Getting Ready For Baby
What features should I look for in a cot?
When choosing a cot, avoid antiques or heirlooms. Older cots may be weak with age or covered with lead-based paint. You want a new or very recently handed-down cot with a label stating that it meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission's standards. The bars on the bed should not be more than 6.4 cms apart; be sure there are no splinters or cracks in the wood. The mattress should adjust up and down, and at its highest should still be 66 cms away from the top of the railing. The corners of the cot should not have posts or knobs sticking up above the rail; this is important because you don't want baby to get stuck and hurt in the actual cot structure.
You'll also want to buy a firm mattress that fits tightly into the cot. You shouldn't be able to get more than two fingers between the mattress and the cot's side.
You'll also want to buy a firm mattress that fits tightly into the cot. You shouldn't be able to get more than two fingers between the mattress and the cot's side.