How to buy the best cot for your baby

The key elements to look for when buying a cot are:

• Safety - first and foremost, this is the top priority for mums and dads. Check that the cot you’re buying complies with Australian safety standards and that it’s manufactured from safe materials.
• Style - to fit with the theme of your nursery and home.
• Ease of use - to save your back and make life a little easier.
• Features - such as removable sides and adjustable height.

Your little one will be using their cot for multiple naps each day for the first two years of their life, so it’s important to get this investment right.

Before buying your cot, work out the style you’d like in your nursery. Is it Scandi? Traditional? Coastal? Are there any pieces of furniture already in the room that dictate your décor theme? Knowing your style will help narrow your search for the best baby cot and prevent you from buying something that doesn’t suit your space.

To help you stick to your budget when buying a pram, work out how much you’ve got to spend before you shop. You are likely to have many other baby products to purchase for your impending arrival, such as a car seat, pram, playpen, bedding, and more, so try working out your overall budget for your nursery and then allocate the amount you can spend on your cot.

The right time to transition your toddler to a regular bed or toddler bed is an individual decision. Some toddlers start climbing out of their cots, so the decision to transfer them becomes a matter of safety, more than anything else. While other families need to make way for a new baby to take up residence in the cot. And some families just feel ready to take the next step. If you buy a convertible cot with removable sides, it means you will get longer out of your investment and help make the transition easier for your baby.

Save your back by choosing a height-adjustable cot. Before your baby can sit, you can set up your new cot in the ‘high’ position, making it easier for you to get your newborn baby in and out of the cot. Once your baby can pull themselves up to sitting, you should lower your cot to the ‘low’ position so they can’t fall out.

The most important safety credential for your baby’s new cot is compliance with Australian safety standards. Here at Amart, our entire range is compliant with Australian safety standard AS/NZS 2172.

However, there are a few other important safety features and guidelines we recommend you follow.

1. Ensure the base of the cot is deep enough to stop a child from falling out. At its lowest position, the base of your cot should be a minimum of 50cm from the top of the cot. And, if you have an adjustable cot, its high position should be a minimum of 30cm from the top of the cot.
2. Ensure there are no footholds in your cot that your child could use to climb out.
3. The cot mattress must fit your cot with no more than 2cm to spare between the mattress and each of the inside edges of the cot or bassinet. Gaps at the sides are a suffocation risk because your baby could roll face-first into them.
4. Buy a brand-new mattress for your baby. Second-hand baby mattresses are not recommended as they can harbour bacteria and other allergens. Make sure you choose a firm mattress as opposed to a plush or pillow-top mattress to prevent suffocation.
5. When setting up your cot with bedding, ensure there aren’t any strangulation hazards. Pillows, cot bumpers, soft toys, and heavy blankets or quilts should not be inside the cot until your child is at least two years old.

Think about the amount of time you and your baby will be using your cot and other nursery furniture in the first couple of years of their life. There will be a lot of sleep (hopefully!) and a lot of nappy and outfit changes. So, any features that ease pressure on your back and make it easier to manoeuvre your baby through their daily routine will be a big win for both of you.

Adjustable base heights - A cot with adjustable base heights will give you approximately six months with your cot at a higher position to make putting down and picking up your baby easier.

Drop-side cot - a safety-approved drop-side cot is a design where one side of the cot lowers so you can reach your infant more easily and then return the side to its full height to protect the child while they sleep.

For more nursery furniture designed to make parenting your baby easier, check out our range of change tables.

Consider how much assembly will be required for your new cot and whether you will need any help with it. If you’re heavily pregnant, you might need a hand with lifting, and getting low to the ground for assembly could be tricky. Consider buying your cot before your third trimester so you’re organised early.

Teething rails - Young babies have been known to chew on the rails of their cots to relieve their sore gums when cutting teeth. Teething rails are made from clear plastic and not only protect your furniture they also keep your baby safe.

Wheels with safety locks - Wheels make the cot easier to move around as needed, however, ensure that at least two of the wheels are lockable for stability and safety.

Materials - Check the materials and paints on the cot are non-toxic.

Convertible cots - You’ll get more years of use out of your baby bed if you buy a convertible cot. When your baby is ready, switching your cot into a bed will help to prevent injuries associated with falling out of a cot.