CARE-COT: Prototype of a Compact Adjustable Baby Cot for Infant Care and Flood Preparedness

Traditional baby cots are designed solely for infant sleep, often becoming obsolete as the child grows. This leads to space wastage in urban homes and missed opportunities for adaptive reuse. This project proposes a multipurpose baby cot that combines safe sleeping functionality with integrated storage and buoyancy features to support emergency use during floods. The design process included benchmarking commercial cots, CAD modelling in SolidWorks, material selection, and prototype fabrication using acrylic and PVC. Performance evaluation involved structural analysis, buoyancy testing, and load-bearing capacity verification. The prototype demonstrated stable floatation with up to 3 kg load, adjustable height settings, and clear cot walls for infant monitoring. User testing highlighted ease of assembly, ergonomic access, and emergency readiness. While functional, recommendations for enhancing stability and transportability are discussed. This project demonstrates the potential for cost-effective, space-saving, and disaster-resilient baby furniture suited for both domestic use and flood emergencies.