Cots

A standard cot is the simpler newborn-to-toddler bed without the toddler-bed conversion: birth to 2-2.5 years, then transitions to a separate single bed or cot bed. Andrew Martin, Aosom UK and Cheap Furniture Warehouse between them cover £3-£600 across the range. Standard cot mattress size: 60x120cm. Always buy the mattress to match the cot frame, since a 1cm gap around the mattress is the safe limit (anything larger creates a trapping risk). Safety standards: BS EN 716 is the British standard. Bar-gap spacing should be 45-65mm. Drop-side cots (one side lowers for easy lift-in) have largely been phased out for safety reasons; fixed-side cots are the safer pick. Mattress-base height: at least 2 settings (highest for newborn easy-lift; lowest before the child can stand and tip out). Look for non-toxic paint (the British EN 71-3 standard) and rounded edges throughout.