The cot is the perfect solution that allows an ideal combination of safety and independence from 6-8 months of a child's life, when the little one shows a greater desire for independence, but is not yet ready to face the experience of a bed from which he could fall, as he is not yet able to control his movements. The cot is therefore thought of as an indispensable furnishing accessory able to stimulate the child who, feeling well received, can sleep peacefully but also make contact with everything around him. Usually used from 8 months up to about 2-3 years of age, the cot must have a conformation that combines safety and comfort, to give the child the opportunity to feel good and therefore not to fear the moment of rest.
Insertable in a wide variety of living contexts, infant beds must always respect certain functional characteristics, without neglecting their aesthetic appearance. So, although colours, shapes and materials may be different, the basic structure of this resting device remains essentially the same. The best frame is usually made of wood, which can be beech, cherry or walnut, all resistant and safe materials, with remarkable longevity and also very aesthetically pleasing. You can opt for a natural wood model or you can choose lacquered beds, depending on your individual preferences; it is however essential that the paints (or even enamels) used meet the safety criteria (non-toxicity and non-allergenic components). The majority of the types on the market are equipped with mobile sides that guarantee maximum comfort for both the child and the mother; the bars, as mentioned, must be positioned in such a way as to offer maximum safety. The height of the bed rails must be anti-override to prevent the child from making movements that are dangerous for his or her safety; the regulation indicates a minimum limit of 60 centimetres. It is also possible to choose a cot with wheels, those who opt for this model want to have the possibility to move it easily, especially if they are swivel wheels. These models are equipped with brakes capable of blocking the structure. The fixed cot types are characterized by feet often equipped with non-slip suction cups that guarantee the immobility of the cot even if the child is particularly lively.
The best (and also the most widespread) is the wooden slatted net; these elements are designed to fully respect the anatomy of the child who may assume incorrect postural attitudes during sleep. They are shaped with adequate convexity and concavity, arranged in such a way as to accommodate the body of the child whose muscles are completely relaxed during sleep. Often you decide to buy beds with drawers or cots with storage compartments that are very useful for storing bed linen or other clothing useful for resting. These drawers are usually removable for maximum versatility of use.
An accessory of fundamental importance is the mattress which, according to the opinion of many paediatricians, must be rigid, thin and anti-suffocation, ensuring compliance with the parameters of the UNI EN 11036 standard. In fact, the child must have the freedom to change position without being trapped by sinkings caused by a mattress that is too soft. The right size of the mattress is between 90-120 centimetres long and 40-60 centimetres wide, always taking into account the size of the bed, to avoid that it can remain a dangerous space on the sides. The constituent material (usually rubber or latex) must be non-toxic and hypoallergenic, able not to accumulate heat to allow adequate epidermal perspiration during the hours of the night.
In the early stages it is always advisable to avoid the pillow as the newborn's spine must remain as much as possible on its axis, a condition that guarantees the most natural position for the spine.
The main use of the cot is related to sleep: the child lies down to sleep, an activity that takes up most of his or her time during the first months of life. Growing up the baby increases the waking hours and therefore he can stay in the cot also to look around and interact with the environment; in this regard it is necessary that the supporting structure of this device is strong and safe, to avoid the risk of accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to orient oneself towards articles of good quality, both in terms of materials and finishes; for example, it is essential that all joints are made of metal, especially those for attaching the bed rails.
When awake, the child tends to move continuously both in the trunk and limbs and in the neck and head; it is therefore essential that the bed rails are equipped with bars not far apart (maximum 6 cm). The finishes must also be smooth and not protrude or have extremely dangerous edges, especially when the child is awake; the wood must not chip, and the edges must remain firmly fixed and have rounded edges. In order to offer the best guarantees, currently the safest beds are those marked with the acronym UNI EN 12221, corresponding to the regulations in force. These are approved models that have successfully passed all material and structure safety checks. A valid alternative to the traditional one is the travel cot, which is also ideal for welcoming the child when awake. Much lighter than the model with wooden sides, this practical accessory is made of fabric and mesh and has a metal frame. In addition to being easy to disassemble, it is particularly pleasing to the little one who considers it a place to play as well as sleep.
The cot is usually too large for a newborn baby who needs to be accommodated by a rather compact structure, able to simulate the maternal uterus. To overcome this inconvenience, it is possible to use the cot reducer: it is a padded support covered with hypoallergenic fabric that has more or less the size of the cradle. In this way you avoid buying the cradle and, after the first 6 months or so, you eliminate the reducer by letting the baby sleep in his cot, with which he has already become familiar. It is a choice that is currently being increasingly appreciated by mothers, both because it saves money and because it allows the child to get used to the cot without problems from the very first days of life. In any case, this indispensable device is mainly used for sleeping and therefore must ensure all the best performance for the comfort of the little one.
To choose the right type of cot, parents must take into consideration not only the technical aspects of the product, but also the quality of the materials as well as its appearance. There are models of convertible cots that can be converted from "junior" (usable up to 12-18 months) to "normal" (for children up to 3-4 years).
The most used types are the traditional ones with bars, made of wood and rectangular shape, easily adaptable even in not too spacious environments. The Montessori bed, without sides and consisting of a wooden container practically resting on the floor, is not suitable for the first years of life, although its purpose would be to leave the newborn free to roll out of bed to enhance its autonomy. Travel beds, finally, offer the opportunity to take advantage of lightweight and easily transportable structures, easily adaptable to any living environment, even if not as robust as those in wood. It should be remembered that the parents' personal aesthetic taste should never be overlooked because the cot remains an accessory that accompanies their child for many years.
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