| Brief Description |
This baby's iron cot, painted cream, was brought to New Zealand by the McEwan family, the year after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. The cot dismantles into five pieces: the head, foot, base and two sides (a, b, c, d, e).
This is a great example of a cot which is commonplace now but only became more widely used in the 19th century. Prior to this, children would often go straight from a bassinet or cradle to a low-lying trundle or toddler bed. The intermediary cot became popular as a way to ensure the safety of toddlers who were capable of standing on their own, as the high sides prevented them from falling out of bed or from getting out when they should be sleeping. The iron frame was important as it was reputed to deter bed bugs, lice, and moths, but little thought was given to the dangers of toxins in lead paint that was often applied. The height of the cot shows an interesting insight into popular thought of the time, as it was intended to keep the toddler in the safe pocket of air away from both the toxic fumes believed to settle at floor level and the explosive vapours believed to hover near the ceiling. Although science has dispelled this fear, parents still find the height of cots easier on the back.
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