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Cots, cotbeds and novelty beds: full test results

Jack Horner Corner Cot

Manufacturer: Jack Horner

Price: Ł225 (Deluxe) and Ł325 (Elite); mattresses from Ł49.

Features: Angle-fronted pine cot with one-handed drop side and three-position adjustable mattress base.

Dimensions: Angled to fit across the corner of a room but with a sleeping area of 90cm x 127cm.

Stockists: tel. 0121 553 6344; mail order tel. 0121 525 5162; or visit www.jack-horner.co.uk

Parents' comments:

Very easy to assemble, good instructions – can be simply done by one person but be sure to put it up in the room you intend to use it as it will not fit easily through a normal sized door!

Very sturdy but not massively heavy.

Looks lovely – has a real 'wow factor', that definitely adds to the joys of parenthood.

Excellent space saver – fits the corner and makes a small room look bigger.

Quite light but no casters.

Snug for a young baby – they can be nestled in one corner – and spacious all ways round so a bigger baby can move 360 degrees without hitting the bars. However it does start to be more of a squeeze by about two years or if you have a very big baby.

One hand drop side very simple to operate but no teething guard.

Expensive – you’re paying for the shape and design and need a special shaped mattress and, ideally, special shaped bedding which can add to your costs.

Babyworld verdict: The price makes this cot something of an extravagance but one our testers didn’t regret. It is well designed and ideal if you are short of space, but it is also the kind of attractive product that gives new mums a warm glow inside!

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Saplings Simple Jessica Cot

Manufacturer: Saplings

Price: Ł95; mattresses from Ł20.

Features: Slatted cot with scalloped ends in antique white, plain white, mahogany or natural wood – with drop side and adjustable two-position mattress base.

Dimensions: Mattress size 117cm x 54cm.

Stockists: You can buy this cot in the babyworld shop. For other stockists tel. 01952 550022.

Parents’ comments:

Solidly made but fairly light.

Traditional, attractive design looks nice in the nursery.

Two positions for the mattress so newborns can be raised for easy access and toddlers lowered to prevent them climbing out.

Rails on all sides allow for a light and airy but slightly exposed feel.

Two hands required to drop side rail but simple and smooth to manoeuvre.

Pretty simple to put up although instructions could be clearer.

No teething rails.

Babyworld verdict: A neat and attractive, nicely finished no-frills cot which does the job in a no-nonsense way for a fair price.

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Brio Bedside Cot

Manufacturer: Brio

Price: Ł199

Features: Birchwood cot with one-handed drop side which can be stowed to allow you to place the cot alongside your own bed. Adjustable base has nine main positions plus three fine-tuning positions to ensure it can be positioned exactly to your own bed’s height. Set on four castors.

Dimensions: Overall 126cm x 68cm x 123cm. Mattress size 120cm x 60cm.

Stockists: tel. 01706 750853.

Parents’ comments:

Good quality, robust and well made cot.

The choice of mattress position allows you to accurately position baby next to your own bed so it becomes an exact, safe and secure extension of your bed.

Adjustable cot side allows you easy access to the baby in the night but easily slides back into place as a traditional cot whenever baby is left alone.

Casters allow excellent manoeuvrability and lock for safety.

As a cot, drop side is operated easily by a foot pedal.

Makes night-time feeding or checking baby completely effortless – is very reassuring.

Expensive, but ideal if you plan to have the baby in your room.

Babyworld verdict: The bedside design is excellent for anyone who wants the intimacy and ease of having their baby in their bed without the worries and discomforts that can involve. Design works well and if you are likely to use this feature a lot it is well worth the extra cost.

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Ikea Gulliver Cot

Manufacturer: Ikea

Price: Ł50; mattresses from Ł20.

Features: White or pine cot with three-position mattress heights.

Dimensions: 55cm x 112cm x 79cm

Stockists: tel. 0208 2085600; or visit www.ikea.com

Parents’ comments:

Excellent price.

Simple functional design.

Hard wearing.

Three mattress height positions ensure the cot remains safe and easy to use as the baby grows.

Quite time-consuming to put up but very sturdy once assembled.

Rails on all sides create a light and airy, if somewhat exposed feel.

No drop sides so you have to lift the baby out over the sides.

No teething rails.

Babyworld verdict: A functional, no frills cot for an excellent, good value price.

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Babies R Us Strasbourg Cotbed

Manufacturer: Babies ‘R’ Us

Price: Ł179.99; mattress Ł49.99.

Features: Antique pine cot with two teething rails and three-position mattress base. Lower bed end included for when converted into a bed.

Dimensions: Mattress size 140cm x 70cm.

Stockists: 0800 4960 700; or visit www.babiesrus.co.uk

Parents’ comments:

Straight forward to assemble and 10 minute conversion from cot to bed.

Very very sturdy, no wobbling.

Three mattress positions add flexibility and can be sited low for safe transition into a bed.

Teething rails protect cot sides.

Makes a good sized bed which looks nice and will last until child is about seven years old.

Low bed end helps this look like a proper bed when converted.

Fair price for something that works well as both a cot and a bed.

No drop sides.

Babyworld verdict:

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Saplings Victoria Cotbed

Manufacturer: Saplings

Price: Ł185; mattresses from Ł27.

Features: Antique pine or mahogany cotbed with scroll ends and two-position mattress base. Sides remove for conversion into a bed or later use as a sofa.

Dimensions: Mattress size 140cm x 69cm.

Stockists: You can buy this cotbed in the babyworld shop. For other stockists tel. 01952 550022.

Parents’ comments:

Good as a cot – roomy and secure.

Top mattress height is very high – ideal for reaching a newborn and with enough spare foot room to use one end as a changing area.

Good as a bed – low to the floor so no worries about falling.

Simple to convert.

Solid ends give a proper bed head feel and look.

Basically straightforward to put up but instructions could be clearer – no picture of the cot to show you what you were aiming for.

No drop sides.

No teething rails.

Babyworld verdict: A well made, simple but effective design, nicely finished. Few frills but fully functional as a cot and safe and solid as a bed.

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Early Learning Centre Snooze and Cruise Toddler Bed

Manufacturer: Early Learning Centre

Price: Ł150

Features: Moulded plastic car shaped bed with mattress included.

Dimensions: 165cm x 98cm x 116cm.

Stockists: buy through ELC Direct tel 08705 352 352; or visit www.elc.co.uk

Parents’ comments:

Very simple to construct.

Chunky, robust, solid.

Overhead roof – with sunroof – and ‘windows’ add fun and give something of the safe feel of a cot without being claustrophobic or restricting.

Car sides ensure it is impossible to fall out.

Makes a great fun zone and den for imaginative play.

For quite a major item it is a relatively compact size.

Quite a basic mattress but covered with PVC to protect against night-time accidents.

Makes going to bed quite an exciting adventure – not always something you want at bed time.

Limited life because it is pretty small.

Babyworld verdict: A very solid, safe little bed which was a great hit with the child testers – both by day and night. The car design is appealing to both boys and girls and became the vocal point of play by day as well as providing a cosy, fun bedtime environment. This was much more of a hit than we expected and to a large extent the cost was justified by the huge amount of fun the children got out of it.

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Little Tikes Cosy Cottage Toddler Bed

Manufacturer: Little Tikes

Price: Ł199.99

Features: Moulded plastic bed with cottage-style head board with opening window shutters. Mattress included.

Dimensions: 170cm x 94cm x 112cm

Stockists: tel. 0800 521 558

Parents’ comments:

Very straightforward to assemble.

Low to the ground and with low sides which add protection and insure they don’t fall out.

Very robust, solidly constructed and entirely toddler proof.

Shutters add interest and imaginative fun but items tend to fall off – there's no back, so positioning of the bed needs thought.

Very girlie – pink and twee, but very appealing to young ‘Barbie’ girls aged two to about four and half max.

Quite a basic mattress but cotbed fitted sheets fit fine.

Expensive for something with a fairly limited life, although cottage end will free-stand for use as a toy shop or peek-a-boo house.

Babyworld verdict: A strong, robust bed, low enough to easily aid transition to a full sized bed and with a fun element which did encourage our young tester to stay in the bed. However it is expensive for something with a relatively limited life.

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Where to next?

Read babyworld's feature on sleeping – what can you do to encourage your baby to sleep through the night?

Read the current guidelines on how to reduce the risk of cot death.

Read babyworld's product test of baby monitors.

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