Although some parents like their newborn baby to start off sleeping in a small crib, cradle or Moses basket, all babies will ultimately need a cot. A cot is designed to provide a safe sleeping environment for a baby. A cotbed is designed to work first as a cot and then later to convert into a toddler-sized bed.
Every child needs a cot if they are to sleep safely.
Cotbeds are not essential, but can aid transition from cot to bed and allows one purchase to be of use for longer than a simple cot. A novelty bed is far from essential but can be great fun and provide a safer transition from cot to full-sized bed. A cot should be robust once assembled and should not wobble. Mattresses are always sold separately and must be the correct size for the cot to ensure the baby cannot injure himself. Some adjust to allow baby to be held as a slight angle which can be useful if the baby is suffering from a cold or is particularly sicky.