What Is Baby Cot?
Baby Cot Is a small bed especially for infants and very young children. Infant beds are a historically recent development intended to contain a child capable of standing. The cage-like design of infant beds restricts the child to the bed. Between one and two years of age, children are able to climb out and are moved to a toddler bed to prevent an injurious fall while escaping the bed.
All baby cot are made using distinguished materials that make them strong and durable, and at the same time, light to transport.
An infant bed is typically used after it is no longer safe to leave the baby in a bassinet. They have a lower center of gravity, more mass, a broader base of support and can hold a larger baby than a bassinet. Infant beds are more stable than bassinets and as such become desirable when a baby can roll, transferring inertia with their actions; a bassinet may tip, an infant bed won’t without concerted effort. Around two or three years of age children are able to defeat their confinement and should be moved to a toddler bed to prevent an injurious fall while escaping their bed (falls account for 66% of emergency room admissions due to infant beds.)
A baby lying on an elevated mattress in an infant bed with traditional crib bumpers
Placing a child into an infant bed can put strain on a caretaker’s back as they typically have a mass between 11.8 kilograms 26 lb and 16.8 kilograms 37 lb at 36 months of age.
Baby Cots Futures:
a mattress that can be in a raised position until the child is able to sit upright, and potentially lowered further when they are likely to begin standing (between 8 and 12 months).
casters to make it easier to move the bed around.
Accessories
Scientific research has shown that the mattress influences SIDS outcomes; a firm, clean and well-fitting mattress lowers SIDS risk. However, neither mattress materials nor using a second-hand mattress affect SIDS risk. It is common to place a waterproof membrane between the mattress and the bedding to prevent uncontained bed wetting from damaging the mattress. Bed sheets ought to fit the mattress tightly so that the child cannot become entangled and suffocate; a common safety recommendation is to short sheet the bed.
Because of the pronounced risk of suffocation in very young children, and the danger of a fall from the bed for other children, the addition of anything other than sheets (including quilts, pillows and stuffed toys) into an infant bed is not recommended by health authorities. A sleep sack can be used instead to keep the baby warm. Older children can use items such as pillows and toys to construct a platform to facilitate escape, defeating the major design criteria and endangering the child.
An infant bed with raised mattress, mobile and traditional crib bumpers (now considered dangerous)
Bumpers (cushioning), also known as “rompers” in some regions, are marketed to keep children from bumping against the hard sides and hurting themselves or becoming entrapped between the crib slats. A number of instances of SIDS have involved crib bumpers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against their use. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021 banned the sale or manufacture of crib bumpers in the United States, along with infant beds inclined more than 10°.
Some toys are specifically intended for an infant bed. Mobiles are musical toys to soothe the baby to sleep, but should be removed before the child can stand (8 to 12 months of age). Mirrors are to keep the children entertained while awake in the bed.
With decreasing technology prices and increasing house sizes, it has become increasingly common to have a baby monitor nearby so as to alert the caretaker when the child awakens. Without either professional endorsement or scientific evidence that they prevent SIDS, apnea monitors are available to alert the caregiver if the baby stops breathing.
Breathable mattresses are now being recommended to provide safer infant sleep. In the event an infant rolls over on their stomach they have a much better ability to breathe with a breathable mattress, compared to a closed surface mattress.
Difference between Cot And Bed
As people say, English is indeed a funny language as there are many words present in the English Language that often confuse people. If you ask someone what’s the difference between cot and bed, then they’ll say both are something on which people sleep.
This article will talk about whether cot and bed are different or not and how one would differentiate between the two. Once the students understand how these terms are different from one another, it will help them to use them in the right context. Let us look at the following topics that we will get to know about from this illustration.
Difference between Cot and Bed;
| Cot | Bed | |
| Meaning | It generally refers to a temporary place used for bedding or resting or a small piece of furniture barred from all sides for babies. | It refers to a furniture piece that’s used for resting or sleeping. |
| Usage | It is used as a noun | It is used as both noun and verb |
| Example | My mother brought a cot for her nephew. | My room has a Queen sized bed. |
How Long Baby Cot Last;
Most children move from a cot to a bed between the ages of 18 months and 3½ years. There is no set time to move your child, but it is probably safest to wait until they are 2. You might consider moving your child into a bed when: they have outgrown the cot.
How Often Should You Change Cot Bed Mattress?
Often, spotting the signs of wear and tear can be difficult, but the National Bed Federation advises that adults replace their mattress every seven years, but for children’s mattresses you may need to replace them slightly earlier than that to ensure they are providing the suitable support for their little bodies.
How Often Should You Wash Your Baby’s Sheets?
How Often Should You Change Crib Sheets? You should wash crib sheets at least once or twice a week — or whenever one becomes soiled. It’s best to have at least four crib sheets to ensure you always have a sheet ready, particularly in case of an unexpected quick-change.
Is It Safe To Use An Old Cot?
Crib safety groups recommend against using old drop-side cribs or antique cribs because they do not meet today’s crib safety standards.
How Do I Know My Cot Is Safe?
If the cot has a drop-down side mechanism, it’s important to make sure it works properly. You should be confident it’s secure and won’t drop accidentally. If in doubt, it’s safer not to use the cot. Remove any stickers and transfers: they could be choking hazards.
A Cot Bed Is Suitable For Both Newborns And Toddlers;
A cot bed can be used from birth up until the age of five. Cot beds can also be used for co-bedding twins for a few months. This will depend though on how fast the child’s body develops. The side rails protect your baby from falling out of bed. As your child grows into a toddler, the side rails can be removed and the mattress lowered, allowing your baby more freedom of movement. Curious about whether you can use a cot bed from birth and when you should transition?
A Cot Bed Is Wider Than A Cot But Smaller Than A Single Bed;
A cot bed is wider than a cot but smaller than a single bed. Therefore, it provides more space for the baby to roll and stretch, while fitting comfortably in medium-sized rooms.
Reasons You Need A Cot Bed Includes:
- Cot beds provide more space for the baby to move and stretch.
- Cot beds are long-lasting from birth up until five years.
- Cot beds are convertible to toddler sized beds.
- Cot beds are cost effective.
- Cot beds ease the child’s transition to bigger beds.
Cot Beds Provide More Space For The Baby To Move And Stretch.
The average size of a cot bed is 140 x 70 cm, which corresponds to the size of a toddler bed. It provides enough space for your baby to turn, roll, and stretch, even as your baby grows and develops.
Cot Beds Are Long-Lasting From Birth Up Until Five Years;
It can be used from birth up until the age of five. It can even convert into a little sofa after your child has outgrown it.
Cot Beds Are Convertible To Toddler Sized Beds;
The cot bed can evolve as your baby grows. It is designed to be easily converted into a toddler bed. It has detachable sides that can be dropped down or removed to allow your baby more freedom of movement as he/she grows. It also has an adjustable mattress height, which allows you to raise or lower the position of the mattress to suit the child’s growth. Additionally, by raising the height of the base, you can have storage space underneath the bed for baby supplies in the form of a drawer.
Cot Beds Are Cost Effective;
A cot bed is slightly more expensive than a regular cot. However, it is more cost effective given the fact that it can be converted into a toddler bed and therefore used as a longer-term sleep option for your child.
Cot Beds Ease The Child’s Transition To Bigger Beds;
A cot bed makes your child’s transition from a cot to a bigger bed much smoother. When your child is ready for a bigger bed, he/she will already have gotten used to the toddler bed without sides, this allows your child to adapt to his new bed while staying comfortable. Here’s how you can remove the sides off a cot bed and help transition a child by removing one side at a time.
Cots
Cots are beds for babies that have bars or panels around the mattress so that the baby does not fall out. They are smaller than cot beds so they can fit easier in smaller spaces. They are easy to assemble or store away when not needed.
The Pros Of Cots:
They are space savers, so you can position them anywhere or compact them and store them away when not needed.
Some models are designed with a detachable side so that you can align them with your bed.
They are worth the money for parents who wish to have kids with a small age gap between them. The cot is therefore used for the new baby as soon as the older baby is ready to transition to another bed.
Some models come with wheels, which make it easier to move around.
Some models come with a teething rail to protect the infant
The Cons Of Cots:
They have a shorter lifespan than cot beds. So the baby can quickly outgrow the cot and require a larger area
They vary in size, which makes it more difficult to find the appropriate beddings.
They are aesthetically less pleasing than cot beds.
Prices Of Baby’s Cots In Ghana;
