All about cots and cotbeds

During the first few months of baby’s life, your baby will spend a great deal of time sleeping. Whether baby sleeps all day or all night, you'll need a bed for him. Cots come with a huge choice of features such as teething rails, drop-sides and castors. This means they can vary considerably in price, but the main differences are in their appearance. So watch out: it's easy to be seduced by the fancy details of a more expensive cot and end up spending more that you intended. However, there are a few features worth considering.

One difference among cots that may not immediately seem significant is the size (apart from space considerations, of course). A large cot can often be converted into a small bed for a toddler. This can save you having to splash out on a proper bed for a while, but the time will come when your child outgrows his cot, so you're only delaying the inevitable. You may also need to use the cot again if you have any more children, and you won't want to turn your toddler out of his bed to do so.

Other features worth considering are adjustable mattress heights and drop-sides, especially if you've had any trouble with your back. When your baby is young, you'll find it makes life a lot easier if you don't have to reach down into the cot for him.

Cots with very high base levels are worth considering if you plan on using one soon after birth, rather than a crib or a Moses basket. However, the mattress base must be put in a lower position before your baby starts to sit up, and must be lowered even further before he starts to stand, otherwise there's a risk of baby falling out.

A drop-side can make life easier when the mattress base is lower, but ensure the mechanism is easy to use. Some designs are a lot better than others. Many cots also come with either two or four castors, or have them as optional extras.

Finally, it's worth looking for a cot that has a chewbar or teething rail. Some children love trying to gnaw their way out of their cot and it could be damaged beyond repair within a matter of months. A teething rail can help prevent this and should deter most children from persisting with their gnawing habits. Many children, of course, never chew their cots and so this feature may not be important to you.