Are portable cots safe for babies to sleep in every night?

[PinkPalace]

HI flower girl

DD slept in a carry basket for the first 2 months and then a bassinette until 3 months b4 going in to a cot in her own room

Up to 6 months it isnt safe for a permanent sleep in a portacot as the hard flat base is not a good support for bub to sleep on.

In saying that DD has been in a portacot permanently since 9 months and will continue in her portacot until she is in a big bed (as we need the cot for bub #2 in a few months).

We have a proper mattress in the portacot for her designed especially for the portacot (about an inch thick).. HOwever this ARE NOT SAFE for bubs at the age you are looking as there is a chance they can roll over between the mattress and size and suffocate.

I am happay to have dd in there with mattress as she is older and can walk now, get herself off her tummy and the risk is reduced but i am sure a lot of girls wouldnt approve of a permanent sleeping arrangement.

Perhaps a moses basket or see if you can buy a bassinette or cot second hand?

[flower gal]

Hi pinkpalace

thanks for your reply, and yes, I think i will go for either a moses basket or a bassinet. Do you know if you can pull a bassinet right up to your bedside and have it in line with your bed (are they adjustable height-wise?)

[PinkPalace]

I dont think the trolleys you can adjust height. I always had dd in the bassinette on the floor or actually in the cot next to me?

[Pretty Butterfly]

Kane has been in the porta cot since birth, as his brother is still in the cot!!

I put the snuggle bed in the porta cot till about 4 months, now he just uses the porta cot, cushioned with padded blankets, under a fitted sheet. Works perfect, and we still get to have him in our room!!

[flower gal]

thanks, yes the snuggle beds look great too. can you use these sitting on a table next to the bed? Rather than in the cot or in bed?

[Snacks]

Hiya flower gal, I personally wouldn't sleep bubs on a table, even in a snuggle bed. I'd use the port a cot with the snuggle bed inside, or else get one of those portacots with the bassinette attachments.
I didn't think you could adjust the height of portacots to have bubs sleeping beside you side-car style?
Personally, I think Australia has very good safety standards and so I've never had a worry about portacots. It is only when you are using extra bedding (blankets, doonas, pillows, ill-fitting mattresses) that you need to be particularly mindful of safety issues IMO.
Also, are the portacots you've seen that much smaller than regular cots?

[flower gal]

thanks for your advice. yes, i have been thinking it could be unsafe to have a basket or snuggle bed sitting on a table.

I'm thinking that a bassinet would probably be our best option. And then after 3 or 4 months if we still want to have the baby in our room then we will have to find another option, or try to squeeze a cot in I guess.