Porta-Cot Adventures

My parents have kept the porta-cot that was new when my sister was born, 9 years ago.  It hasn't had much use, so we planned on using that one and not needing to buy a new porta-cot.

However it is SO heavy!  No kidding, I can barely lift the thing on my own.  It is large, bulky, heavy, and when unfolded, takes up a lot of room.  So after trying it out, The Daddy and I decided to bite the bullet and purchase a new porta-cot after all.

As with almost any baby product, there are seemingly infinite options out there, with each one being hailed as The Best Option by some people whilst being panned as Absolute Rubbish by yet others.  After some research, I ascertained that there are 'bells and whistles' models, with features such as built-in change-tables, vibrating soothing action, night lights etc., as well as 'cheap and basic' models, which are large and simple, and finally 'new generation' models, which tend to be very compact.

• Bells and Whistles models - the most popular and highly rated of these seems to be the Chicco Lullaby.  Doing multiple duty as a porta-cot, basinette, change table and musical play-pen, this model costs around $400 and weighs around 11kg.
  
  
• Cheap and Basic models - Target and Toys'R'Us have a number of large, heavy options which are nevertheless sturdy and safe, costing well under $150.
  
  
• New Generation models - Phil&Teds Traveller is a brilliant option, and is generally reviewed highly favourably.  It is seriously light (3kg, less than most newborn babies) and folds up to around the size of a sleeping bag in its case.  Other awesome features include:  a) You can access the baby from the side, not just the top, which is handy for being able to pat and settle young babies, or easily lift out heavy toddlers.  b) It is large and long enough for a tall 3-year-old yet takes up much less room than a standard porta-cot.  c) It is relatively inexpensive at $199 or less, when on sale.  It also is great for camping or the beach etc. since the whole top zips up, enclosing the entire cot in mesh, and the mattress is thermo-insulated, keeping away any chill from the ground.
  
  

Things to look for in a porta-cot:

• Mattress comfort - most porta-cot mattresses are really nasty, thin and hard.  The Phil&Teds is excellent because it is an easily inflatable insular mattress (the type adults sleep on when hiking).  Some of the top-line models like the Chicco are also decent.  A cheaper porta-cot may require some additional padding such as a sheepskin.
  
  
• Size and weight - some porta-cots are seriously heavy.  I mean, I can't even carry some of them.  They are also massive, taking up a large section of most car boots.  This is probably fine if you are using one for a long time in one location (e.g. set up at a grandparent's home).  If you plan on actually traveling a lot, and / or hiking, a light and small option is a better choice.
  
  
• Cost - some options are quite expensive, so do consider how much use it will get (e.g. multiple children, cousins to pass it on to etc.)
  
  
• Use - will it just be used for sleeping?  Do you need a change-table or are you happy to change babe on the floor?  Do you want to use it as a play-pen as well?
  
  

After doing a fair amount of research, and traipsing out to a few baby megastores, we decided on the Phil&Teds Traveller.  I think we were a little traumatised by the weight and size of the hand-me-down, so we gravitated to the lightest possible option!  We are also going on two holidays in the coming months (Tasmania and the US) where we will be moving location several times, so we want to minimise the junk we need to carry.  

The main complaint people have with the P&T is that it is a little fiddly to set up (I've had people tell me it took them 20 minutes the first time, and someone even told me it was 'completely impossible'), however most people report that after a few uses, it doesn't take any longer than a regular porta-cot.  Well, sure enough, I set it up today and it took maybe 10 minutes, tops.  And I am positive it will be much quicker next time.  So I don't know what all the fuss is about!

The other concern some people have is that the mattress sits within a pouch at the base of the cot, meaning you can't tuck a sheet in (the baby is supposed to sleep straight on the nylon bottom.  Tabitha is a tummy-sleeper, and I don't like the idea of her face being pressed against the nylon.  So I did some research, and learned that Phil&Teds advise that the mattress can instead simply be slipped into the bottom of the main cot area.  So you can use a fitted sheet.  Although a fitted sheet doesn't really fit properly, so I am planning on simply sewing a 'slip cover' for the mattress - this will just require a length of cotton or flannel fabric and a few straight seams, and it can then slide over the mattress like a sheath.

I will report back with more after our trip to Tassie in mid January - hopefully she sleeps well in it for the trip!  Here is a short demo clip from Phil&Teds:

 

One last tip - they claim the mattress is 'self inflating' however I recommend breathing in a few puffs of air.