5 Pros And Cons Of Baby Cots
For expectant parents, baby shopping is really important and a baby cot maybe one of the prioritized item on your shopping list. It’s expected because a cot is a very helpful and convenient baby furniture that you’ll surely need when the baby comes. However, as everything has its advantages and disadvantages, baby cots are no exception. Knowing everything about the things we buy, especially for our little one is really crucial.
To help you evaluate before using one, here are the pros and cons of using baby cots for your children
The Pros
Baby cots are beneficial in the following ways:
1. They’re Flexible
You may be wondering why you should buy a baby cot, instead of a bed that would be used by your child as they grow old. Always note that a baby has different needs in comparison to a toddler. Babies need a suitable and safe place to sleep and play. Beds don’t usually have safety features like baby cots. If you want a cost-effective choice, you should consider economical products such as the sleigh cot, it can serve you for many years, as they can transform from a cot to a toddler bed. Additionally, such cots may have other favorable features, such as:
- An underneath drawer, which you can use to put your baby’s toys.
- Inverted drop rail that allows you to easily get your baby in and out of their cot.
- Protective tethering guard to prevent your baby from wandering off to dangerous spots in the house.
Aside from the flexibility that suits your growing baby, a sleigh cot is generously spacious. This allows your child to play while on the bed, without the risk of falling. Consequently, a sleigh cot isn’t just a cost-efficient option for your growing baby but also a multi-purpose furniture and a stylish add-on to your bedroom.
2. They Help You Train Your Baby On Independent Sleeping
Using baby cots can also help you in training your baby to become an independent sleeper at an early age. It’s ideal to let them settle and sleep by themselves in their cot when they reach three to four months. Keep in mind that babies have a different biological clock, which is the main reason why they always wake up in the middle of the night. By letting them adapt to this sleeping set-up early on in their cot will make them independently settle back to sleep calmly without the help of their parents.
3. Safer Option
Sleeping with your baby offers you quality bonding time. However, it might not be the safest alternative for them. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unfortunate condition of a baby passing away without apparent cause. Scientists globally are still trying to figure out the reason, but the progress of the research is very slow. However, they point out that suffocation stands out as a leading cause of SIDS. And this mainly occurs when you share the bed with your baby.
Accordingly, you may want to use a baby cot as a safer option. It’s spacious enough for your baby to move freely and the air circulation suits what your baby needs. Before putting them on the cot to sleep, make sure to spread the sheets well so that they’re intact with the mattress. This keeps your baby from rolling themselves around it, which could lead to strangulation or suffocation.
Moreover, baby cots are safer since they have raised sides, which prevents the baby from crawling out. Unlike when you place them in a bed, the chances of them falling off are highly possible.
Cons
Despite the several advantages of cots, they’re not without a few cons. Here’s a brief outline regarding this:
4. They Might Be Expensive
In reality, baby cots may cost you a fortune, their costs depend on the design, materials used, style, and safety features. The stylish and hardwood cots are more expensive than the simpler cots made of common wood or metal.
For this reason, to afford a good quality cot, you should start organizing your finances to finalize the budget early enough before your baby’s arrival.
5. Can Be Dangerous
If you don’t assemble the cot correctly, it can be dangerous for your baby, for instance, if your baby’s cot has wheels and a braking system that doesn’t function properly, there’s a possibility that accidents can happen due to that,
When you buy cots that require you to set them up, make sure that you ask the staff at the furniture store to explain any unique assembly instructions you may need to know. And if you worry you may not do it properly, you can ask the help of a professional.
Conclusion
Baby cots is an essential furniture for anyone with babies or toddlers. As mentioned, there are pros and cons in using one, this article will help you evaluate your choices before deciding to buy one for your baby. Just a reminder that in buying anything for your child, you must prioritize safety and convenience. There may be some advantages and disadvantages in using a cot, but as a parent it’s still your decision to use one or not. If you decide to use a baby cot, utmost care and precautionary safety measures should be properly managed for your baby to have a sound sleep every night.
