Cots and cot beds

Cots and Cot Beds for Safe, Restful Sleep

A newborn's first proper bed is one of the most important nursery purchases new parents make, and getting the size, safety features and long-term flexibility right matters more here than almost anywhere else in the home. Whether you need a compact cot for a smaller nursery, a cot bed that converts as your child grows, or a bedside crib for those early months of easy night feeds, FastDaddyshop stocks cots and cot beds built to current UK safety standards. On our site you can order standard cots at 120 x 60 cm suitable from birth to around 4 years, cot beds that convert to a toddler bed once the sides come off, and compact bedside cribs under 90 cm long for co-sleeping arrangements.

Choosing a cot or cot bed: what our customers ask most

• Cot or cot bed — which lasts longer? Our consultants often advise a cot bed for genuine long-term value, since it converts to a toddler bed and can see a child through to around age 5–6, while a standard cot is typically outgrown by age 3–4. From the experience of FastDaddyshop's managers, cot beds are usually the better choice unless nursery space is genuinely tight.
• What mattress base height suits a newborn? In practice, the highest base setting suits newborns for easier lifting in and out, while the lowest setting becomes essential once a baby starts pulling themselves up, usually from around 6 months. We'd flag an expert caution: always move the base down before a baby can stand, as this is a well-known safety step new parents sometimes miss.
• What bar spacing is safe on a cot? From experience, UK safety standards require bar spacing of no more than 6.5 cm to prevent limbs or heads becoming trapped, so checking this specification matters more than style when comparing cots. Our managers have found this is worth confirming even on cots that otherwise look identical.

Once your cot or cot bed is sorted, it's worth thinking about the rest of the nursery as your child grows. Many of our customers add a step stool for early independence at the sink, bring in kids' storage for toys and clothes, or use a dehumidifier or air purifier to keep the nursery air fresh year-round. Browse the full FastDaddyshop children's range to furnish the whole room together.