Wednesday 30th July 2008 News Index

According to the Derry Today, a single mum from Derry has come up with a new invention which she feels is a "necessity" for new parents.

Jacqueline McKay, mother of two young sons, has had her idea patented this week to start developing and producing a portable cot which attaches to the side of the parental bed.

After spending long nights breastfeeding straight after giving birth, the 24-year-old explained that she was feeling constantly tired and drained.

"I just thought to myself, wouldn't it be great if I could have my baby right beside me in a cot so I could lift him in and out without having to get up and down from my own bed?" she said. "For me this idea is a necessity for every new parent, rather than a luxury item."

Jacqueline added that as it is not advisable to sleep in the same bed as a baby due to safety reasons, the new cot is the next best thing for mums and dads who like to keep their child close and monitor their breathing.

Cot deaths are responsible for the death of around 300 babies in the UK every year, so this new product may be a way for parents to be closer to their infant as they sleep.

According to a recent poll on this website (642 votes counted as we go to press) - 42% have a cradle or cot in the same room, and 15% have the baby in the same bed - which probably means lots of mums are feeling the same way and trying to minimise disruption at night.

Jacqueline is hoping her product will be available to buy in the future, after revealing her invention to a number of mum and baby shops.

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Your Comments
i think its a good idea because since my son was born we got was in a bed sit and it was hunted i beleave because everytime i put my son in his cot he screamed like he'd been slaped but when i put him in he'd always be awake and as soon as i left the room he'd wake up straight away screaming and to have a cot at the side of me could help because to this day he panics if i go to puthim in x	mel89 14/06/2009
wow good on her! all us sleep deprived mama's have been waiting for this	sarah123 03/12/2008
what's the big difference?couldn't you just put the cot next to your bed?that's what i've done and it works alright...i just can't see the "invention"...	elen 29/11/2008
i think its a good idea, mamas and papas sell one like that. you can have next to the bed which is a really good idea. good luck with yours	flippinmental 02/11/2008
wow, sounds like a good idea, so simple cannot believe not thought of before.	menna 16/09/2008

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