Buying a baby cot

For the first few months, a newborn will spend most of her time sleeping. Considering this, then the first and best reward for the baby especially in early life is a comfortable cot alongside comfortable bedding and a mattress. This enhances a good sleep that will help maintain the baby’s health whilst improving her physical development.

Furthermore, if the child sleeps well, then peace of mind is guaranteed for I he other members of family since she will not be fussy.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR:

EDGES
The finishing patterns at the end of a baby’s cot should be smoothly designed so they do not have jagged edges that could hurt the baby.

FIXING OF KNOBS AND SCREWS

Any knobs, nails or screws should not be visible on the surface to avoid accidents such as tearing of materials or hurting someone especially the child.

MATERIAL USED
At he baby at least up to three years when the baby outgrows it. If it is metal, check out to ensure1 it is not rusty or broken. If it is wooden, avoid the beds that may have any signs of splinters and cracks.

FITTING MATTRESS
A mattress for the cot should fit exactly inside or leave less than inch of space between. This ensures that the child is not trapped in between the mattress and the cot while stretching or moving.

BLENDING WITH OTHER ROOM FURNITURE
Though not a major consideration, blending any new item in the house with the already existing ones might be a consideration if one is keen on interior decor. For example, the cornered shape of a cot will be considered if it is intended to be placed at one end of a room. Colour will also be necessary to match curtains, carpets and the bedding.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
For ease of getting the baby in and out of the cot. some beds have one side that is adjustable. This makes it easy
to place the baby after she is asleep. Check the locking device to make sure it is firm so that the child will not accidentally unlock and fall out of the bed. Better still some railings are made in a way that they can be adjusted to lower when you want to get the baby in and out easily. You may also want to buy a cot with adjustable joints so that it is convertible to a seat when it is no longer usable as a bed.

Some cots also have an adjustable base height, which can be adjusted as your baby grows. The base can be raised to the highest position for a young baby, so that you can lift him in and out of the cot easily. The base can then be lowered when your baby is old enough to pull himself up. so that he stays secure in the cot. Most cots have two or three different base heights but two is all you really need. Many cots also have a teething rail: a protective plastic coating: around the edges of the cot sides, to prevent your baby chewing on the wooden slats of the col when he is older.

END: BL17/66