Hi there,

Sorry a little late to way in on this - I put a piece of foam that I had cut to size for my portacot. It stops the cot from squeeking and is softer to sleep on. Just use your cot sheets to cover it if you cant get a covered one. Please make sure that it is cut to size as any gaps could be dangerous.

My son is 5 now but when he was little we often used a portacot at various friends; houses whenever we travelled or needed to have him minded overnight.  Some helpful suggestions which I used was I put in his bedding which sometimes I would always make sure that his favorite blanket was used.  I also used to put in a teddy or stuffed toy which I played with him with so that it had both of our smells on it as this would comfort him because it made him feel that I was with him.  He also had a musical night light that I would bring with us so that this would also give him the sense of familiar surroundings.  I hope these suggestions will help.  Sometimes we worry more than necessary. 

Hey,

I found with getting my little one used to the porta cot i put a full size pillow in on one side of him rolled him towards it and lay a sheet or blankey over him for comfort. Worked like a charm he actually sleeps in it all the time cause his cot is too big for our room and our house isnt finished yet.

For the hardness of the mattress i just folded a dooner under his sheet and it is so easy to take it everywhere without foam or a mattress taking up all the room.

And another suggestion that i find with my little one is change where they sleep occasionaly like with bray on a hot day i build a barrier of pillows and put him in the lounge room on the floor under the air con or the odd occasion i put him on my bed the reason i do this is now in my busy life i can put brayden anywhere to sleep just grap a pillow for him to cuddle or something solid on his side and it is sweet dreams for him... Good Luck

Using the same detergent to clean the portacot sheet that you use to launder the baby's sheets normally should help out a lot.  There is something about the familiarity of mom's fabric softener that helps the transition.

Hey Mel, i have to agree with all these answers. Also try putting up a mobile that he can watch and a few of his fav toys. Proberbly the most important thing is to try and stick to routine. My girls both slept in portacots from age 4mths they had their fav toys and used to roll around and play with their toys untill drifting off to sleep.

Good luck.

I would go with the familiar bedding/toy thing - and sticking with your normal routine as much as possible.

Having said that - it is much nicer if you use a padded sheet that is sold at some places online (if money is not object that is) other wise fold up a cotton blanket under a fitted cot sheet. This'll make it less 'plasticky'. I also found using a baby sleeping bay (one without the arms) to be really hadny as I didn't have to make up the whole bed, just the fitted sheet.

HTH,

Jess.

hi hun, i kno routine is extremely important but what i did with both of my littlies was changed which room of the house they slept in each day but ALWAYS at the same time. this helped me wonderfully as i can take my kids anywhere and they will fall asleep anywhere and still at bed time!!!! so peraps change him around first try settlin him on your bed on the lounge etc? let me kno how u go anyhow xoxox

I  went through this with Breanna, I found having her own bedding helped a lot .I also found that putting my scent (bodynot parfume)on the bedding was very beneficial.Hanging a couple of familiar items on the out side of the cot helps too eg;teddies and toys,not too many though.Have a great holiday

At 8 months your baby shouldn't have any problems. Babies are quite versatile. Does he have a favourite toy he sleeps with? If so, take that with you and take his normal blanket, that should make it easier.

my son hates the port-a-cot, but to make him more comfy in there i put two pillows on the bottom and a sheet over the top, i had to make sure he was really tired out before putting him in there though, another suggestion would be to get a foam mattress cut ou to fit, coz i know the bottom of the port-a-cot is hard a nd uncomfortable.

hope this helps with your holiday good luck!!

I found mine slept quite easily in them.  I felt that the bottom was too hard so I put a cot quilt under the sheet so it was a bit softer.  I know I wouldn't have been able to sleep in it as it was so hard.  But all my children slept finein them once I made it a bit more comfortable.