Cot safety standards ..

[Pumpkin9]

So I went round to my inlaws on Friday and they've been talking about this cot they got from mil brother for awhile. New mattress so didn't really think much of it as the brothers grandkids are no older than 3.

Anyway it's the first time I've seen it, expected it to be pretty standard - painted wood with a drop down side.

However I put my son in it and the mattress seemed to bow quite significantly which I thought was odd, had a quick feel underneath as mil was there and there isn't any wooden slats, it's literally this springey wire mesh stuff.

I'm at abit of a loss as I'm not happy it's sturdy enough and I don't like the fact that when he lays on it he sinks into it.

I've been trying to google cot standards or cots with this type of construction but I can't find anything about it.

I basically don't want my lo sleeping in it but not sure how I can go about tackling my inlaws.

The cot is clearly older than I was made to believe it was.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Jajis]

The NCT website here: http://www.nct.org.uk/parenting/sleeping-safely-cot says that the mattress should be firm and shouldn't sag. I don't think I would be happy using the one you've described.

It also says to check how old the paint is on painted cots... if it was painted before 1973 the paint will probably have lead in it, which obviously you wouldn't want your child chewing on!

 

[Pumpkin9]

Thanks, I don't think it's as old as 1973 but I really have no idea now as it's clearly third hand!

I m worried about the mattress sagging and I'm also worried about the bottom of it collapsing. He's quite a robust little boy and vey boisterous so I can imagine he might break it easily

 

[mellie_88]

This says lool for safety standard BS EN716-1 on a new cot so maybe use that it hasn't got that.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/what-you-need-for-baby.aspx

 

[naomip]

We're currently living with my in laws and they wanted my lo to use my husbands old cot!!! He's 33!!! It's made of metal and looked like a baby prison, I dread to think what kind of safety standards it was built to. Anyway, I quite firmly said thank you but no thank you, I'll be buying a new cot. I think you can't take any risks with cot safety, it might mean that you have to pay out for a new one but you can get them quite cheaply form ikea x

 

[Pumpkin9]

We have a lovely one at home, this is for when he starts to go round there when I go back to work.

We have a travel cot so I would be more than happy to let them have that when needed. The issue is they are massive cheap skates with everything. I'm getting so annoyed with it as they won't listen. We've bought the car seat that they will use as I don't trust them buying a decent one or a secondhand one that we don't know anything about.

I recommended a high chair that was £40 and really good value with lots of excellent features, they said it was too expensive and bought one that was ex-display for £23. It's useless and they have now admitted that it's rubbish but it'll have to do all their grandchildren as they're not buying another one (my sil is now pregnant).

Literally having to buy everything again because they can't be trusted and I'm loathed to buy a cot for their as I know that it'll end up staying their and then my sil will want it, and they'll probably bloody give it to her!

Argghhh why is it always difficult.

I'm still discussing with hubby how to tackle it. We think they'll just put some wood under the mattress if we say about it not being stable enough rather than binning it. God knows how we're going to get them to get a different one particularly as they've gone to the trouble of painting it

 

[Pumpkin9]

Omg just googled 1970's cot and no word of a lie this is it but doesn't have a picture on the end

 

[mellie_88]

Are you on any Facebook selling or free pages? I see people selling theirs for dirt cheap on there (or sometimes free!) Or look on free cycle. I've seen them on there too. At least you'll have paid minimum for it if they do give it to your sil.

 

[Pumpkin9]

Yeah I'm thinking that's the way forward after my little discovery last night- it's just another thing! I never have this problem with my parents. I've spoken to hubby so I'll let him talk to them first before we get anything.

 

[TTT]

I have read that a soft mattress is dangerous for babies as their more likely to suffer from SIDS due to sinking into it. I would stand firm even if they want to fall out about it, it's your baby - your rules, not theirs. If they don't like it they don't baby sit

All of the advice has drastically changed since they had their babies. My parents are very unaware of all of the new rules and advice but thankfully for us my older brother has two children so they have been the ones to update them but I still find them doing things that isn't recommended nowadays.

 

[Pumpkin9]

Thanks ttt - it's a shocker! They're supposed to be looking after him two days a week while I'm at work so obv prefer not to fall out if I can avoid it as it's going to completely blow my childcare arrangements and I go back next month. But he's definetely not sleeping in it as like you said I'm worried about the sids risk

 

[OMGbabyno3]

I would stand your ground. I had a few awkward moments with my MIL when I voiced my opinions, but my kids, my rules!

Failing that, could the cot "accidentally" break one day when you're visiting with your robust LO? lol

Good luck x

 

[Pumpkin9]

Strange your say that omg- I was thinking about giving it a shove when I'm next there!

 

[TTT]

Maybe take a softer, more diplomatic approach then. Try printing out facts on sids and ways to prevent it and give it to them and say you appreciate their efforts but are really uncomfortable with that cot and mattress. And maybe suggest an affordable alternative from Argos