A Complete Buying Guide To Bassinets & Baby Cots

Different sleep options for your baby and how to choose?

The process of building and creating your nursery can be quite overwhelming! Having to know the difference between a crib, bassinet and a baby cot is a common point of confusion and it’s important cot safety is prioritised as you bring your new little human into the world. There are so many options available and so many things to consider, so we’ve prepared a guide to help you as you begin the search for your perfect baby cot!

What is the difference between a bassinet, crib and baby cot?

What is a Bassinet?

A bassinet is a bed, for babies from birth to between 4-6 months old. The time that a baby will be in their bassinet is dependent on their growth patterns in those early months.

There are a few different options to choose from when buying a bassinet. Bassinets are usually shaped like an oval or have a rectangular frame, with mesh or cloth sides promoting air circulation, designed to be moved and shifted easily, on wheels or castors.

The height of the bassinet base is leveled to the average adult’s waistline and this helps parents to lay their baby down or pick their baby up from a height to take extra care, without too much strain, especially in the early days.

When your baby reaches between 9 – 10 kilograms and can roll over on their own, it’s time to take them out of the bassinet and move them to a more appropriate sleeping option, like a baby cot.

Check out our Tasman Eco Bassinets here.

What is a Baby Cot?

A baby cot is where your baby will spend a lot of time in those early years, especially once they’ve outgrown their bassinet. The baby cot you decide on is an important decision because of the amount of time your baby will spend there and will remain in your family while your baby and your family grows too!

Buying a baby cot can be a little overwhelming, considering the many options there are to choose from. Some baby cots can be converted to a toddler bed, some with adjustable base heights that you can change and adjust as your child reaches milestones like crawling or standing for the first time.

Check out our Tasman Eco Cots here.

What is a Crib?

A crib is another word for a baby cot and is typically used in the United States, cot or baby cot is more commonly used in Australia.

What age should a baby be in a cot?

Each child is different as is the time they will transition from their bassinet to their baby cot.

Their growth in the first 6 months will determine when they transition from bassinet to their baby cot. If your baby has grown out of their bassinet, this is a sign they are ready to transition. It is important that your baby is comfortable while sleeping, they shouldn’t be bumping the sides of their bassinet, if so, this is a sign they’ve outgrown it.

Most babies will transition to their baby cot between 3 – 6 months, however, if your baby is sleeping comfortably and peacefully in their bassinet, there is no need to push them to transition.

Additionally, the weight of the baby will be a good indication of when they should transition as most bassinets can only hold babies of up to 9 – 10 kg. If your baby exceeds this weight, it’s definitely time to move to the cot.

Types of baby cots and their different features.

Purchasing a cot can be really exciting and overwhelming, all at the same time. There are plenty of options to choose from and it’s important to understand the different types of baby cots out there and which is best for you and your family. Check our guide below;

Travel Cot

A travel cot is a cot that can be folded down, it is often stored in a bag and can be easily taken with you on holidays or packed in a car. Most travel cots have either a metal or plastic frame with mesh sides. They come with a lightly padded mattress and are usually on wheels or castors.

Most travel cots can be used with a newborn baby, as most come with a bassinet insert, where the mattress can be positioned in the cot at waist height, rather than at the base of the cot. Bassinet inserts are usually suitable from birth to 3 months.

Alternatively, if looking for an option for a child with more than 3 months, there are plenty of options and sizes to choose from depending on your preference, but normally, it is recommended that your child only uses their travel cot up until 18 months.

While not always an essential item, travel cots are great to have if you and your family intend on doing a lot of travelling or trips to cot-free homes. Travel cots are a cozy, comfortable and familiar place for your baby to sleep in.

Round Baby Cots

Round cots are a great option for the nursery if you’re looking for something unique, that plays with shapes, but also practical.

Round cots can help to save space as they don’t have corners, meaning they’re able to fit into small snug spaces. Most round cots can also fit through a standard size door and can be easily moved between spaces if they’re on wheels or castors. Round cots are often smaller than a standard sized cot.

Round cots make great bedside options in those early months when your baby is sleeping by your side. They can also be converted to a toddler bed, to a toddler sofa, with you from birth to around 3 years.

Canopy Baby Cots

A canopy baby cot is when a canopy is draped over the head of the baby cot. While these may appear to look great in the nursery, canopies are often presented as a hazard and are not recommended.

Dropside Baby Cots

Dropside cots are designed and built where one side of the cot can slide up and down, where a parent can access their baby, without having to reach so far over the side.

With all baby cots, it’s important to make sure they are in compliance with national and/or international safety standards. Cot safety is important when making the decision of which cot to purchase, but cot safety is especially important with dropside cots due to the nature of their functionality, they need to be a safe space for children.

All Tasman Eco baby cots are in compliance with AS/NZS 8124.3:2012. On all Tasman Eco baby cots, this standard is displayed on the base of the cot, certifying it has been tested and approved against these guidelines. Tasman Eco cots exceed all relevant and required standards, ensuring they are a safe, comfortable, cozy space for your baby and a wonderful functioning piece for you and your family.

Convertible Baby Cots

Convertible baby cots are a great option for when you’re looking for your new cot. Convertible baby cots can be converted from a bassinet, to a baby cot, a toddler bed, a full-sized bed and even a sofa. Most Tasman Eco baby cots can be converted to a toddler bed, simply by removing a side rail.

What is great about convertible baby cots is that you don’t need to purchase any additional pieces and can be easily converted without any additional parts. As your child grows, you can easily convert your baby cot to ensure they are able to sleep and use their cot as a perfect sleeping space.

All Tasman Eco cots use sustainable timber sourced from sustainable forests globally, each selected to ensure your baby cot is able to sustain and last for the many milestones your child will reach in their early years.

Compact Baby Cots

Compact baby cots have been designed to save space, allowing families to own a cot that uses up space in the best possible way, without compromising on quality. At Tasman Eco we’ve designed our compact baby cots to do exactly this.

Compact baby cots are usually on castors or wheels and can be moved easily throughout the house, and can fit through a standard sized door. Like a regular cot, compact cots have two base heights, where they can grow with your child from birth through to their toddler years. Compact baby cots are a great choice for your family as they prioritise quality and functionality, ensuring a good night’s sleep.

What cot is best for a newborn?

The best type of cot.

There are so many options to choose from when building your nursery and deciding which cot or bassinet you want, however, there are some key things to consider when making this decision, ensuring it passes all necessary tests. The best cots consider safety, functionality, quality and ease-of-use.

With all the baby cots in Australia, both convertible baby cots and compact baby cots are great options to choose from. Each promotes ease of use and functionality, making it easy for parents to navigate their new lives with their new additions, while meeting Australian cot standards. Convertible baby cots and compact baby cots can grow with your child as they reach some major milestones in their early years, like rolling or standing for the first time, here parents can easily adapt and shift the cot to ensure both child and parent can sleep well, with peace of mind.

Why convertible and compact baby cots are the best type of cots.

As we mentioned, convertible baby cots and compact baby cots are great options to choose from in order to build your nursery, as they both echo value, longevity and ease-of-use.

Convertible baby cots are a great option as they grow with your child and can be easily converted to suit the needs of your child as they grow.

Compact baby cots are also a great option as some also have the same functionality as a convertible cot, however, they are space savers, taking up less room than a regular cot. They can also be moved easily throughout the house, usually on wheels or castors. Compact baby cots are especially great in those early months, where you can keep your cot right beside your bed for regular feeds during the night.

Tasman Eco has a great range of both convertible cots and compact cots, each made using radiata pine timber, sourced from sustainable forests globally. Quality and functionality has been considered, ensuring that parents and their children are guaranteed ease-of-use, as well as a great sleep for you and your baby.

Check out our Tasman Eco convertible and compact cots here.

Price Overview

Tasman Eco baby cot prices differ per brand and per style. Tasman Eco cots start from $199 and can go up to $799.

You can check out the Tasman Eco range of cots here.

What materials are used?

All Tasman Eco cots are made from radiata pine timber, sourced from sustainable forests globally.

All stains and finishes are non-toxic and in compliance with the Australian cot standard, AS/NZS 8124.3:2012.

Australian Made?

All Tasman Eco baby cots are Australian designed. Our furniture is manufactured in China using sustainable, quality sourced materials from sustainable forests globally. Our timber is carefully sourced, with careful consideration of the quality, aesthetic and longevity of the materials.

Benefits of buying from Tasman Eco

Warranty – learn more about our warranty policy here.

Quality Materials – At Tasman Eco, our materials are carefully curated for our products, ensuring we are able to use the best quality products, producing products at a great price for our customers.

Australian Designed – All of our furniture is designed in Australia, designed by our family for families. Our team has over 30 years of experience in the nursery space and are conscious of what parents and children want and need in the early years of their lives.

What cot design is best for your baby?

It is worth thinking about the space you have available before choosing your cot. In those first six months, it’s recommended that your baby sleeps in the same room as you, so if you’re limited for space, a compact baby cot might be the best cot choice for you than a regular cot. Here are some other considerations and features to consider when purchasing the best baby cot for your little one:

Adjustable Mattress Heights

Baby cots with adjustable mattress heights are a really great feature as it ensures longevity, where your cot can move with your baby as they move through their milestones from their first days until 3 years old, or even longer if you decide on a cot that goes past their toddler years, like the Tasman Eco Ancona Cot or the Tasman Eco Rio Cot.

Storage

Storage is always a great option, especially if you are working with a smaller space, opting for a baby cot with additional storage is a great way to ensure you are optimising the space.

Cot Top Changes

Baby cot top changes, whether for your baby cot or chest of drawers are great options that can help to save space in your nursery if working within a small space.

Teething Rails

Once your little one is able to stand, they will begin to explore and be curious of many different things. The top of the cot rail might line up perfectly with their mouth once standing and the cot rail isn’t really a good option to help sooth your babies gums when teething.

For obvious reasons, baby cots are not designed to be chewed on, however, there are some baby cots out there that come with a teething rail, reducing the risk of your child chewing their way through the timber and paint of the top rail. Teething rails are either made of fabric or plastic, as something for the baby to rest their mouth on.

Dropdown Slides

Dropside cots are designed and built to have one side of the cot to slide up and down, where a parent can access their baby, without having to reach so far over the side.

With all baby cots, it’s important to make sure they are in compliance with Australian and/or international cot safety standards, and this is especially important with dropside cots due to the nature of their functionality, they need to be a safe space for children.

All Tasman Eco baby cots are in compliance with AS/NZS 8124.3:2012. All of our cots have this Australian cot standard displayed on the base of the cot, certifying that it has been tested and approved against these guidelines. Tasman Eco cots exceed all relevant and required standards, ensuring they are a safe, comfortable and cozy space for your baby and a wonderful functioning piece for you and your family.

What mattress is good and what do you need to look for?

It doesn’t stop at your child’s baby cot, you’ll also need to consider their bassinet mattress and cot mattress. When looking for a mattress, some things to consider include the comfort of the mattress, the safety principles, the size of your mattress and the materials used.

Safety and standards are important to consider when buying a mattress, mattresses should be tested and approved against Australian and/or international mattress safety standards. Tasman Eco mattresses meet strict Australian safety standards and have been tested to ensure they provide optimum support, to give parents and families the peace of mind that their baby is able to sleep safe and sound.

It is also important that mattresses are purchased new and not second-hand, even if it is for a sibling. Cot and Bassinet mattresses can lose their firmness over time and if used second-hand, it may not be enough support for a new or young baby. For this reason, when buying a new mattress, the mattress must fit your cot perfectly. If the fit is not perfect, you run the risk of your child being stuck between the cot and the mattress.

At Tasman Eco, we have a range of mattress options;

Our Bassinet and Cradle mattresses are the mattresses that we recommend for your bassinet and child in those first months they spend in their bassinet. Tasman Eco Bassinet and Cradle mattresses are made from foam and are made to be airy, lightweight but also firm enough for your baby.

Tasman Eco Innerspring and Orthopaedic mattresses are great options to consider once your baby has moved from the bassinet to the cot. It is important that the mattress you choose promotes airflow for your sleeping baby and both of these mattress types do this. The Tasman Eco Innerspring Mattress is made using tempered steel springs and foam to ensure optimal comfort and our Tasman Eco Orthopaedic Mattress uses pocket springs and foam to ensure comfort and increased airflow for your sleeping baby.

The materials used in your mattress should be treated to prevent dust mites breeding in the mattress, and importantly, your mattress should be tested and approved in line with Australian and/or international cot safety standards. All Tasman Eco mattresses have been tested and approved against Australian Cot Mattress Standards, AS/NZS 8811. 1:2013.

Another great feature across all Tasman Eco mattresses is the bamboo fibre and polyester zip-off cover, ensuring it can be cleaned easily and frequently. This is something loved by parents and families, where they are easily able to clean any spills or messes made by their children.

As mentioned, it is important that the mattress you decide on is a perfect fit for your bassinet and/or cot. Tasman Eco has a range of sizes available to fit all cots and bassinets. You can find the range of Tasman Eco mattresses here.

What you should consider when buying a cot?

As we’ve seen there are many things to consider when buying a baby cot and most of these will be dependent on the family and the needs of the child. There are some other important bits and pieces that should also be considered when buying a cot, some that may not seem so obvious. Check out our guide below of some extra things to consider;

The best size and structure to consider?

We’ve spoken of all of the different types of cots you can choose from, each with their own features made to make your life more comfortable. If working within a smaller space, a compact cot is the best baby cot option as it is a space saver, being smaller in nature but as functional and practical as a regular sized cot, growing with your baby. Convertible baby cots are also a great option as they do exactly that, they can be converted in size over time to also grow with your baby.

Baby Cot Assembly

Ensuring that your cot is easy to assemble and put together doesn’t need to be a priority, but it is always a bonus. With the arrival of your baby coming, it’s important that the assembly process doesn’t add any extra stress or confusion.

Tasman Eco cots all come flat packed, ready to be assembled. You’ll be given your assembly guide and kit to help you build your cot. If needing some extra spare parts, specific to your cot or Tasman Eco furniture piece, you can visit the Tasman Eco website and purchase any extra spare parts you might need.

At Tasman Eco, we also offer our ‘Expert Assembly Service’, which is available in the Sydney Metropolitan Area. You simply need to arrange a time and day for one of our assembly professionals to come by your home to assemble your newly purchased Tasman Eco baby cot or furniture piece.

Dropside Cots or Static Side Cots

When searching for your baby cot, you’ll come across some options that have either a dropside or static side. Tasman Eco have cots with both drop sides and static sides. Dropside cots allow you to move one of the cot sides up and down to make it easier for the parent to take their child in and out of the cot, whereas static cots have cot sides that are not able to move.

There isn’t one that we recommend over the other as each has their own benefits and are both great baby cot options to consider when buying your cot. However, as with all cots, we recommend that you check that your baby cot of choice is in compliance with Australian and/or international cot safety standards. This is especially important with dropside cots due to the nature of their functionality.

All Tasman Eco cots are in compliance with AS/NZS 8124.3:2012. All of our cots have this Australian cot standard displayed on the base of the cot, certifying that it has been tested and approved against these guidelines. Tasman Eco cots exceed all relevant and required standards, ensuring they are a safe, comfortable and cozy space for your baby and a wonderful functioning piece for you and your family.

Baby Cots Safety Measures

As your child will be spending many hours sleeping in their cot, you’ll want to make sure that the cot you decide on is safe and in compliance with all standards, passing all of the necessary tests. Some things to consider, we’ve listed these below;

Cot Paint

It’s important that the paint and stains used on your baby cot are treated correctly to ensure that they are not unsafe for babies. It is natural, while your baby is teething, that they will look to put their mouths on almost anything to soothe the teething process, this also applies to the cot. All Tasman Eco cots are in compliance with AS/NZS:2172 2013, where all stains and finishes are non-toxic and safe for your baby.

Cot Mattress Fit

The mattress that you purchase for your cot is incredibly important and should be taken with as much consideration as the choice of baby cot. The choice of mattress should be specific to either the bassinet or cot you are using, there are different mattresses that are suited to each. As with the size of the mattress, at Tasman Eco, we have a range of mattress sizes that are suited to a number of different sized cots, it is important that you choose the most appropriate sized mattress. At Tasman Eco, we tell our customers that there should be little to no gap between the cot and the mattress when the mattress is in the cot. The largest sized gap that should be there between your baby cot and mattress is 4cm, no more than this.

Hazards

Ensuring there are no potential hazards on your cot is important, to make sure that your cot is a safe place for your baby to spend time and get a good night’s sleep, as well as giving parents the piece of mind that their child can sleep safely and peacefully.

It’s important that the cot you decide on is free of sharp and protruding edges and there are no small entrapments where your child can have their head, fingers or arms entrapped. It’s also important that the space between the bars on the cot are in compliance and approved against current Australian cot standards to prevent your child from hurting themselves. Here, you need to be careful with buying second hand cots as they may not be in compliance with current Australian cot standards.

Top 5 Baby Cots to Choose From

Some great Tasman Eco recommendations to consider for your nursery;

The Show Stopper, Our Venice Cot is a special piece and will look incredibly regal, chic but understated in your nursery.

The Compact Cot; Our Eden Compact Cot has quickly become one of the most popular cots on the market, incredibly functional, a space saver and a cot that can grow with your child as they reach their important milestones in their early years. The Eden Compact Cot comes in White and White/Ash.

The Convertible Cot; Our Ancona Cot is a special piece, looking fantastic and the ability to convert from a bassinet height, baby cot, toddler bed and then to a bed for your child to grow into after their toddler years. It is easy to convert at each stage, a great option if you are looking for longevity.

The Classic; Our Tuscany Cot has been part of the Tasman Eco collection for a very long time. It is classic in design, functional in use and can grow with your baby. It also features our ‘Safety Slide’ mechanism, ensuring the movement of the dropside is both easy and super safe for parents and children.

Something New; Our Alana Cot is one of our new designs, using contrasting colours and timbers to elevate your nursery. It plays with shapes and style bringing something fun and different to the nursery. Like most of our other cots, the Alana Cot will grow with your baby.