Buying Small Cot Beds
When looking for a small cot bed, it's easy to get caught up in the spec and safety features, but take into account the aesthetic too. A well-designed cot can help make your room appear bigger and less cluttered.
Stroller-style and surprisingly lightweight this model is a good choice for smaller bedrooms. It's the easiest flatpack assembly.
Space-saving
Cot beds are smaller versions of traditional cots, however they still provide all the safety and comfort features your baby needs. They can be used until your toddler is ready to move on to a junior bed around the age of 2. Some models convert into a stylish sofa bed for use with older children as well.
To make the most of your space, choose a model that fits in with your existing bedroom furniture or one that you can easily dismantle and reassemble if you want to put in other baby items. You may also want to think about a compact cot bed with built-in storage or a multi-functional design that combines a chest of drawers as well as a changing unit and bench seat into a single piece of furniture.
Our selection of small cots and cribs features a range of sizes, meaning there's something to suit every space. A lot of the designs in our roundup come with a fitted bed, which makes it easier to keep your child's bedding neat and tidy.
It is crucial to measure the space available in your nursery before purchasing a crib. The gap between the bars shouldn't be greater than 6.5cm. This is to ensure safety.
Our real moms loved the Silver Cross Nostalgia Cot, which can fit an average 120 x 60cm mattress and comes with a beautiful frame in the sleigh style. It's built to last, with a solid construction with high-quality materials, and is easy to alter as your baby grows. It is more expensive than other cribs on our list, and you'll need to buy a mattress separately.
The Mamas & Papas Franklin cot that we believe to be the best value cot, is a excellent option for a small nursery. It's loaded with extra features that include teething rails. There are two height positions that can be adjusted to accommodate the growth of your baby. It is also super easy to put together. It comes with a mattress, however, you'll need another one for the toddler conversion.
Comfort
As a parent you want your child to have an enjoyable, safe sleeping environment and one of the most beneficial things you can do to ensure an excellent night's rest is to choose a small crib bed with a comfortable mattress. These mattresses are firmer than the traditional cot mattress but are soft enough to ensure that your baby gets a good night sleep.
They are cushioned to help prevent the retention of heat, which can cause discomfort in certain babies. The materials used in the mattress are free of irritants and chemicals so that they won't disturb your baby's sensitive skin.
These mattresses are a great alternative for back and side sleepers as they provide good support for the head, neck and body. They can also be used with the cot's built in cradling, which many parents find to be beneficial for colic and reflux.
It is important to measure the mattress's size and make sure that it will fit in the base of the cot before buying a cot that is small. You can also find out whether there are specific rules and regulations you need to adhere to when purchasing the mattress for a cot, such as the minimum thickness.
The adaptable design from Vox is a great option for parents looking for an cot that can grow with their child. It starts out as an cot, but it can be converted into an infant bed, saving you from the expense of buying a new bed when your baby is ready to use it.
The easy-to-use setup of this cot was highly praised by our panel. Mum Grace stated that it "came from the box and was unfolded like a camping chair". The middle joints snap into place and the cot collapses over itself. There are no complicated mechanisms required. It's also small and lightweight, fitting into the carry case, which is slightly larger than the case of a camp chair. This makes it perfect for transporting the cot to grandparents' homes.
Despite being bulkier than other models in our tried and tested line-up, this cot feels incredibly comfortable. It's designed to feel like an actual mattress, with plenty of padding and a springy base that carries weight without making your baby feel like they're in a bouncer. It's also a sturdy and stable choice for back and side sleepers, though senior editor Nick Belcaster noted that stomach sleepers might struggle with it.
Safety
It is crucial to make sure that the cot bed you choose is safe for your baby. Check for the BS EN 716 code, or BS 8509 if it's converted into a toddler bed. Also, make sure it's the correct size for your nursery and offers enough space to provide a safe sleep for your little one. It should be at least 140cm by 70cm, and there shouldn't be gaps around the edges or corners.
Make sure the mattress is firm and laid flat in the cot. If it's old, soft or damaged, this can cause suffocation. Look for any areas of sagging which could be hazardous and test how quickly the mattress will spring back after pressing on it. 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 any toys, stickers and other things that could be a choking risk. Babies should be able to move around easily and roll throughout their sleep, which is why it's also important that the cot does not have raised corners or cut-outs could be used as footholds to climb out. If your cot is equipped with a drop-side, check it regularly to make sure the mechanism is secure.
Avoid placing the cot next to the heat source or a sunny window. It could become too warm or wake up with sunburn. Make sure the cot is kept away from cords that hang on wall-mounted curtains and baby monitor cables and other decorative items that have long cords. Babies can get caught by these, and older babies could climb up on them or reach out to grab the cot bars.
For Scandi style and a premium finish the cot is worth the investment over the cheaper alternatives. The instructions are clear and the wood feels solid. It takes time to assemble. It's not expensive but it'll last until their toddler years and will look fantastic in any nursery.
Design
When shopping for a small cot bed, it's important to keep in mind that you're purchasing a long-term piece of furniture. Contrary to cribs, which are utilized only for a short period of time, cots and beds are suitable from birth until a child is able to easily transition into a toddler or kids single bed. Look for a cot with an adjustable base height to ensure that it will last. This feature lets you lower the mattress height as your child grows, making sure they are secure and comfortable for a longer time.
One of the most useful features of the design is the capability to remove the cot bars into sections. This will give your child a sense of independence when they start to toddle and will make it easier for them to get into and out of the bed. For even greater flexibility Some cot beds such as the Leander Luna Baby Cot can be transformed into a cosy sofa simply by taking off the front of the bed.
Many cots have slatted designs that are perfect for small spaces, as they allow air to circulate and regulate the temperature of your baby. This makes a large difference when it comes to comfort, and can make the difference to ensure your baby gets a good night's sleep.
A small cot or cot bed is a great investment for your baby's sleep habits and security, and is an excellent design element to any nursery. With so many styles to pick from, it's worth the effort to look through the entire selection of cots and cots available at Cuckooland to find a style that's perfect for you.
There's also various accessories, including baby bumpers and soft duvets with top quality bed linen, are available for every cot to complete the look. This makes it easy to put together a cosy and comfortable environment for your baby's to get the best quality sleep and ensures that they're enjoying every aspect of their new home.