Buying Small Cot Beds

When you are looking for a compact cot bed It's easy to get caught up on the specs and safety features, but you should also consider the aesthetic too. A well-designed bed can make a small room appear larger and less cluttered.

This model is ideal for bedrooms with smaller spaces. It's lightweight and stroller-style. It's also the simplest flatpack to assemble.

Space-saving

Cot beds are smaller versions of traditional cots that still offer all the safety and comfort features your baby deserves. They can be used from the time of birth or until your toddler is able to transition to a junior bed (around the age of 2). Some models can be turned into a stylish sofa bed for older children.

To help you maximize your space, look for a model that fits in with your existing bedroom furniture or one that you can easily dismantle and reassemble if you want to make room for other baby items. It is also possible to think about a compact cot bed with built-in storage, or a multi-functional design that combines a chest of drawers with a changing table and bench seat into a single piece of furniture.

There's a broad range of sizes in our affordable cots that are small and cribs roundup which means that regardless of whether you have a tiny nursery or a spacious playroom there should be something to meet your needs. A lot of the cribs that we have listed come with an adjustable mattress, which makes it easier to keep your baby's bedding clean and tidy.

When selecting a cot, it is important to take measurements of the space in your nursery and verify the dimensions to ensure it's suitable before purchasing. Also, you should consider the gap between the bars, as it should not be greater than 6.5cm for safety reasons.

Our real mums loved the Silver Cross Nostalgia Cot, which takes a standard 120 x 60cm mattress, and features a gorgeous frame that resembles a sleigh. It's built to last with quality materials and a sturdy structure. It's also easy to adapt to your child's growing requirements. It is more expensive than other cribs on our list, and you will need to buy a separate mattress.

The Mamas & Papas Franklin cot that we believe to be the most value cot, is another excellent option for a small nursery. It's stuffed with additional features like teething rails, as well as two height positions that can be adjusted as your baby grows, and it's incredibly easy to put together too. The mattress is included, but an additional one will be needed to accommodate the toddler transition.

Comfort

As a parent you want your child to enjoy an enjoyable, safe sleeping environment and one of the best options to ensure they get an adequate night's sleep is to pick a smaller cot bed that has a comfortable mattress. These mattresses are more rigid than standard cot mattresses but are soft enough to ensure your child has a comfortable night's sleep.

The cushioning on these mattresses helps in preventing heat retention, which may cause discomfort for certain babies. The materials used to make the mattress are free of irritants and chemicals so that they won't disturb the baby's sensitive skin.

Typically, these kinds of mattresses are also a good choice for side and back sleepers as they provide good support for the neck, head and body. They can also be used with the cot's built-in cradling feature, which parents have found to be beneficial for colic and reflux.

It is essential to determine the mattress size and ensure that it will fit in the base of the cot prior buying a cot that is small. Find out if the cot mattress has any particular rules or regulations, for instance the minimum thickness.

If you're in search of a cot bed that can adapt to your child's needs and be able to adapt, you should consider this design from Vox. It starts out as a cot but can later be transformed into a toddler bed, thereby saving you from the expense of buying an entirely new bed once your baby is ready for it.

Our panel of testers enjoyed the cot's simple setup and easy setup, with mom tester Grace noting that it "came out from the box and was unfolded like a camping chair". The middle joints snap into place, and the cot folds into itself without a complicated mechanism to deal with. It's also small and light, fitting into a carry case that's slightly larger than the case of a camp chair. This makes it perfect for transporting this cot to grandparents home.

This cot is extremely comfy, despite being larger than other models from our tried-and-tested line-up. It's designed to feel like a mattress, with plenty of padding and a bouncy bottom that can absorb the weight without making your child feel like they're in a bouncer. It's a solid, stable alternative for back and side sleepers. Senior editor Nick Belcaster did note that stomach sleepers might have a problem with it.

Safety

To ensure the safety of your baby it's essential to verify whether the cot bed you choose to use meets the UK standards it claims to be compliant with. You should look for the BS EN code or BS8509 if you want to convert it into a toddler's bed. Also, make sure it's the right size for your nursery and has enough space for a secure sleep for your baby. It should be at minimum 140cm x 70cm and there shouldn't be any gaps around the edges or corners.

Make sure the mattress is flat and firm. It could pose a suffocation hazard in the event that it is soft, old, or damaged. Look for any areas of sagging that could be dangerous and then test how the mattress springs back when pressing down on it. A good quality mattress for top rated cots should feel solid and flat when you press it down on the centre of it.

Keep the cot free of toys, smudges and other items that could be a choking risk. Babies must be able to move freely and roll over in their sleep, so it's essential that the cot doesn't have raised corners or cut-outs could be used as footholds to climb out. If your cot has a drop-side, check it regularly to make sure the mechanism is secure.

It's also a good idea to avoid placing a cot next to an open window or a radiator, as they could get too hot or get sunburned upon waking up. Make sure the cot is kept away from cords that hang on wall-mounted curtains and baby monitor cables and other accessories with long cords. The cords could strangle infants and older children might reach out to grab cot bars or even pull themselves up.

This cot is definitely worth the extra expense if you want an Scandi-style design and a high quality finish. It's not the easiest to assemble, but the instructions are clear and the wood feels solid. It's not cheap cot beds, but it will last into their toddler years.

Design

When shopping for a small cot bed, it's crucial to remember that you're investing in a long-term piece of furniture. Unlike cribs which are used only for a short period of time, cots and cot beds are suitable from birth until the time when a child can safely transition into a toddler or a single bed. Look for a cot with an adjustable height base to ensure it lasts. This feature allows you to lower the mattress's in height as your child grows, helping them stay safe and comfortable for longer.

A useful design feature is the ability to remove the cot bars into sections. This will provide your child with an impression of independence once they begin to crawl and make it easier for them to get into and out of the bed. For even greater flexibility the cribs, like the Leander Luna Baby Cot can be transformed into a cozy sofa by taking off the front of the bed.

The slatted style of many cribs is a good cribs option for a small space, too, as it helps to circulate air and regulate your baby's temperature. This can make a huge difference in comfort and can make all the difference in trying to ensure your baby gets a good night's sleep.

A small cot, or the cot-bed, is an excellent investment in your baby's safety and sleeping habits. It's also an ideal addition to any nursery. With so many designs available to choose from, it's worth taking the time to browse the full selection of cots and beds that are available at Cuckooland to find a style that's perfect for you.

For each cot, there's various accessories such as soft duvets and premium bedding. This will allow you to create a a welcoming and cosy environment for your child, ensuring they have the best sleep possible.