Buying Small Cot Beds

When looking for a small cot bed it's easy to get caught up on the spec and safety features, but take into account the aesthetic too. A well-designed cot will make your room appear bigger and less clutter-filled.

This model is ideal for bedrooms with small spaces. It's light and stroller-style. It's also the easiest flatpack to assemble.

Space-saving

Cot beds are scaled down versions of traditional cots, however they still provide all the comfort and safety features your baby deserves. They can be used until your toddler is ready to move on to a junior bed at the age of 2. Some models can be converted into a stylish sofa bed for older children.

To help you maximize your space, choose a model that fits in with your existing furniture in the bedroom, or one that you can easily dismantle and put up again when you want to make room for other baby things. You might also want to think about a compact cot bed with built-in storage, or an all-purpose design that incorporates the drawers of a chest with a changing table and bench seats into one piece of furniture.

There is a wide variety of sizes in our small cot beds and cribs roundup, so regardless of whether you have a tiny nursery or a large playroom, there's something to suit your space. A lot of the cribs on our list come with mattresses that are fitted that makes it easier to keep your baby's bedding clean and tidy.

When you are choosing a cot it is essential to measure the space in your nursery and check the dimensions to make sure it's appropriate before purchasing. The distance between the bars should be no greater than 6.5cm. This is to ensure safety.

Silver Cross Nostalgia is a cot which accommodates a 120x60cm standard mattress and comes with stunning sleigh-style frames. It's built to last with a sturdy construction with high-quality materials, and it's easy to adjust as your child grows. It is more expensive than the other cots we've reviewed, and you'll have to buy a separate mattress.

The Mamas & Papas Franklin cot, which we consider to be the best value cot, is a great option for a compact nursery. It has a lot of extra features such as teething rails. There are two height positions that can be adjusted to suit the baby's development. It is also super easy to put together. It includes a mattress, however, you'll need an additional one for the toddler conversion.

Comfort

Choose a small cot with an incredibly comfortable mattress. This will help your baby cots online sleep well. These mattresses are more rigid than standard cot mattresses but are soft enough to ensure your child has a comfortable night sleep.

The mattress's cushioning also helps to prevent heat retention, which can cause discomfort for certain babies. The materials used on the mattress are also free of irritants and chemical to ensure they don't cau senior editor Nick Belcaster noted that stomach sleepers might struggle with it.

Safety

To ensure the safety of your baby it's essential to verify that the cot bed is in compliance with the UK standards it claims to comply with. Look for the BS EN code or BS8509 in case you're planning to convert it into a toddler's bed. It is also important to ensure that it's the right size for your nursery and offers enough room for a safe sleeping environment for your child. It should be 140cm by 70cm and have no gaps around the edges or corners.

Make sure that the mattress is firm and sits flat inside the cot. If it's old, soft or damaged, this can pose a suffocation risk. Examine for any sagging areas that could pose a danger and then test how the mattress will spring back after pressing it. A high-quality mattress for cots should feel firm and flat when you press down on its centre.

Keep the cot free of any toys, stickers and other items that could pose a choking risk. Babies must be able to move freely and roll over throughout their sleep, which is why it's also important that the cot does not have raised corner posts or cut-outs that could be used as footholds to climb out. If your cot features drop-sides, be sure to check them frequently to ensure that the mechanism locks securely.

It's important to avoid placing a cot close to a radiator or sunny window, as they could get too hot or awake with sunburn. Keep the cot away from cords on wall mounted curtains as well as baby monitor cables and decorative accessories that have long cords. Babies can get caught by these, and older babies could pull themselves up on them or reach out to grab the bars for the cot.

This cot is well worth the extra money if you want the Scandi style and a top quality finish. The instructions are easy to follow and the wood feels sturdy. It takes time to put together. It's not expensive, but it'll keep your child safe through their toddler years and look fantastic in any nursery.

Design

It's important to consider that you're likely to invest in long-term furniture when shopping for a bed that is small. Unlike cribs, which are used only for a short time, affordable cots are appropriate from the time a child is born until they're able to safely move to a toddler bed or kids single bed. To ensure that the crib you purchase will last, look for a design with adjustable base heights. This feature allows you to lower the mattress height as your baby grows, helping them stay in a safe and comfortable position for longer.

Another design element to look for is the ability to take off sections of cot bars. This will give your child the feeling of independence as they begin to play and make it easier for them to get into and out of the bed. Some cribs, like the Leander Luna Baby Cot, can be converted into a sofa by removing the front.

The slatted style of many cots is an excellent choice for small spaces, too, as it helps to circulate air and regulate your baby's temperature. This can make a huge difference in the quality of sleep and will ensure that your baby has an enjoyable sleep.

A small cot, or bed for cots, is a fantastic investment in your baby's safety and sleeping habits. It can also be an ideal addition to any nursery. Cuckooland has a wide range of cots and beds for you to pick from.

There's also a range of accessories, such as baby bumpers and soft duvets made of premium bed linen, are available for every crib to make it look more complete. This allows you to create a welcoming and cosy environment for your baby, making sure they have the best sleep possible.