Portable cot or cot?

[squidipa]

all right i am 11 weeks pregnant have a 1 year old using our current cot and expect him to still be in it in some shape or form by the time bub arrives. I would like to know your thoughts, do i get another cot or a portable cot, what would be the pro's and cons of this. We don't own our home its rented and space is an issue.
Also would a portable cot that converts to a bassinet/change table be alright long term would i need to buy more padding mattress? how much is this? would this be unsafe for baby? what brands are best for long term use?

whats the difference between a portable cot made up to a bed and a cot made up to a bed also i will be having a c section if that helps.

ALL tips and advice would be more than appreciated thank you in advance.

[Just Me]

Sorry don't have heaps of advice about portacots - I'm pretty sure that you aren't meant to add more mattresses and stuff to them because that makes them unsafe as far as SIDS go. The only other thing I would consider with using a portacot instead of a cot (especially if you are having a c-section) is how far down you have to bend to pick up bub or resettle bub. I have just used a portacot for a week on holidays with my 14 month old and I found it very straining as far as laying my baby down if he was already asleep when I put him down. I'm not sure how you would go with a newborn.

[Lulu]

port a cots aren't recommended for long term use hun.

Could you arrange to borrow a cot instead until J moves into a bed?

[squidipa]

port a cots aren't recommended for long term use hun.

Could you arrange to borrow a cot instead until J moves into a bed?

na not gonna happen to isolated here dont know any one lol, Plus bubs always chew on cots and damage them too. My other son by 2 was in a bed but j will have to share with then 4 year old and 9 year old and im concerned about j getting up and getting into unsafe toys if nto in hsi cot that ill be doing my best to lock away so think he will be in cot longer :S

[~Raven~]

Sorry quick reply as have to dash out!

You need to bend over a hell of a long way (to the floor) so imagine doing that after a c/sect! Same with the change table part because they are stacks lower than a regular change table.

TBH I really don't think a normal cot would take up all that much more room than a porta cot either!

I'm not sure that it is advised to put an extra mattress in a portacot like townsville girls has said.

You could maybe get a bassinet for a few months and by then DS would be ready for a bed

[HotI]

When helping other people set up, i have found some really good quality cots (and other bub things) through e-bay, op shops and trading post for small amounts of money. If you were more comfortable, you could get a new mattress to go with a second hand cot.

[youngmumof3]

we got a portacot when ds1 was born for his day sleeps but then when ds2 was born we didnt have the room or the money to get another cot so ds2 was in the portacot till he was 1 and then moved into the cot after ds1 went into a toddler bed i didnt have a problem with it after my ceasar

[rufalina]

We are facing the same, DS1 will be 18mo when DS2 is born. And they will need to share a room. Eventually we will get bunk beds.

For now, our plan is - DS 2 will be in a bassinet which I got off ebay for $40 for a few months (in our room) and then DS1 will move into a trundle bed (low to the floor) and DS2 will get the cot. And I am going to have to totally baby proof his room, and lock his cupboards, and will put a baby gate across his door, so DS1 cant run round the house... (I like the cot for that reason, but it is not practical to have two)

We will get the trundle pretty cheap too (pine), and then it can slide under a bed when we get around to them. But we will get a good mattress which can move to the bed later on.

I also agree with Raven Portacots are very low and bending after c-sect would be really hard. That is why I liked the bassinet, it is on wheels and a good height.

[feeb]

We are at same dilemea as DS will be 18 months when 2nd bub born.

Bub will go into bassinett for 3 or 4 months and then will see whether will borrow a 2nd cot or put DS into a bed.

Currently I think we will be borrowing a cot as DS is still all over cot and I dont think he would be safe in a bed even with a rail as he ends up at top of cot and side ways.

Our porta cot has 2 levels so isnt too low and change thing is also not too low but wouldnt use for long term use.

[nellnell]

It is truly amazing how kids react when you move them into a big bed. I moved my DD into a big bed at 18 months. Well officially we put a matress on the floor for two weeks then into the big bed. We didn't have a bed rail...just placed another mattress beside the bed in case she fell out, a soft landing, but helping her to understand the need to stay in the bed.

She always moved around the cot during sleeps but as soon as she moved to the single bed, she was fine, didnt move at all. And she only ever fell out ONCE.

DS was born when DD was 22 months - so it gave her 4 months to get used to it.

I'd suggest a bed over a cot