Baby Beds Buyers Guide

Sleep, and lack of it, is the all consuming preoccupation of new parents. Having a comfortable, safe place for your baby to snuggle down is a must. Cots come in a wide range of prices which often reflect the expense of the materials and craftsmanship rather than the most important aspects; safety, fit and ease of use.

The main recommendations of the British Standards Institute are that:

· Spaces between bars must not be less than 2.5cm (to ensure little fingers don't get caught) and not more than 6cm (so inquisitive heads don't get stuck).
· The maximum distance between the base of the mattress and the cot top should be 65cm in the lowest position so when they can get out the drop is not too high.
· Drop sided cots must have a fastener so a child cannot lower the side on his/her own.
· All materials must be lead free and non toxic, as babies have a tendency to chew anything in sight.
· The cot should not have any sharp protrusions which might hurt the child.

Look out for a BS or kitemark. If the cot has them it should comply with these regulations.
Don't be tempted by pretty duvets, pillows and cot bumpers as they should not be used in a cot until your baby is a least one year old. The reason being that duvets can make the baby overheat and the pillows and bumpers may result in suffocation.

Remember to measure the area where you are going to place the cot so you can ensure it will fit. It's best not to put the cot near a radiator as the baby might overheat or burn itself if it sticks its feet or hand out of the bars. It's also a good idea not to put the cot near a window to avoid draughts and the risk of falling out of the window. Window safety catches are a good way of reminding anyone in the house not to open a window dangerously wide.

The cheapest cots are the very basic types with a fixed base and sides made from inexpensive materials. If they meet safety regulations, (see above), they are absolutely fine, however you can also buy cots with the following extra features which can make life easier:

- Moveable base: Cots can have up to six height positions for the base. Small babies can start off on the highest position, making it easier for the parents to lift them in and out of the cot, and it also means you can communicate better with them when they are lying down. As your child gets bigger and more mobile the cot is lowered so they cannot climb out. Some more sophisticated models can adjust the base so the head end can be raised, which can help baby breathe when s/he has a cold.
- Drop side: This is a mechanism to slide the cot's side down in order to get the baby in and out more easily when the base it low. Most cots have one drop side, some have two. The easiest are the one handed or foot operated drop sides as it means you can still hold the baby. There are some which are a bit more of a struggle and need one hand to fiddle with the safety catch whilst the other pushes the side down. Don't be afraid to test the mechanism in the shop to see which is easiest for you.
- Storage below: Useful to tidy all the masses of paraphernalia which comes with a new baby.
- Castors: Handy if space is tight and you need to keep moving the cot.
- Rocking Mechanism: Either manual or battery operated to lull your baby to sleep
- Assembly: Most cots are self assembly, so if you don't think you'll be able to cope with putting it together yourself enlist the help of someone else or find a supplier who will assemble it for you.

Cots
can be used from birth to around 18 months to two years. The child then moves on to a junior bed.
Pros: They can be used again if you have another baby and they usually have more baby-friendly features, such as teething rails and one handed drop sides.
Cons: Not such good value for money if you are planning on having just one child.

Cotbeds
are suitable from birth up to about six years. They are large cots which can have their sides removed when the child is older.
Pros: Good value for money for one child and can ease the transition from cot to bed when the child is two or three years old.
Cons: They are big cots which can make a small baby look a bit lost and not so cosy in it. They don't all have drop sides and those that don't can be hard on your back. They cannot be used by a younger sibling if your older child is still using them. Side by Side Cots
are able to slide up next to your bed with one side down so that you can be close to your baby without the fear that you might roll over on top of him. These convert to ordinary cots when you want to let baby have his own space.
Pros: You can check on your baby's breathing in the night and be there immediately if s/he wakes. Having the baby so near makes night time feeds easier as you don't have to leave your nice warm bed and neither does s/he, so it should make getting back to sleep easier.
Cons: You can find that any small sound the baby makes can keep you awake, and if you don't have a restless baby, you can lie awake fearing s/he's too quiet; so having baby so near can be a bit of a no win situation!

Cots are usually made from wood such as pine, beech and mahogany and come either in their natural colour or painted so you can match them to your nursery's colour scheme. Some craftsmen can also make them in more unusual woods such as rosewood or Californian cherrywood with a choice of patinas (new, distressed or antiquated). You can quite often get matching furniture such as a changing unit and wardrobe to give your nursery a coordinated look.

You usually have to buy the mattress and bedding separately when buying a cot, so it's best to buy it all at the same time to check it will fit.
When buying a mattress for the cot, ensure the gap around the edge does not measure more than 4cm between mattress and cot, as babies could get their fingers stuck.

Some years ago there was a lot of anxiety over an alleged connection between chemicals found in cot mattresses and cot death. However, The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) maintains that no link has ever been proved. They advise that you buy a firm mattress and keep it clean and well aired. Mattresses with a PVC or removable machine washable cover are easiest to keep clean. Check what temperature the cover can be washed at, as it's best to wash it at a high temperature to clean the results of leaky babies and also kill the dustmites which might cause asthma and other allergic reactions.

For more information contact the FSID helpline, on 020 7233 2090 or visit their website at www.sids.org.uk/fsid/.

Travel cots are useful for both holidays and evening visits to friends. They range from easy to assemble lightweight cribs, only suitable for newborns, to heavier sturdy cots cum playpens designed for older children. The larger models usually have lightweight aluminium frames and often come with their own base and mattress with cover. Most have their own bag for easier storage and carriage. The main buying criteria are:

- Ease of assembly and dismantling: Travel cots can be quite a struggle to put up and often need two people. Most are erected by pulling the four sides up first, then locking them into position before inserting the base. We recommend having a go in the shop to make sure you can put it up and down easily. It's also worth checking you can get it back into the bag, if there is one.
- Weight: If you are going to use it regularly, or take it on public transport, this will be a major issue. Weight can vary from just over 7kg to up to double that.
- Sturdiness: This is especially important if you are to use this for older children as a playpen.
- Compactness when folded: This is important or you'll have storage problems, not to mention trouble packing the car when travelling.
- Comfort: Check how comfortable the base with its mattress is as some are quite hard. A raised base will protect your baby from draughts. Mesh sides are good as they provide ventilation and, if it doubles up as a playpen, your child will be able to see you.

Before going to the shop remember the following:

1. Check the retailer's delivery time. Some take up to ten weeks to deliver, which is cutting it fine if you have left it until late pregnancy to order your cot. You could always fill in with a Moses Basket for the first few weeks of your baby's life, but if you have a big baby they can grow out of these surprisingly quickly!
2. Size - remember to take measurements with you.
3. Safety - look for the BS or kitemark.
4. Ease of use - test dropside and ask about assembly.
5. Appearance - makes sure it looks safe and sturdy with no sticking out sharp bits.