Buying Small Cot Beds
When looking for a small cot bed, it's easy to get caught up on the specifications and safety features, but you should also consider the aesthetics too. A well-designed bed can make a small room appear larger and less cluttered.
Stroller-style and surprisingly lightweight this model is a good option for bedrooms with smaller spaces. It's the most simple flatpack assembly.
Space-saving
Cot beds are smaller versions of traditional cots but still provide all the safety and comfort features your baby needs. They can be used until your toddler is ready to move on to an adult bed around the age of 2. Some models can be turned into a chic couch bed to use with older children.
Look for a model which can be easily dismantled, then reassembled when you need to store other baby items. Think about a cot bed that is compact and has built-in storage, or a multi-functional design that incorporates the changing unit, chest of drawers and bench seats into one piece of furniture.
Our selection of small cots and cribs includes a variety of sizes, so there is something to suit every space. cot beds for sale of the designs featured in our roundup come with a fitted bed, making it easier to keep your child's bed neat and tidy.
It is crucial to determine the size of your nursery before purchasing a crib. The gap between the bars should be no more than 6.5cm. This is for safety reasons.
Silver Cross Nostalgia is a cot that accommodates a 120x60cm standard mattress and comes with an elegant sleigh-style frame. It is built to last with quality materials and a sturdy structure. It is also easy to adjust to your baby's increasing needs. It's more expensive than the other cots we've reviewed, and you will need to buy a separate mattress.
The Mamas & Papas Franklin cot, which we consider to be the best value cot, is another excellent option for a small nursery. It comes with a variety of extra features that include teething rails. There are also two height positions which can be adjusted to suit the growth of your baby. It is also super easy to assemble. It comes with a mattress, but you'll need to buy an additional one to convert it into a toddler.
Comfort
As a parent you want your child to have a comfortable, safe sleeping environment and one of the best ways to ensure a good night's sleep is to pick a smaller crib bed with a comfortable mattress. These mattresses are more rigid than standard cot mattresses, but soft enough to ensure that your baby gets a good night's sleep.
The mattress's cushioning can also help to reduce heat retention, which can cause discomfort to some babies. The materials used to make the mattress are free of irritants and chemical to ensure they don't cause irritation to the baby's sensitive skin.
Typically, these kinds of mattresses are also a good choice for side and back sleepers, as they provide great support for neck, head and body. They can also be used with the cot's built in cradling feature, which many parents find to be helpful for reflux and colic.
It is important to measure the size of the mattress and ensure that it fits in the base of the cot before purchasing a small cot. Find out if the mattress has any specific rules or regulations, such as a minimum thickness.
If you're in search of an cot bed that will grow with your child and be able to adapt, you should consider this design from Vox. It starts out as an cot, but it can be converted into a toddler bed, thereby saving you from the expense of buying a new bed when your baby is ready to use it.
Our panel of testers was impressed by the simple setup of this cot and easy setup, with mom tester Grace noting that it "came out of the box and unfolded like a chair for camping". The middle joints snap into place, and the cot folds down, with no complicated mechanisms to deal with. It's also light and compact and fits neatly into a bag slightly larger than a camp chair's case and ideal for transporting to the grandparents' homes.
This cot is extremely comfortable despite its size being higher than other models in our tried-and tested line-up. It's designed to feel as a mattress with plenty of padding and a bouncy base that carries weight without making your baby feel like they're bouncing around in the bouncer. It's also a sturdy stable and safe option for side and back sleepers, though senior editor Nick Belcaster noted that stomach sleepers may have issues with it.
Safety
It is essential to ensure that the cot you select is safe for your baby. You should look for the BS EN 716 code, or BS 8509 if it's converted into an infant bed. Verify that it's the correct size for your nursery and provides enough space for your child to be safe. It should be 140cm by 70cm and should not have gaps around the corners or edges.
Make sure that the mattress is firm and sits flat inside the cot. It could pose a suffocation hazard when it is squishy or old, or damaged. Check the mattress to see if it springs back quickly after pressing. A high-quality mattress for cots should feel solid and flat when you press it down on the centre of it.
Make sure the cot is free of toys, stickers and other items that could pose a choking risk. It's important that babies can move freely and turn over during sleep. If your cot has drop-sides, be sure to check them frequently to ensure that the mechanism is secured.
Do not put the cot next to an open radiator or a bright window. It could become too hot or awake with sunburn. You should also keep your cot away from cords for curtain rods that hang from the wall as well as baby monitor cables and decorative accessories with long cords. Cords that are strangled by babies and older children might reach out to grab bars for their cot or even pull themselves up.
For Scandi style and a premium finish, this cot is worth the extra investment over the cheaper alternatives. The instructions are easy to follow, and the wood feels sturdy. It takes time to put together. It's not cheap, but it'll last until their toddler years and will look stunning in any nursery.
Design
It's important to consider that you are likely investing in furniture that will last a long time when you shop for a small bed. In contrast to cribs that are used for a limited period of time, cots and beds are suitable from the time the time when a child can easily transition into a toddler or kids single bed. Find a cot that has an adjustable height base to ensure it lasts. This feature lets you lower the mattress's height as your child grows, helping them stay in a safe and comfortable position for longer.
A useful design feature is the ability to remove cot bars in sections. This will give your child the feeling of independence as they start to toddle and will make it easier for them to get in and out of bed. Some crib beds, like the Leander Luna Baby Cot, can be converted into a sofa simply by removing the front.
The slatted design of many cots is an excellent choice for a small space too, as it helps air circulate and regulate your baby's temperature. This can make a significant difference in the quality of sleep and help ensure that your baby has a restful night.
A small cot or cot bed is an excellent investment in your baby's sleeping habits and security, and is an attractive accessory to any nursery. With so many designs available to pick from, it's always worth the effort to look through the entire selection of cots and beds that are available at Cuckooland to find one that is suitable for your needs.
For each cot, there's an array of accessories like soft duvets, plus premium bedding. This makes it simple to put together a cosy and comfortable environment for your baby to enjoy the best sleep possible and ensures that they're enjoying every aspect of their new home.