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Cotbeds are the ideal way to lengthen the life of a cot as they transform into a toddler bed when the time comes to upsize. This can be a difficult transition for both child and parent but cotbeds have the advantage of smoothing this process as the child remains within their same bed. If you have already started looking around for a cotbed then you will know there is a huge amount of choice and a wide array of options " safety features, fixed or drop sides, colours, woods, styles " making the right choice is not easy.

Newborn babies will spend the majority of the day in a cotbed, sometimes up to 20 hours so it is a hugely important decision to make. Also as this item of furniture will be on display in your home for 5-6 years you will want a style and colour that suits your home decor.

This buying guide will help you to determine the safety features and cotbed options that are going to be most important to you.

Adjustable Base Settings

Cotbeds should have 2 or 3 different settings for the mattress height. You will start with the highest setting as this provides the easiest access to your baby. Once your baby starts to push up onto their hands and knees unaided you will need to move the base down for additional safety. The sides of the cotbed should be at least 500mm higher than the mattress when it is in its lowest position.

Drop or Fixed Sides

Either of these options will be fine for most people but some do like to have the ability to drop the side of the cot for access to their baby. Drop-sides can be extremely useful for those parents that have a back condition or are petite and may have difficulty in reaching over and into the cot. If you do opt for a drop-side then look for one with a simple, one handed mechanism with latches that will not be reachable by your child.

Choice of Mattress

There are essentially three options - foam, fibre or sprung. Ventilation is vital as there must be a constant flow of air around the baby's head. This means that you will require a ventilation system in the head and mid section of the mattress for when your baby is placed in the 'feet to foot' position. It is vitally important that the mattress fits snugly into the frame. When the mattress is gently pushed to one side there should be no more than a 4cm gap to the rails. Useful features to look for are a wipe clean surface, removable and reversible covers.

Teething

When your baby starts teething they are likely going to chew on the edges of their cot. To provide extra protection for your babys delicate mouth and also for prevention of damage to the cot teething rails are a protective covering on the cotbed edges.

Spacing of Slats

The recommendation in the UK is that the spaces between the slats on the sides of cotbeds must be 45-65mm, and less than 60mm wide in the mattress base. This is important for safety as it prevents your babys head from getting stuck in the railings. As an extra safety precaution avoid cotbeds that have dangerous cut outs in either the head or foot boards.

Varnish and Paint that is Non Toxic

Make sure that any paints or varnishes used on the finish of the cotbed are not lead based and are non toxic.

Baby Bedding

If you purchase a cotbed you will also need to buy cotbed sized bedding as bedding designed for cots will not fit. Once you have purchased your cotbed bedding it can be used for both the cot and the toddler bed. It is advised that you avoid any bedding that includes any trailing ribbons or strings of material as a safety precaution.

Build and Design

- Ensure that the cotbed you choose is sturdy

- Any corner posts that are present should not exceed 1.5mm in height

- Exposed hardware, sharp edges or splintered wood should be avoided

- Screws and bolts should all be present and tightly secured

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