UPPAbaby Universal Carrycot Stand, Grey (2015)

Product Information

A carrycot plays an essential part in the first six months of a baby’s life – it is a light portable cot that can be attached to the chassis of a pram. When it comes to a travel system, it’s the first configuration that will be used with a newborn. If a pushchair doesn’t have a lie-flat seating option, then a carrycot is a must as it allows a newborn to lie completely flat which is essential for spinal and lung development. According to The Sleep Foundation, it is recommended that newborns have 14-17 hours of sleep within a 24 hour period, so its vital that their sleeping environment is safe and comfortable. Things may get more complicated for a summer baby, depending on whether you are insisting on using a carrycot through the whole winter or you are open to a switch for a seat unit. Two of my sons were born in May, and we had switched an average-sized carrycot (approximately 73.5 cm long) to a seat unit somewhere in December / January (when they reached circa 7.5 months of age). Both of them were big boys with a birth weight of over 4 kg, and we, naturally, used a winter footmuff too at the end of bassinet-use!

Whilst carrycots are ideal places for lying and napping, most aren’t specifically designed for longer and overnight sleeps (a small number are and will clearly state so). To keep them safe, make sure your little one sleeps at night in an approved bed for babies, like a Moses basket or a cot bed. When to switch from a carrycot to a pushchair? you still prefer to use the carrycot for your summer baby throughout winter, go for the inner length of 75-77 cm minimum. That's because you will need to accommodate your growing baby as well as the winter footmuff._ An excellent alternative for your summer baby is also a stroller with either a soft carrycot, a cocoon, or at least some head hugger. This option is not too costly and saves some storage space later since you don't need to find space for the full-sized carrycot that is not in use anymore. The seat unit is usually more open and better ventilated than the carrycot, and therefore more appropriate for hot summer days. For an autumn baby, you will be looking for an average-sized or bigger carrycot. It is highly likely that the baby will use the carrycot during the whole autumn and winter, so you will need enough space to accommodate your growing baby wrapped in warm clothes and footmuff. Because of the possibility of snow and cold wind, I would recommend a bigger hood or an elevated apron. Alternatively, to extend the hood, you could get an additional shade, hood extension or a sun visor accessory. What is essential when it comes to choosing a suitable carrycot? Do I even need a carrycot? Read all about bassinets in Strollberry's ultimate guide.

The second way of ventilation in a carrycot, usually found in better/more expensive models, is through its base. Using a lever or a button, you can open and close the vents on the bottom of the carrycot. Thanks to such an air circulation system, the temperature of the mattress and the inside of the carrycot are kept at an optimal level. Apart from Italian brands (such as Cam, Chicco, Peg-Pérego) boasting a flip-out ventilation system, you can find them present in many Polish brands and robust, oval-shaped prams, too. every child is different and all that... for my first I lovingly prepared a moses basket next to my bed, which the baby pretty much never slept in. It made a great dumping ground for blankets, muslins etc i suppose. She was too big for it by about 4 months anyway (and she was a dinky baby) but technically too young for her own room and cot yet.

Nevertheless, you may find some justification for an inclining carrycot - a baby suffering from reflux. Some babies do; some babies don't… I wouldn't worry beforehand. You can still go around this by placing a wedge pillow in an ordinary (non-inclined) carrycot. A wedge pillow slightly elevates the head along with the shoulders and torso, which is actually a more ergonomic and safe way in reflux prevention and treatment. You can definitely survive without the inclining function, and I wouldn't consider this function important when choosing the right carrycot. Your little one will be ready to move from a flat carrycot to a pushchair seat when they can sit upright unaided and can lift and support their head. For most babies, this happens around six months of age, but every child is different. Some babies reach this stage a little earlier, some a little later. How to put a baby in a carrycot pram?There is, of course, no accounting for taste, and I am sure many moms enjoyed having an inclining carrycot. The hood Another - and a rather good - approach is to choose the stroller system with a seat unit you like and just survive any carrycot that' fits it for those first few months, no matter how large or functional it i In the end, unlike the carrycot, you will use the seat unit for much longer, and most of the disadvantages of the carrycot are bearable or easily resolved anyway.

The apron is a functional accessory, and you are going to need it (not only) in winter. Thanks to creating shade and protecting the child not only against the cold, the apron comes in handy during the whole year, including some summer days. A large hood is crucial in summer when the sun can be fierce and sharp, as well as in winter, as partial protection against the elements. When the low sun in the mornings and afternoons is preventing your little one from having a good nap, you will certainly appreciate the option to extend the hood.By any means, I am not trying to put you off leatherette material. I just think that it is important to consider all the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision based only on the look. Inner dimensions of the carrycot Newborns and young babies need to lie flat in a carrycot at first when you go for walks. Smaller babies don’t yet have the muscle strength to lift and support their upper body and their head. Lying flat also helps the development of their spine. Put simply, lying flat in a carrycot keeps them both comfortable and safe. The canopy of the carrycot, the seat unit, and even the car seat is for sure an important detail to look at. The rule applying to the carrycot canopy is that it's always better to have more of it (and not to use it) than to get less (and struggle with not-protective-enough sun coverage). With the carrycot facing forward, you wouldn't have a chance to see if, for example, they threw up a bit or an uninvited insect entered the carrycot. A baby's sight is rather short-ranged, so the argument about a better view doesn't apply for the smallest children needing a carrycot. Later, when they are old enough, they will have an opportunity to enjoy the view and all its advantages with a forward-facing seat unit.