Alternative to a portacot?!

I am looking at buying a portacot for my DS. I am wondering though if there is an alternative to a portacot that I have missed?!?

I am just wanting to check out all options!! :) (That's if I have any more lol)

I don't think there is. Not sure though.. there are plenty of different varieties out there..

can i suggest you buy a portacot with a basinette in there. It basically makes the floor of the cot much higher so you dont need to bend over so far to put the baby in! makes life much easuer for little bubs :)

yeah those portacots with the built in bassinette look really good. Wish i had bought one!

I will definately be getting one with a bassinette in it.... that is my BIG thing! I was hoping though that I had missed something just because we won't use the portacot all that often but looks like I will have to get one! Does anyone know of any factory outlets in Melbourne?!?

check out the kindacots, they only weigh 3 kg and fold up!!

you can normally get them on sale often enough. I got my 3-in- 1 (cot, basinette and change table) for $120 from baby bunting.

There is an IGC factory outlet near Sunshine if that helps!

caro thats like the kindacot i was refering to, its like a tent

I saw one of those kindacots on Ebay... might have to check them out! :)

We borrowed a little tent-like bassinette, but I must admit we hardly used it. When she was little little it was suitable, but now that she moves around, its no good - too small.
I love our port a cot - we use it when we go out and I used it in the early days to sleep her downstairs when the weather was really hot.
I agree, you can usually find them on sale somewhere for a reasonable price.

Caro... if you google them they are called Kindakots and I have also found another type called The Pop Up Co.. Sleep Easy Travel Cot on Ebay. So maybe have a look at them too!

I love my SteelCraft port-a-cot. We use it daily. It stays up permanently in our living area. It's really handy to put my 16 month old in when I need to go to the bathroom etc. It's just a safe place for him to play for short periods. When I need to cook dinner I drag the port-a-cot closer to the kitchen and it keeps him out from under my feet. He is usually happy to play in there with some toys for up to 15 minutes at a time. Also when friends come over for coffee I pull it closer to the table so that I don't have to keep chasing after him. I use the high chair for these purposes too but the variety is good... he gets less bored if I can move him around from one to the other. I suppose some babies would get sick of being popped in their but I make sure i don't over do it and so far so good.

ETA: oh and of course if we needed it when staying over at friends etc we take it with us... it's not too much of a bothr to fold up.

My boys have never spent much time in the porta cot and I am sure it is due to that reason. I use it when we go to other peoples places but they usually end up sleeping with us or on a folded up blanket on the floor.. you can get foam cut to size for them but that would be annoying for me as it wouldn't fold up with the cot..

I also use mine at the beach when bub was crawling and it was great for camping :) got them off the ground and I didn't have to chase them that much..

I have a tetra snuggle bed mattress in bubs cot... it's like a little bed with sides on it. Not good for an older child like a potacot would be, but very good when they are little.

There is a brilliant baby hammock that is handmade in NSW - Happy Hangup
We plan on using ours when travelling attached to the door frame clamp that comes with our Jolly Jumper. They are particularly handy with an unsettled bub too.

Yep, I've taken mine to my DD's school sports carnival too and I'd take it to the beach now that it's on our last child. We've had it since 1994 and it's still as good as new after a scrub up. It's all mesh and coloured plastic canvas... no fabric.

I love the hammocks, there are a few different sorts out there which are totally portable and easy to use. Just google baby hammocks

Christy - what one do you have?? And does anyone have any idea if there is some way to try one. I don't want to spend a couple of hundred dollars if he doesn't like it and still sleeps with us :rolleyes:

I have the amby hammock, but I didn't use it that long, until Jovie was 6 months. So some babies stay in them longer, some done. I've also heard great things about the ones that are like hangers... I know some places hire them out so maybe see if you can trial one and see how comfy he is. I know for Jovie it took a few weeks to get used too, and other babies the same.

Thank you!! I like the look of the amby hammock. I'll try to find a rental place.

we had some foam but up at clark rubber, they do sell portacot matresses that tri fold but when we needed one they had sold out, makes it more comfortable

Just sticking my head in here to say Michelle - there are branches called Hire for Baby (just google :) ) that hire out hammocks and lots of other stuff too!

I love my portacot I bought it eight years ago and my three kids have used it. I would say that it is easy to fold up but it is a bit heavy to carry around, I manage but I could see someone smaller or less strong or with a bad back may find it difficult. Also I use a lambs wool to make the mattress more soft. We do a lot of camping and I use it to keep the baby safe.

I have just bought a kinderkot after my cousin came to Aus with her 7 month old baby using a Nomad baby tent. Can't buy them in Australia but can get the kinderkot, so I bought one - bubs is having his first sleep in it right now! I got one as we are heading to Qld for Christmas and need something light and portable as we'll be staying in 3 or 4 different places. Also, we have a 5 hr layover at the airport on the way back so I can take it as hand luggage and put it up for him to sleep in safely while we are there.