Cots and mattresses by budget

These are ranked by price, low to high: cots first, then mattresses. We haven't tried any of them, so the picks come from makers' pages, recall lists and the Lullaby Trust's advice. Spending more doesn't buy safer sleep. The Lullaby Trust says you don't need "lots of products" or "expensive items" for it.

Whatever you buy, the routine stays the same: on the back, on a firm, flat mattress, in a clear cot, in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months. The NHS gives that figure. For questions about your own baby, speak to your doctor or health visitor.

The cots, by price

Prices were checked on 3 November 2026. The Kimi figure is the regular price, and it was on sale when we looked. None of the three includes a mattress.

IKEA says the SNIGLAR and GULLIVER comply with EN 716-1. The current British edition is BS EN 716-1:2017 (BSI, status Current, checked 3 November 2026). Babymore says the Kimi meets "the latest British and European safety standards" but names none on the page we read, so ask if you want the number.

The GULLIVER is cheaper than the Kimi at £99 against £199, and IKEA says one long side comes off, which suits a child starting to climb. A true toddler bed is a later question, and moving from cot to bed has more on when.

If the floor space is tight, note the outer size: 124x66x80 cm for the SNIGLAR and 126x64x87 cm for the Kimi. The cot has to fit in your room for those first 6 months.

The mattresses, by price

Three questions from the Lullaby Trust: is it firm, is it flat, does it have a waterproof layer? Your baby's head should sink in by no more than a few millimetres. Soft mattresses raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it says.

Neither page uses the word "waterproof". IKEA says its baby mattresses meet legal requirements on firmness, and it describes a cover you wipe with a damp cloth. Babymore calls its cover "water resistant" and wipe clean. The Lullaby Trust asks for more than that: a mattress that's waterproof, or has a fitted waterproof cover or layer. It says this helps stop bacteria building up inside.

So look for the word itself on the label, the packaging or the maker's spec. If it isn't there, ask the maker before you buy. "Water resistant" and "wipe clean" aren't the same claim. IKEA also calls the PELLEPLUTT "soft and smooth" on both sides, so try the Lullaby Trust's head test once it arrives.

IKEA says the PELLEPLUTT complies with EN 16890:2017+A1:2021, and Babymore says the Eco Fibre complies with BS EN 16890:2017. A standard covers build and fire safety. The Lullaby Trust says it doesn't mean a product reduces SIDS risk.

Fit matters too. The mattress should fill the cot with no gaps, says the Lullaby Trust. IKEA says to use a cot and mattress of the same size. A label reading 120x60 isn't proof, so measure the inside of the cot.

Second-hand, with one exception

A second-hand cot is a good way to save. The Lullaby Trust calls second-hand "a great way to save money", and it asks you to check four things:

• Instructions. Download them from the maker if they're missing.
• Standards. It should say so on the product, packaging or website.
• Recalls. Search "product recalls" on GOV.UK.
• Condition. No broken or missing parts, and from a smoke-free, pet-free home.

Mattresses are different, which is why we list only new ones. Research has suggested an increased SIDS risk from a second-hand mattress brought in from outside the family home, "although this is not yet proven", says the Lullaby Trust. It generally advises a new one for each baby, and it knows that isn't always possible. Its checklist for a used one: a well-fitting, fully waterproof cover, no rips or tears, no water damage, still firm and not sagging, no gaps in the cot, and a fire-resistant label.

Short of money for any of this? A baby bank provides pre-owned items, including cots and Moses baskets, and the Lullaby Trust points to Baby Bank Alliance for finding one.

What you can skip

Bumpers, nests and pods stay out of the cot. So do pillows, duvets and soft toys. The safer sleep basics page covers why. You can also browse every cot we list.

We found no current recall for these five models on 3 November 2026. Older notices do cover earlier SNIGLAR cots: recalled in the EU in 2006 over the base, and in the US in 2011 over the mattress support, on cots sold to June 2010. If you're buying one second-hand, check the date label.