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.