Cot beds are basically cots which are wider and longer than a standard size cot. Often parents choose to buy a cot bed instead of a cot because cot beds change into a junior bed - that is a toddler sized bed - after baby has outgrown the nursery cot.
A junior bed is smaller sized compared to an adult bed. As a very general guide, a cot bed will normally last until your child is about 3-4 years old, depending on their size.
One thing bear in mind though is that you need to buy cot bed bedding and not bedding designed for a cot. A cot bed is a little larger than a standard sized cot so cot bed bedding, including cot bed sheets and cot bed duvets, take this into account and are made larger to fit the cot bed properly.
Also dont forget that cot beds do not usually have drop sides and not all models enable parents to select different mattress positions or heights. Without drop sides can mean it may be a little more difficult to get a baby in and out of their cot. Also, as cot beds are that little bit bigger than cots you need to think about your nursery layout if your baby room is on the small side.
We think that a cot bed can be useful for bridging the gap between a cot and an adult bed. You dont have to worry about your childs sleeping arrangements until they are nearly ready to begin school.
Cot beds don't usually cost more than a cot so a cot bed can be a money saving option too as you wont need to buy a separate junior bed. Cot beds can provide a comfortable sleeping solution for both toddlers and older babies