Baby Cots: The Essential Comfort and Safety Newborn Items

There are so many things that worry a new parent, with sleeping being perhaps one of the aspects that most raise concern – especially when it comes to ensuring that your little one is getting enough restful shut-eye. Being deprived of this vital nourishment can have a huge impact on your little one’s well-being and potentially cause them – and you – some serious stress.

Ideally, your munchkin should have his or her own sleep space, i.e. a cot, where they would be placed to sleep on their back for a healthy and restful sleep time. Now, how do you find the perfect one with so many practical and stylish cots for baby comfort available at the stores? Ease of use, the materials and size, and certain features, like portability and an expanding design are some of the decisive factors as you browse through the different models.

The Different Types of Baby Cots

While you’re at the shopping part, it would come in handy if you know a thing or two about the different options you can pick from to further simplify the purchase.

Traditional Cots

These are the regular/standard type of cots that aren’t convertible and don’t come with some extra features like wheels for portability though you may be able to find some exceptions of the latest models that are equipped with them. Despite the simple design, they’re still among the popular options because of their practicality and affordability. Although usually made from wood, there are some more modern choices made from metals too for extra durability.

Convertible Cots

These are what you may also know as cots for baby comfort that grow with your infant. They’re created to offer you the cost-efficiency that comes from changing them to fit your growing baby in size, so though they start out as cots they can easily be adjusted to toddler beds. Some models are also convertible to daybeds, benches, and even adult-size beds.

Travel Cots

If you plan on travelling a lot as a family as soon as your bub is able to handle the journey, then this is an obvious must-have. Unlike the other types, these are created to be lightweight and easily assembled and disassembled to make travelling with a little one less of a hassle. Comfort may be a bit of an issue, though, because they’re not as sturdy as the others, and the mattresses tend to be thinner. Weigh in the pros and cons and see whether this is an option for you!

Portable Cots

You may be misled by the name to mix these up with the travel cots, but the main difference is these are made to be easy to move in the home, hence the design with wheels. For added safety, make sure the model you choose has brakes on at least two of the wheels. Most small cot baby beds come with wheels due to the fact they’re created to be easy to move and used where you’re small on available space. Some can even be folded up and stored easily when not needed.

Multifunctional Cots

Why get a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 model when you can get one that’s all-in-one? This type makes it significantly easier for you to decide if you can’t make up your mind on a simple traditional cot, a co-sleeper cot, a cot with a playpen or a dressing table as it’s all these together. While this type of cot tends to be on the pricier side, it’s worth the investment given the convenience. If you have a bigger budget to work with, this is it.

Cots with Underdrawer

This cot usually comes with an underdrawer and a convertible design all made with your ease of use in mind. It’s perfect if your bedroom is on the smaller side, and you want to use up all the space you have available as best you can as you get ample drawers under the cot -an area that’s mostly unused with the other types.

As a new parent, this makes it really simple to stay organised with all the comfortable bamboo baby clothing and accessories you buy or get as presents. And you’re going to get a lot of these from friends and loved ones, so you need all the space you can get to keep things nice and tidy.

Once you’ve made your choice, there are some additional tips you should keep in mind regarding the safety of your little one. First, choose a cot that has the Australian standard sticker to show you it complies with the AS/NZS 2171: 2003 law. Since most baby cots have vertical bars, they should have at least 5 to 9.5cm of distance so your child won’t get his or her hands or feet caught between them.

Then, pick out a mattress that is firm to further lessen the SIDS risk. Make sure the cot rail is high enough so your baby won’t climb out of it. And by all means, keep the cot décor at the minimum – the fewer items you put in, the fewer chances for accidents to happen. Save up the décor for when your child is all grown up and going to school.