Some people find that the easiest way to kit out their nursery is to buy a set of furniture. Nursery sets can range from the basic through to the comprehensive. So, some may simply include a cot/cot bed and a changing dresser whereas other might offer wardrobes, changing tables, bookcases, shelves, seats, toy boxes and dressers. Sometimes, it can be easiest to buy a set -- it can often work out cheaper to buy a few pieces in this way. But, some people find it more cost effective to buy individual pieces as that means that they can pick exactly the right pieces for their needs and they may pick up some bargains if they shop around.

But, before any parent can kit out their nursery they need to decide whether to buy a cot or a cot bed. Cot beds are initially used as a cot but can then be adapted to turn into a bed when the baby gets too big for the cot. This usually is just a question of removing the side cot bars and maybe adapting the boards at the top and the bottom. Kids can use a cot bed up to 5 or 6 years old so this can save having to buy a bed a couple of years after the baby is born.

Cot bed choices

There are various things to think about here. These include:

• Construction -- what is the cot bed made of? Some are wooden, some are laminate and some come with veneers.


• Colour -- what colour should the cot bed be? Some parents like to buy a wood/wood effect cot bed (the most common options here are oak, pine, beech and birch) whilst others like a plain white cot bed. Some prefer to buy a painted cot bed in either pastel or brighter shades.


• Design -- what kind of design suits the nursery best? Some parents like to buy classic designs in keeping with furniture in the rest of the house. This also means that the furniture doesn't look too ?babyish? as the child grows. Others like nursery furniture to look like it was designed for a child.

Safety -- will the cot bed be safe? It's important to look for a safety marking (such as the CE mark) to make sure that the cot bed has passed relevant safety tests. Make sure as well that the cot bed is well-made and stable. If constructing from flat-pack ensure that the instructions are followed correctly. And, if buying a painted cot, make sure that it was painted with lead free paint.

Conclusion

At first there may not seem much difference between a cot and a cot bed but babies grow really fast and they will soon need a different sleeping alternative than a standard cot. Buying a cot bed means that parents don't need to think about buying another bed for their child until they are around school age. Buying a cot means that they will have to think about buying a bed just a couple of years after the baby is born. So, this could be a cost-effective solution all round.