travel cot problems

[tashaleee]

I have a mindee aged 12 months (had for 6 months now) who has taken a liking to destroying my travel cots.... she lifts up the base so she is lying on the bit underneath it... I risk assessed and changed cots to one with a velcro base - after 3 days she has worked out how to move the base in that one!

As I have her for 10 hours a day sometimes she obviously needs a sleep (and needs to be in another room - she will not fall asleep in the same room as anyone else and needs quiet to get off....) - its not possible for me to stay in the room waiting for her to go off as I always have other children with me, and she is not the type of child you can cuddle to sleep....

Does anyone have any ideas? Im prepared to buy another cot but Im thinking Im going to have the same issue. At home she sleeps in a normal cot so they dont have this problem.....

[Loushah]

Have you got the space for a normal cot? or is there anyway you can stick the base down?....sorry not much help but hopefully somebody else will have some good ideas.

[stargazer1]

I was going to suggest the same, do you have space for a normal cot? You can buy space saving cots which are much smaller than the cotbed type. May be more expensive initially but will save you the cost of numerous travel cots x

[jayjay1963]

If you have room for a cot then this could be the answer http://www.perfectnightsleep.co.uk/i...roducts_id=909

[tashaleee]

Sadly no space to keep a cot up all the time - I use my own childrens rooms while they are at school so everything has to be put away each day...

[rickysmiths]

My travel cots have four velcros. One in each corner very hard to move. The older ones only have two velcros. Maybe you need to invest in a newer one?


Have a look here:

http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/...53_10001_14053

[flowerpots]

Do you have a lie flat pushchair? would she go off in a pushchair? xxx

[miffy]

I'd mention the problem to the parents and ask them to supply a travel cot for her.

Miffy xx

[dette]

I never use a cot,just lie back pushchairs.

[buzzy bee]

I'd use a pushchair (with parents permission).

My son does this and I feel your pain!

[little chickee]

I would not be prepared to be spending money keep buying travel cots.
I too would ask parents to suppy one and replace if she damages it or more likely i would put her to sleep in a lie flat pram.

[tashaleee]

The second one she 'trashed' actually does have the velcro - I struggle to pull it out so have no idea how she did it so easily!

Pushchair - only have a double lie flat and as mindee always sleeps in a kneeling position I doubt she would go off. Single doesnt lie flat (broke the one that did and waiting for new tax year - and some money- to buy another)

By the tone of my voice she knew it wasnt a good thing to do.... (I do the same voice when they try to get out of buggy and car seat straps and apparently im scary)

Buzzy Bee - I 'think' Im glad that there is another child who does this - never came across it before

[tashaleee]

I like the idea of asking parents to supply one - think I may have to have a chat if I cant get her to stop very quickly

[wendywu]

What about putting her in one of the sleeping bags that zip up. With her legs in this she may not be so mobile

[funemnx]

Maybe you could add more velcro - put it all the way round?

[sarah707]

I use buggies I don't have the space for travel cots.

I would invest in a good solid sprung one that folds flat for easy storage and let her sleep in that.

[blue bear]

What about buying a proper cot mattress to put in the travel cot? I had a mothercare one which I cut to fit(just one end and it zipped back up so safe) it would be too bulky and heavy for her to lift.

[onceinabluemoon]

Could you put the cot somewhere where you can see it? If not I'd put her in a buggy because she could end up harming herself on the broken cot.

[Helen79]

Maybe you could add more velcro - put it all the way round?

I think that's the cheapest option. You can get the stick on velcro and do a double row all the way round. Or stitch a few laces to the bottom of the mattress and the bottom of the cot and tie the mattress on underneath.

I find that my mindee does this sometimes, I leave them to go to sleep by themselves and check on them after a few minutes and sometimes find she's managed to wiggle the mattress down so it's folded at the bottom of the cot and is asleep on the base of the cot. I just move her back on top of the mattress and she stays asleep.

All my mindees sleep on their knees like you mindee does when they're in the cot but they're all still happy to sleep in the buggy too.

[jane5]

I think a heavy mattress that some one else suggested might work or a piece of plywood under the mattress so if she lifts the mattress she wont be able to get to the bottom of the cot.