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Hi :D
with Easter coming around pretty quick we will be in need of a porta cot, so just thought I'd see what you all reccommend?
I guess compact and easy to setup would be good, or should I go for what ever is most comfortable for baby?
We dont really have a budget, only just started looking
hope you can help,
thanks
my folks got us a mother's choice portacot for when bub arrives - it retails for just on 200 but was on special at target for 119. it's easy to set up, has the basinette insert, and has sun shade (similar to pram) and fly netting for using it outside. has two wheels that are lockable so easy to move if needed. i think it weighs about 11kg with everything in the bag, is easy to set up and pull down (once you work out what buttons to push... it's plain color so no need to worry about gender specific stuff, no prints (so no matching to other nursery stuff) - i love it! the mattress is fairly comfy feeling in comparison to some of the ones i've played with in the past
the folks bought one for their house as well for when Gremlin and I visit so i don't have to drag my one around so much. my olds have a VERY cluttered house, but have managed to store it without any dramas... will be interesting to see where they intend to set it up though lol
We have steelcraft enigma and it seems pretty good. Has bassinet level and change table attachement, also has mobile that plays music and has a light! Its very neutral and nice.
Fiddly to set up basinet part the first time after that all good!
We bought a quilted fitted portacot sheet also to pad mattress a bit. DS sleeps well in it
We're looking at the Phil & Ted Travel Cot. Super light (only 2.5kg!), compact and very practical. I'm yet to see it in action but everything I've seen and read so far sounds very positive. You can check it out on their website. It retails for about $200 in Australia
When i bought enigma the shop told me not to even bother looking at phil and ted (i have there pram so liked idea of same brand) as they are to small and they cant be used comfortably as long by a baby growing into a toddler.:
Thanks Feeb, will definitely keep that in mind when we go looking again! We do a bit of camping and a lot of travelling so light weight and very portable is what we're after. The P&T does get great reviews online (the "Product Review' website is fabulous for those who are interested in feedback). I think ultimately it depends what is best to meet your needs.:
One thing to keep in mind sako is all the extras that come with a lot of porta cots - mobiles, bassinet and change table. Many of our friends don't use the extras and have commented they're unnecessary. The bassinets are annoying to put together (it took four of us adults recently at a bbq!) and unless you have problems bending down into the cot, they seem like a waste of time. That's just my personal opinion though and comments from some of our friends. Food for thought I guess!
I just LOVE my P&T cot... And DS loves it too. Depends what you want to cot for. It is not going to be ideal as a "playpen" for a bigger baby, but for sleeping will be fine. And it is so light and compact and easy to use. But again, I think it depends on what you want to use it for... I have taken it out to the park with us, when we had a picnic, and unzipped the side, and DS played in it, then had a sleep in it. It was great.
ETA - Here is an old thread which I used to help me decide on the P&T ... travel cots
BG, is yours the Florence Portacot??
ummmmmmmmm:
sounds about right - DH has hidden the paperwork on me! googled and the pic looks pretty right! if it's not THAT one, it's very similar...
Thanks :)
Another vote here for the P&T as well as the Kinder Kot (i've tried both but bought P&T cause you can put bubs in from the top and side). We had a deluxe love n care one and sold it for the P&T. So much better than the big one and lighter so you can take it camping and on planes no dramas.
I have a big 'port a cot', which is realy unportable. 10kg and bulky. It does the job though. IT was the target brand multi coloured one. Was onle $80 or so.
I absolutely love my kinderkot. We will be taking it to Canada with us. The P&T may fit in luggage better but my DH preferred the kinderkot. It can also be used until they are 3-4 years old depending on their size as it doesn't look like a cot. IT is fabulous to take to friends houses in the evening as DS won't sleep in his pram now, or not well. It is so quick to put up or down and everyone is always impressed. I am not sure for a newborn though. Because I need to pat my DS to sleep (still) in unfamiliar environments or when he is overstimulated and it is so much more comfortable sitting on the floor than leaning over a port -a cot.
Good luck making a choice
I've got a baby love one. It is a little bit heavy but soooo easy to put up and down
We have a kinderkot which is easy to put up and easy to store. Its great that it takes up hardly any room in the car. We also have a childcare porta cot which was given to us. I went to clark rubber and bought a porta cot mattress which makes it much more comfortable.
I got a steelcraft one that is quite old and it is big and heavy lol so mum bought us another one when we were in melb to keep at her place - it is a Jeep one light as a feather, really compact and easy to move. It was just over $100 and I love it. :)