How to choose a baby cot?

During preparation for the appearance of a child in the house, many parents ask themselves: do they need a crib, because the child can always be put to sleep with you, especially if the parent's bed is large. But pediatricians do not recommend constant sleep between mother and child, as it is unsafe. In a dream, the mother or father can crush or hurt the sleeping child, and with age, the child becomes mobile and can turn over or completely crawl away, fall out of bed. Thus, a crib is, first of all, a place where the child is safe around the clock.

But nowadays there are such a variety of cribs in stores that parents can get confused.

Kinds

Lullaby. This model is perfect for babies. In appearance, such a crib resembles a cradle used in past centuries. Small, cozy, trimmed with a fabric with frills and ruffles - it looks very cute and touching. In addition, you can swing the child in it using the pendulum system. True, the cradle is small, so you can use it up to 3.4 months - until the child grows up.
Extra bed. A great option for mothers who want to combine their sleep with their baby. The cot is placed close to the adult bed. This model allows you to teach the child to sleep separately, but at the same time next to the mother. And she, in turn, has the opportunity, without getting out of bed, reach for the child, stroke, calm him down, if necessary. When choosing such a crib, the height of the parent bed should be taken into account so that they can dock at the same level.
Classic bed. It is the most demanded model. Such a bed is inexpensive, suitable for any interior. As a rule, this is a rectangular bed, fenced with twigs. There is a bed either on legs, or on casters, or on runners. The latter is called a pendulum bed or rocking bed. Some models have two bottom levels.
Bed with a chest of drawers. This model has many variations, but all of them are united by functionality. This bed is equipped with dressers, drawers, shelves, changing table. They can be ordered to your individual taste by choosing a color scheme. This type of crib allows you to save space, as well as store all baby things in one place.
Playpen bed. It resembles a playpen, the structure consists of a frame and stretched mesh and fabric. The play space can be easily converted into a sleeping place by transforming the structure. This option is convenient because it folds easily, so such a crib can be taken to the country and outdoors.

We take into account the age

All of the above bed models are used, as a rule, for children under 2 years old... Upon reaching this age, it is already inconvenient to use such beds, because the child himself wants to climb and get out of bed, and the fears of night falls to the floor are already behind.

For baby 2 years old

Bed with bumpers. This model looks like a single bed with a low bed and sides along the edges. The dimensions of such a bed are 150x80 or 140x70 centimeters. Most often, this model has built-in drawers that are located under the bottom of the bed. The backrest, sides and drawers can be painted in various patterns.
Sofa bed. By its function it resembles a bed with sides, but looks like a small cozy sofa with a mattress. Parents like this model due to its inexpensive cost and compactness, as well as the ability of such a sofa to become a beautiful element of the interior in the apartment.

For a child 3 years old

For a baby aged 3 years, the following bed options are suitable:

Convertible bed. If we talk about the appearance of this model, then it resembles a bed with chests of drawers and drawers. A distinctive feature is the ability of the crib structures to move apart in stages and become larger, in accordance with the size of the child. There are also models where the bed is transformed into a table or other type of furniture for the daytime.

Bed-typewriter. Recently, a large selection of cartoon-style cribs has appeared in stores. For boys, these are cribs-cars, as well as with images of Spider-Man and other characters. Girls are in demand for cribs for princesses, in the form of bears, cats, etc.

Bunk bed. This option is suitable for families with two children. They take up little space and at the same time are an area for children to play. In addition to sleeping places, the set may include a table, cabinets, drawers and, of course, a ladder. The bunk bed can be made in the form of a bus, fire truck, etc.

Material

In addition to the appearance and functionality, when choosing a bed, parents need to pay attention to the material from which it is made. Most often in stores there are beds made of chipboard, wood, iron, plastic.

Wooden beds. Wood is a natural material, which is why it is environmentally friendly for a child. The structure of the tree is made of fiber, which makes it easy to process this material and give any design shape. It is worth noting that all elements of the bed must be perfectly polished so as not to plant a splinter. If the tree is treated with a product, for example, varnish, you should make sure that the composition is harmless.
Chipboard beds. Some parents want a wooden bed, but it is expensive and heavy. In this case, chipboard beds will be an excellent option. They are inexpensive, practical, and lightweight. Of the minuses - this material is afraid of moisture, from which it swells and loses its shape. Also, the material contains harmful resins. It is necessary to ensure that their level does not exceed the norm. You only need to buy such a bed with a certificate.
Plastic bed... Beds made of this material are lightweight, which makes them easy to carry, easy to assemble and disassemble. In addition, high quality plastic is a durable material that requires little maintenance. The downside is that inexpensive cribs are made of plastic, which can be toxic.
Metal beds. Recently, this material has begun to be in demand. In appearance, this bed resembles a classic one, only the rods and the frame are made of metal. Some models are transformers and extend in length with the growth of the child. The coating should be non-toxic powder paint. You should also buy this model from a trusted manufacturer, since the service life of the furniture depends on it.

Primary requirements

When choosing a crib, parents should consider some criteria.

The distance between the rods should be no more than 6 cm so that the baby's head cannot get stuck.
It is recommended to purchase a bed in which the bottom consists of slats. This will allow ventilation for the mattress.
A crib on wheels is more comfortable than the others because it can be easily moved around the room and can also rock the baby.
Better to choose beds in which you can change the height of the bottom. This is convenient for both parents and baby, especially when he learns to sit and stand in his bed.
The crib material must be of high quality and non-toxic. This will allow not to worry about the situation when the child decided to try the crib "by the tooth".
An important criterion when choosing a crib is the strength of the mechanisms. The connecting elements made of wood and plastic are short-lived. Parts must be made of metal that does not break.

Choosing additional accessories

A child's sleeping place is not only a bed, but also bedding and additional accessories.

Mattress. It should fit the size of the bed. A standard baby bed has a size of 120x60 centimeters. Before buying a mattress, you should take off your bed size. It is recommended to choose a mattress with natural fillings such as bamboo.
Bumper. The bumpers sewn from fabric protect the child from impacts during movement. In addition, these bumpers protect the baby from drafts, covering him. The bumper also acts as a bed decoration and comes in a variety of colors.
Pillow. Children under one year old do not need it. Older children need a rectangular pillow, moderately hard and low. The length of the pillow, as a rule, is 30-40 centimeters, the width is 40-60 centimeters. Pillows with artificial fillers are considered durable, but poorly breathable and increase sweating. Fillers made from natural ingredients "breathe", but often cause allergies.
Blanket. Parents should purchase several blankets for different times of the year, because the temperature in the room changes. In addition, the blanket should be "in time" for the child, not too large and not too small. For a standard baby bed, a blanket measuring 80x120 centimeters is suitable.
Linens. The set includes at least two duvet covers, three, four sheets. The best option is cotton and flannel bedding.
Canopy. Helps protect baby's sleep. Protects the child from sunlight, insects, dust, serves as an interior decoration.

When should I change my first bed?

In a standard baby bed, babies usually sleep up to 2, 5 -3 years old. If a second child is born in a family, then a new bed is bought for the first child even earlier. The main reason for changing the bed is when the child has grown out of it. He must be mentally and physically ready to change his sleeping place.

A child should not be afraid to sleep alone, not be afraid of a new sleeping bed, and, of course, he should feel balance and not fall out of bed at night.

Some children will not agree to change beds, even when their legs crawl out of the crib.

It is recommended that you first put your child to bed in a new place during the day so that he gets used to it. Sometimes it takes a child 3-4 months to get used to a new sleeping place.