Choosing Cot Beds - Some Thoughts

Some parents like to buy a set of nursery furniture -- this could give them a few basic pieces such as a cot/cot bed and wardrobe or it could contain much more. Other parents like to pick and choose individual items and there are plenty of things to choose from in any nursery furniture store. Parents can buy cots and cot beds, wardrobes and all kinds of storage options including toy boxes and bedside cabinets, changing tables and changing dressers and seats, benches and nursing chairs. Choosing to buy a set can be useful as all the furniture will match but some prefer to buy individual items to make sure that they don’t have to buy furniture that they don’t really want. The first thing most parents have to consider, however, is where their child will sleep.

Cots and cot beds

There are two main choices when it comes to where a baby sleeps. Some parents opt for a standard cot and some opt for a cot bed. Many people find that a cot bed suits them best as it does away with having to buy a junior bed a couple of years down the line when their baby gets too big for their cot.

A cot bed looks just like a standard cot but -- when the time comes to move up a level -- parents simply have to remove the sides and the cot bed can be converted into a suitable for a young child. This kind of bed will last most kids until they reach the age of 5 or so. The advantage here is that the parents don’t have to go out and buy a junior bed when their child outgrows their cot as the cot bed will grow with them.

Like cots, cot beds come in all kinds of designs and finishes. Some parents like to choose a character design for their cot bed whilst others like more classic furniture design here. Generally, cot beds will be made from wood (most commonly, pine, oak and for example) -- they’ll either be solid wood or will be covered in a wood veneer. Some cot beds may be painted (usually in white or pastel shades but brighter colours are now becoming more common). There are also a lot of designs to choose from in the sector. Some cot beds are chunky child-like designs and others come in more adult designs such as shaker styles and so on.

Conclusion

When choosing a cot bed parents should also keep an eye out for safety -- they cannot cut corners here. Make sure that the cot bed is sturdy and well-made. It’s OK to buy flat packs but make sure that they are put together correctly. Look a safety accreditation such as the CE mark and make sure that all materials used in the construction are safe. For example, a stained wood cot bed should have been stained with a non-toxic finish and a painted cot bed should have been painted with a lead free paint.

 Choosing Cot Beds - Some Thoughts

Some parents like to buy a set of nursery furniture -- this could give them a few basic pieces such as a cot/cot bed and wardrobe or it could contain much more. Other parents like to pick and choose individual items and there are plenty of things to choose from in any nursery furniture store. Parents can buy cots and cot beds, wardrobes and all kinds of storage options including toy boxes and bedside cabinets, changing tables and changing dressers and seats, benches and nursing chairs. Choosing to buy a set can be useful as all the furniture will match but some prefer to buy individual items to make sure that they don’t have to buy furniture that they don’t really want. The first thing most parents have to consider, however, is where their child will sleep.

Cots and cot beds

There are two main choices when it comes to where a baby sleeps. Some parents opt for a standard cot and some opt for a cot bed. Many people find that a cot bed suits them best as it does away with having to buy a junior bed a couple of years down the line when their baby gets too big for their cot.

A cot bed looks just like a standard cot but -- when the time comes to move up a level -- parents simply have to remove the sides and the cot bed can be converted into a suitable for a young child. This kind of bed will last most kids until they reach the age of 5 or so. The advantage here is that the parents don’t have to go out and buy a junior bed when their child outgrows their cot as the cot bed will grow with them.

Like cots, cot beds come in all kinds of designs and finishes. Some parents like to choose a character design for their cot bed whilst others like more classic furniture design here. Generally, cot beds will be made from wood (most commonly, pine, oak and for example) -- they’ll either be solid wood or will be covered in a wood veneer. Some cot beds may be painted (usually in white or pastel shades but brighter colours are now becoming more common). There are also a lot of designs to choose from in the sector. Some cot beds are chunky child-like designs and others come in more adult designs such as shaker styles and so on.

Conclusion

When choosing a cot bed parents should also keep an eye out for safety -- they cannot cut corners here. Make sure that the cot bed is sturdy and well-made. It’s OK to buy flat packs but make sure that they are put together correctly. Look a safety accreditation such as the CE mark and make sure that all materials used in the construction are safe. For example, a stained wood cot bed should have been stained with a non-toxic finish and a painted cot bed should have been painted with a lead free paint.