Cots

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cot is an essential item for most parents. Some prefer cheap and cheerful; others want to completely furnish the nursery. Safety is paramount and luckily so far, we have escaped the major problems and recallls that have beset cots in America.

Cot (or crib to use the American term) manufacturers have been having a tough time in the States. There has been a major recall of a number of brands (at least 15 already this year) especially with cots that have a drop-side. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) there have been 32 fatalities in drop-side cribs in the last nine years

In addition to the 32 deaths, the CPSC staff associated with the drop-side detachments, CPSC has received an additional 14 reports of infant fatalities due to entrapment in cribs that could be related to a drop-side but the information was not sufficient determine whether or not the drop-side was involved.

Drop-side cribs generally have a tendency to be less structurally sound than those with four fixed sides. The older the crib, the more problems can be expected. When drop-side hardware breaks or deforms, the drop-side can detach in one or more corners from the crib. If an infant or toddler rolls or moves into the space created by a partially detached drop-side, the child can become entrapped or wedged between the mattress and the drop-side and suffocate. Infants can also strangle in the "V" shape formed by a drop-side that detaches in an upper corner.

In other incidents, consumers unknowingly installed the drop-side incorrectly, often because of incorrect or confusing directions. The drop-side still appeared to function as intended, but the stress on the crib hardware resulted in the the side detaching.

According to their press release, “CPSC staff cannot say that every drop-side crib is hazardous, (but) based on investigations of incidents we have received, the agency believes that overall most drop-side cribs are more prone to mechanical failure than similar designed fixed-side cribs.” Factors that contribute to safety problems in older cribs include:
  • The longer a crib is used, the more wear and tear on hardware and joints, allowing screws to loosen and fall out and plastic parts to flex and break
  • Repeated assembly and disassembly increases likelihood that crib parts can be damaged or lost
  • Wood warps and shrinks over time and glue can become brittle. This can lead to joint and slat failures
Indeed the problem has been perceived to be so great, all cribs with any drop-side mechanism have been phased out of the market. The JPMA led the way in revising the voluntary crib standard, including a crib slat integrity test based on the European standard to create what they claim to be the highest safety standard available anywhere in the world.

Back in the UK, problems with breaking dropside mechanisms are relatively unknown, so on the face of it, choosing a cot is one of the easiest decisions for a new mum to make. All she really has to do is choose which one she likes best at the price she can afford!

The price of a cot depends on several factors. Some cots are still made in Western Europe but most are imported from places such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia etc and the Baltic states such as Latvia. The old Eastern bloc countries not only have a ready supply of suitable woods but also a supply of skilled yet cheap labour. Far Eastern manufacture naturally includes China but also places such as Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Another factor in the cost is how much material is used so a chunky design or solid, high, end panels will cost more as will a larger cot. Turned spindles make the cot look nicer, but again add to the cost. The type of wood is important. Pine is the cheapest but hardwoods such as birch and beech are being used more. Of course, woods such as oak really push up the price to around £600 but there are still plenty of parents who appreciate the beauty and quality. Then there is the cost of features. A simple drop-side is more expensive than no drop-side and a one handed version is more expensive still etc.

Colour and styling in cots follows broad trends going first in one direction then another before returning to the first. Trends can vary across the country as well with one colour rushing out of shops in the north but hardly selling in the south – and vice-versa. Some Mums like a good solid feel to their cots; others prefer something more contemporary, although we do tend to be somewhat more conservative than our European cousins. British mums also spend less on their cots than our American cousins, hence the beautiful and ornate cribs that can be seen across the pond. This is one trend we’d all like to see imported – though not on their drop-side cots!
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