Things To Consider When Buying A Cot For The First Time
Cots are an item of furniture that will be used for about 2 years, if you invest in a cot-bed this will increase to approximately 4 years. This is due to it being able to turn the cot into a junior or toddler bed by removing the side rails as your child grows.
Things to consider when buying a cot for the first time
Safety
There are several things to consider when buying a pre-owned cot:
- In the U.K make sure cots meet current British standards by looking for the BS EN 716: 2005 mark.
- Check the spacing of the bars is less than 6.5cm so baby can’t get stuck between them
- Check there’s nothing sticking out to allow the child’s clothing to get caught on it
- Make sure the mattress is more than 50cm from the top to prevent your child climbing out as they grow
- Ensure the mattress fits correctly and doesn’t leave a gap around the edge
- Family heirlooms may not meet current safety standards
If you are in the U.S check out the safety guidelines for cribs at https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-education-centers/cribs
Ease of use
How easy is it for you to reach your child? Does the side rail lower or can the base be raised so you don’t have to stretch too much – babies need lots of lifting and carrying so you need to make it as easy as possible for yourself so as not to injure your back.
In the U.S. drop sided cots have been banned since 2011, although in Europe this isn’t the case.
If you do decide to buy or are given a second-hand cot with drop rails then make sure that the mechanism works properly.
Adding A Personal Touch
If you are buying a pre-owned cot, as with any furniture if it’s made of wood, you can always personalise it if it doesn’t quite fit in with the look you want for your child’s nursery.
If the paint is flaking then make sure to strip it down and re-paint it.There are plenty of child safe paints available so you can change the colour, or sticker sets that you can use to give it a fresh look that matches your decor. Only use these on the outside though in case they should peel off.
Do I Need To Buy A New Cot Mattress?
Whether you choose to invest in a new cot or buy second hand you should consider buying a new mattress although the following advice from The Lullaby Trust website shows it’s not strictly necessary.
“The Lullaby Trust recommend cot mattresses should be clean and dry with no tears, cracks or holes, and if possible purchase a new mattress for each baby. The mattress should fit the cot without gaps.”
Cost of cot
New £49.99 – £720
Used £0.99 – £755
Click here to see what is available on ebay at the moment
Click here to see what is available on Amazon at the moment
Cost of new mattress – Can range from £16.99 – £285
Click here to see what is available on ebay at the moment
Click here to see what is available on Amazon at the moment
Check to make sure you are buying the correct size for the cot you have as there are a wide range for not only cots, but cot-beds, travel cots and Moses baskets.
Cot Bumpers
Are Cot Bumpers Safe?
Most advice seems to point to ‘bare is best’ when it comes to what you put in your cot with a baby only really needing a firm surface and some bedding.
Whilst cot bumpers look nice and come as part of a lot of bedding sets it is advised that if you are going to use them then they should be removed once the baby starts to roll around and become more mobile to prevent risk of suffocation, choking or strangulation.
Cot Mobiles
Ideal to keep your baby entertained for a while or to calm them when restless.
A cot mobile is attached to the sides of a cot and has toys that hang from the top. The mobile usually has several tunes and the mobile rotates as it plays. Some will also include a night-light and include a projector to show pictures on the ceiling.
Cot mobiles are something that can easily be picked up second-hand and as they will probably have only been used for the first 6 months they will usually be in very good condition. Many people who sell at car boot sales will be getting rid of their old baby things to make space for new toddler things so it’s a good place to keep an eye out.
Carboot tip: make sure you take a set of batteries and a small screwdriver with you so you can test to see if something works. If something has been stored a while the seller may have removed the batteries to prevent them leaking.
Another place to look is online on marketplaces such as Facebook, Shpock, Gumtree and Ebay.
Cost range of a pre-owned cot mobile is £0.99 – £37
Click here to see what is available on ebay at the moment
Having Another Baby
If you are planning more children or one happens to be on the way, then this piece of furniture will probably need to be used for the new baby so if you were planning on turning it into a toddler bed once the first child had grown enough, it would make sense financially to buy a junior bed as they tend to be cheaper and leave this set up as a cot.
