How To Choose A Baby Cot? How To Choose The Right One And Which Bed Is Best For A Child 2-3 Years Old

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

New mothers and fathers need to approach the purchase of a crib for their long-awaited baby with a great deal of responsibility. Since the first months of his life, the baby will be almost constantly in it, it is very important that the chosen bed becomes as comfortable as possible for him. And for his mother, ease of use and various functional features will be important.

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When choosing a crib for a child, it should be remembered that there are a fairly large number of types of these structures.

Cradle . These are not very large in size and very cozy products. Children will feel completely protected here. The cradles have special legs and a special mechanism for measured rocking; more expensive products are supplemented with an audio system so that babies can fall asleep faster to a quiet melody. Famous factories for the production of children's furniture offer models with small hinged canopies and transparent insect nets.

Products on runners . These are the most popular models. Instead of the usual legs, they have runners curved in a special way, with their help you can slightly shake the crib while the baby tries to fall asleep. This is a fairly durable and very compact option.

Pendulum beds . A feature of the product is the presence of a pendulum, thanks to which you can rock the cradle without any extra effort. If necessary, the pendulum can be blocked. Certain models of these devices are equipped with niches or compact chests of drawers for the preservation of various things.

Transformer . This is a place where the baby can sleep and play, where there is a table so that the mother can comfortably swaddle the baby and a roomy chest of drawers. When the baby begins to grow, part of the structure can be removed, gradually transforming the baby bed into a comfortable bed for the teenager to sleep. The downside is the bulkiness of the products.

Playpen cots . They have soft walls and combine a place for quiet dreams and outdoor games. A great idea for long trips, this model can be easily packed into a backpack and folded back. But such a product is better suited precisely as an option for traveling, and not as a cradle for every day.

Many parents opt for a cradle basket . It is suitable for kids under 1 year old. Convenient in that it has durable carrying handles, while the handles themselves are removable and can be washed. Open space sometimes scares babies and can overly alert them. And in such a cradle, they will feel protected.

After 2-4 months, the baby will grow out of this product and you will need to buy a new bed. An original replacement for this type of cradle will be a baby stroller with a removable basket.

Extra bed . Putting a baby to sleep next to you without fear of crushing it is quite possible if you purchase an attached cradle. The wall of such a product can be removed completely or simply leans back, and therefore a tired mother will no longer have to get out of her bed to feed or calm her baby. Psychologists say that babies who have slept in such cribs will be especially close to their parents throughout their lives.

Materials (edit)

The main requirements for materials, from which cribs for children are produced, their safety can be considered, as well as:

• strength;
• environmental friendliness;
• reliability.

Only some types of modern materials meet these requirements

Wood . It is best to choose wooden cots (beech or alder, birch or oak). These are the most durable materials that are resistant to various types of impact. When producing baby cradles, pine can also be chosen, but in this case, the products will turn out to be much softer in their texture. If you have enough funds, without even thinking, choose a wooden crib, as this is also the most environmentally friendly type of material.

MDF - less popular but cheaper material. It can be used in the manufacture of children's furniture if the pressing was carried out using completely safe components. Most importantly, the store consultant should tell you about the emission class, which should not be higher than E1.

Chipboard - the most inexpensive material created on the basis of compressed shavings. Before purchasing a product, you need to check its quality certificate. In these products, the concentration of formaldehyde can be exceeded, which can be dangerous for the fragile body of the baby.

Metal - most often aluminum or steel is used. This material is the strongest, most durable, but very expensive and heavy. In addition, it is cold, unlike natural wood.

Dimensions (edit)

Crib design parameters must be taken into account first of all, since:

• it is important for the owners of an oversized apartment to initially see how it will be possible to install a crib of a certain size in the room;
• manufacturers of bed accessories are most often focused on the standard parameters of models for children of a certain age.

When producing baby cradles and beds, a special size grid is used:

• 120x60 cm - the standard Russian size of furniture for children from birth to 3 years old;
• 125x65 cm - European size for children from 1 month to 3 years old;
• 170x60 cm - enlarged European dimensions;
• 140x70 cm - increased domestic parameters, most often they can be seen in transformers;
• 97x55 cm - the usual parameters of the cradle, used for children under 1 year old.

When choosing a structure in height, it must be borne in mind that most models are designed for 100 cm. A spacious bed, where any baby will be comfortable, is the best option. Many models have the ability to set the bottom at 2 levels. For the baby and mother, it is better that the crib is not too deep, so that it is easier to gently put the baby in the cradle and not wake him up. When the baby begins to grow and learns to rise, the depth of the product will already be extremely important. The distance from the top of the railing to the children's mattress should be at least 66 cm. For a number of products, the top bar can be removed, while the bed becomes 10 cm lower.

What are the criteria to choose?

Choose the right option the following guidelines will help.

• The purchased crib should not have protruding parts or sharp corners, so that the baby is not accidentally injured.
• You should check with the seller what kind of paints the crib was covered with. It is best that there are special safe pads on the areas that the baby will begin to gnaw during the teething period.
• It is better to select the bottom and sides of the product not solid to ensure good air ventilation both in the cradle and under the mattress.
• The bars on the walls of the product should be sparse so that the arms or legs of the child could not accidentally get stuck between them.
• For a child 2, 3 years old, pick up cradles with protective sides that will protect the baby from falling.

• When choosing a model, it is necessary to take into account its shape: the cradle should not be narrow at the bottom, otherwise the baby will be able to turn it over. The lower the center of gravity of the structure, the more stable it will be.
• For more convenient movement of the cradle around the room, some models have castors. At the same time, there is a certain danger of reducing the stability of the product if the child is too active. In order to prevent dangerous consequences, it is better to purchase locks for the wheels.
• The details of the cradle must be properly sanded so that the child does not splinter the handle. All corners must be rounded.
• There should be no easily unscrewed parts and easily removable elements in the crib so that the child cannot get hurt or even swallow them.
• After purchasing, the bed must be carefully wiped with wet wipes and left to ventilate until the smell, if any, disappears completely.

Age

The cradle is the most convenient and mobile option for baby furniture. Unfortunately, she will not serve for very long: in 7-8 months the baby will become too big for her. Products with runners are slightly larger than cradles in parameters and therefore are excellent for babies under the age of 3 years. Designs with various types of pendulums are also suitable for children under 3 years old. Transforming beds will serve a child up to 10 years old and even more.

Additional elements

Children's furniture can be equipped with all sorts of auxiliary elements.

Let's consider the most popular ones

• A box for various things . This element, according to many mothers, is very useful when caring for a small child. Thanks to him, mom will always have different toys, diapers, bedding, clean diapers, rompers and other important things at hand. This element in some models can replace the bedside table.
• Some models are complemented by built-in or mobile pedestals , on top of which are the changing tables. These are very comfortable designs, however, one should not forget that they will require much more space than traditional beds.

• An important element are corners for protection and special overlays on the edges .: they will protect the structure itself from accidental damage, and the baby - from swallowing particles of material when his teeth are cut.
• Sometimes cribs have removable parts . The side elements can always be removed so that the grown up child can go to bed and get out of it himself. Or you can remove one wall and move the baby bed close to the parents' bed. The more varied the configuration of the model, the more expensive it will be.

Overview of models and manufacturers

The following options are considered the most popular bed models today.

Fiorellino Princess - This is a beautiful wicker cradle in the form of a basket for babies, available in 2 colors (blue and pink) with a durable handle for comfortable carrying. The product is easy to use, has a hard bottom and a protective hood. The set contains the necessary accessories - a mattress, a blanket, a cover for protection, a comfortable pillow and a sheet. The negative aspects include the high price, as well as the fact that the basket holder needs to be purchased separately. There is also no mechanism for motion sickness.

Irina S-625 - cradle with special design, standard parameters, hard bottom with 3 kinds of positions. It has a removable side panel with special silicone overlays. A pendulum is provided. A large box for linen is built into the product, which, however, makes it more bulky.

Valle Allegra Comfort - a very functional transforming bed from a well-known Russian brand. This beautiful model with 2 drawers is made of durable chipboard. There is a pendulum, castors, fittings are of high quality. The product is produced in different color variations.

The bottom of the structure is well ventilated due to the bottom slats, the crib is stable. The negative aspects include its cost and weight.

Happy baby martin - playpen with 2 levels, has large windows to keep an eye on the baby and sometimes ventilate the crib. There are wheels for moving the product and a mattress that can be removed. The cot can be folded easily and is very comfortable. Since the product is made in China, it is inexpensive. To the disadvantages of the design, buyers in their reviews attributed a small number of colors and significant weight.

Among the huge number of companies that offer children's furniture, there are several of the most popular

Micuna . For almost 50 years now, this company has been producing cradles from 100% wood. Beds from Micuna are distinguished by a strict design that fits into any interior solutions, have excellent quality and the most competent functionality.

Baby Expert . The company started its activity back in 1970. The company manufactures products that combine the best furniture traditions of renowned craftsmen and innovative developments. The focus is on the safety of babies and the environmental friendliness of products.

Geuther . Specialists of the German brand Geuther calculate the ergonomics of structures at the stage of project creation, and the company's engineers check the strength of all models. Furniture from Geuther has small elements that are made by hand.

Erbesi . The Italian manufacturer has been making beautiful cribs and other pieces of furniture for babies since the 60s of the last century. When releasing models of this brand, natural wood is used (most often beech) and only the safest paints and varnishes for children.

BV&BV . The main direction of the company's work is the creation of high-quality furniture for children's rooms. The designs from BV&BV can be recognized by their design - they are decorated with soft panels with hand embroidery. BV&BV cradles are a true standard of style and safety.

Bambolina . This is one of the most recognizable brands of children's furniture. Its cots are an expression of luxury and comfort. Many designs are complemented by sets of bright lingerie, which are decorated with elegant embroidery and delicate lace.

Fiorellino . Fiorellino baby bunks are made from solid beech, native to the Alps. The cribs are traditional in design and luxurious colors. Some models have removable sides.

Beautiful examples in the interior

Cribs for children will not spoil your interior and will be a charming addition to the adult bed for dad and mom. Canopy cradles will always fit perfectly into any nursery and make the baby's sleeping place the most comfortable. The basket-shaped cradle is a great accessory for traveling with your baby.