent one for him. She got a Jeep one, basically cos she liked the look of it LOL!! It has music, a light & a vibrating function but none of them have ever been used! The thing that was great with it is an extra matress, it folds up like an N so it is very portable as well. It makes the cot way more comfy then the other thin mattress it came with. There's also a bassinet attachment to the top, half is bassinet & the other half is a change table.