Cotbeds can be used from birth until your child is around five or six years old meaning that you don’t have to buy a basket, cot or toddler bed. As well as this they can make the often traumatic transition from cot to junior bed stress-free as you simply have to modify their existing bed rather than moving them to a completely new bed. As with most baby products there is a huge selection within the market and so a little bit of research before you part with your cash will help to choose the product that is right for your baby and you.
Initially your baby will be spending most of his day in his cotbed so it is not a decision that you can take lightly. A cotbed is also an item of furniture that is going to be on diplay in your home for up to six years and so it is worth looking for a style and colour that will ‘fit’ with your home decor.

Adjustable Mattress Base Positions
It is going to be important that you can adjust the height of the base as your baby grows. You should be looking for a cotbed that has 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. Before long your baby will be able to push up onto their hand and knees and this is when you will need to be able to move the base down for extra safety. When the mattress is set to its lowest position the sides of the cotbed need to be at least 50cm above the mattress.

Fixed Sides or Dropsides
This is mostly a personal decision but if you should be particularly petite or have a back condition then a dropside cotbed can be beneficial and desirable. If you choose a dropside get one with a one-handed operation that is simple to use with latches that cannot be reached by your child.

The Mattress for your Cotbed
Ventilation is vital as it is important that there is a constant flow of air around your baby’s head. As you should always be putting your baby to sleep in the ‘feet to foot’ position it means that you will require a ventilation system in both the head and mid section of the mattress. It is also important that you get a mattress that fits snugly into the frame. If you push the mattress to the side of the cot then there should not be more than a 4cm gap to the side railings. A top tip when picking out a mattress is to look for a model that has removable and reversible covers along with a a surface that can be wiped clean. It is also worth noting that you will need to purchase cot bed bedding and not bedding designed for cots otherwise it will not fit.

Rails for Teething
During the teething stage it is natural for your baby to want to chomp on the edges of their cotbed. Teething rails will act to protect a baby’s teeth during this stage as well as to prevent any damage to the cotbed itself.

Spacing of Slats
A baby will generally wriggle, move about and get themselves in all sorts of places they really shouldn’t be therefore you need to make sure that the spaces in the base and railings of the cotbed are narrow enough that your baby is not going to get stuck. Within the UK the recommendation is that the spaces between the slats in the railings should be between 45-65mm and in the mattress base less than 60mm wide.

Finish and Build Quality
It is highly recommended that you choose a sturdy cotbed. If you build it yourself ensure that all bolts and screws are present and securely fastened. If corner posts are present they should not be higher than 1.5mm and any cotbed that has splintered wood or sharp edges should be avoided. Any finishes that have been applied to the cotbed should be non lead based and be non toxic.

Your expecting a babys soon and have begun designing your

infant nursery. You want everything to be perfect but there so so a

lot of conclusion to make. What type of theme are you trying to achieve? What colors

scheme are you attending use? What  baby bedding design will you

opt? Once picking out your  babies bedding there

is a few things that had better be considered before making your purchase.

It is important to make sure that your  toddler bedding materials

are flame resistant. It is also a good idea to ascertain what the draw count of

your baby bedding is. The higher thread count in your toddler

bedding the higher the quality of the fabric and the softer it will feel to your infant. You

would not want a scratchy fabric rubbing against your toddler delicate skin.

Your Crib Bedding should be as comfortable as it is interesting for your toddler to

consider. After all they will be spending quite a bit of time in their crib.
While you buy your baby bedding you can notice it

has a stiff feel to it. This is normal. Most Designer baby bedding manufacturers use products

on the bedding to make it stays wrinkle-free and looking new. You can would like to wash

your new crib bedding set before using it for the first time. This will help soften it up and make your

babies more comfortable.

While you decide on your crib bedding design, you could want to shop around. Shopping

around could save you a great deal of money as many online retailers offer discounts and bonus items with your

babies bedding purchase. Many also offer free shipping with your purchase. It is also important

to find a retailer that carries coordinating accessories for your babys bedding. You may also

want to ask if the retailer offers any discount on their accessories with a crib bedding purchase.

You may only use your baby bedding for what seems like a short period of time but it is a

very special time for both you and your babys. Years from now when your kids are grown and you

take it out of that old cedar chest you will say, this was their first babies blanket and those

fond memories of watching your toddler laying their content, just staring at their Crib Bedding

patterns or their musical mobile will surely bring you joy and maybe a tear or two.