Through this article, we will guide you on how to choose the best cot for your baby. Choosing nursery furniture is exciting and fun for many parents, and picking up the right cot is probably the most important of all. During the first two years of age, a baby spends more time asleep than awake, so they need the best place for a good rest.
Many parents don’t know how many types of cots they will need for the different ages of their baby, if side-off cots are actually safe or how to choose a mattress.
There are a million questions to answer when it comes to babies’ rest. That is why we have created an in-depth article to answer all the most common questions of our customers when they are in the hunt for the perfect cot.
How to Choose the Best Cot
These are the 5 criteria you should consider when shopping around:
1. Safety standards.
In the UK, all cots must meet European Safety Standards. This means that it is deep enough to be safe for your baby, that the bars are the correct distance apart, also that it does not have cut-outs on which babies could potentially get harmed.
These safety standards set that the bars of the cot are between 4.5 and 6.5cm apart.
It should have at least 50cm between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot’s sides in order to prevent climbing.
Bars should be laid out vertically to prevent the baby from climbing out.
Apart from this, it is worth mentioning that within the cot, you can add sensor pads underneath the mattress to monitor the activity of your baby. We have a great article on how to add security features to your little one’s cot.
At BabySecurity we make sure that all our cots meet the above-mentioned standards. All of our products meet the highest safety standards in the UK.
2. Cots style and design
When it comes to features, it might be worth considering to look for a cot with drawers underneath for storing.
Cots with adjustable base height or position mean that you can change the height from the mattress to the top. When the baby is smaller you can set the height higher so it is easier to take them in and out. As they grow bigger, you set it lower for more safety.
A teething rail is a piece that is laid along the bars of the cot. It is normally made of plastic or tissue and protects the cot from being chewed by toddlers. Most of the cots sold at BabySecurity from different brands come with protective teething rails.
With regards to design, Scandinavian and minimalist design are the styles to look for. Most searched colours are within neutral palettes, with white and grey being the most popular ones. Also, a standard wooden finish will work well with most room styles.
Brands like Babymore, East Coast, Hauck or Obaby are the most trusted by parents when it comes to choosing a cot.
If you find a cot converting to a bed that means it can be switched into a junior bed by removing one or both sides.
Cots with drop-sides are completely safe to use and quite handy. Also, it will save some back pain from bending into it when to lift or place the baby. Many people wonder if drop-side cots are safe. The truth is, any cot in the UK, whether it is drop-side or fixed-side should be sold according to the UK’s strict safety standards.
If you choose a cot with wheels, this will help you move it around the house with ease. This might be interesting as cots tend to be heavy. Bear in mind that cots weigh around 20 kg to 23 kg and are often not easily transportable from room to room.
3. Mattresses
How to choose the best mattress for your cot? Mattresses are normally sold separately from a cot or cot bed, but you should look at the size of the cot to buy the right mattress. It’s crucial to get the right type and size of mattress to go in it.
Cots are generally around 50-60cm wide and 140cm long, so you will need a 120cm x 60cm mattress.
If you find a 140cm x 70 cm mattress, chances are it is designed to be used on a cot bed.
Remember that the mattress needs to be kept as clean and hygienic as possible, so it is nice to look for one that is washable at a high temperature. Alternatively, you could use a mattress protector, which covers the mattress to stop it from getting wet.
Choose a mattress that feels firm rather than soft and never less than 8cm thick.
4. Cots bedding and accessories
Pillows and duvets are not suitable for babies under a year due to the risk of suffocation. Also, babies are not able to regulate their own temperature as adults do.
Nevertheless, cot bumpers are a very popular cot accessory. Some people wonder if cot bumpers are safe. And the answer is yes, cot bumpers are safe to use. They are intended to prevent injuries and add an extra layer of protection. Nevertheless, it is advisable to make sure they are properly tied up to avoid any potential risks.
5. Cots Prices
Prices of cots can vary drastically depending on the finishing and the features.
A basic travel cot can cost around £60, such as the Kubbie Travel cot from Joie up to a higher-end stylish model worth around £500, like the beautiful and classy design of the White Louis Cot Bed from Tutti Bambini.
When to use Moses baskets, cots and toddler beds?
You can put your baby into a cot from the day they are born. However, many parents choose a Moses basket or a crib for the first few months, as they are more suitable to a new-born's size.
Around six months of age is normally when most move their baby from a Moses basket or crib into a proper cot.
Probably the best moment to change from cot to toddler bed is from 18 to 36 months old. On average, most parents choose to move their children to a bed at the age of 2.
Which is the best cot to buy?
After all of the features that we have gone through, the question now is which is the best cot to buy? At BabySecurity there are options for all price ranges and features, from both the most trusted brands and the newest on the market. Click on the product to see the existing customer reviews about each product.
Moses Baskets, Cots, Cot beds, Cribs and Travel Cots. What’s the best cot for each occasion?
Moses baskets
A Moses basket or bassinet is a stand-alone crib, which is a good bed for the early days. A drop-side means that one of the sides drops down.
Once your baby grows out of a Moses basket or bassinet, which most parents use for a newborn, he or she will need to move into a cot or cot bed.
Cots
A cot is your baby’s bed for the first couple of years. It can have fixed sides or one drop-side and tends to fit a smaller space.
Cotbeds
A cotbed is essentially the same but once your child is ready you can take both sides off, turning it into a toddler bed. A cotbed is designed to give you more years’ of use.
Cribs
A crib is a small portable cot of about 1 metre long, designed only for the first few months of infancy.
Travel cots
A travel cot is an easy-to-move-around cot where your baby can sleep in when you are away from home. There are lightweight and normally built in a pop-up style.
If you are still unsure about the cot to choose for your baby, read our deeper Guide on which cot you should buy.
When it comes to choosing a cot, your new-born baby could be sleeping up to 18 hours a day, so making sure you have the right sleeping arrangement for them is crucial.
There are many options to choose from, so it can get difficult to know which one would suit your needs. But at BabySecurity we are specialists of baby care products from 2005 and we understand the questions and concerns of our customers in this regard.
Choosing nursery furniture is an exciting part of preparing for the arrival of your little one. Maybe, if you are a soon to be parent it is hard to imagine that little bump as a toddler and what their sleeping needs will be, but time flies and it is better to have everything ready well in advance.