Baby cot or playpen: how to choose and buy at a good price
Cot, crib or playpen: what you need
A classic cot serves from birth to three to five years. A crib or bedside bassinet is handy in the first months, while the baby is small and you want to keep him or her close. A cot with a swing mechanism rocks the baby without hands, and a convertible model grows with the child. A playpen is also a safe place to play, and a travel cot folds up and goes on holiday with you.
Decide by need: whether the baby will sleep in a separate room, whether you need to move it around, and how much space you have at home.
Size and mattress
The most common sleeping area sizes are 120×60 and 140×70 cm. The mattress must fit tightly to the frame, with no gaps where a hand can slip in. So ask whether the mattress is included, and if not, what sizes you need. For babies people often choose a coir mattress or a foam one with a coir layer: they are firmer. How firm your child needs it to be is best asked of a paediatrician.
The base height is adjustable: the lower level is for a baby who can already sit and stand, the higher one for a newborn, so it is easy to lift the baby.
What to put in your request
- what exactly — classic cot, with swing, convertible, crib, bedside, playpen, travel;
- sleeping area size — 120×60, 140×70 cm;
- mattress — needed or already owned, of what type;
- features — swing, drawer, adjustable base, removable side, changing table;
- material — beech, alder, pine, MDF; for playpens, fabric or mesh;
- colour;
- new or used, city and budget.
Example: “I need a new wooden cot with a swing and a drawer, 120×60 cm, beech, white, with a coir mattress. Budget up to R 2,000, delivery to Gqeberha.”
What to look at when inspecting
The sides must have no sharp corners or protrusions. The gap between the bars must be such that a head can't get stuck, and the varnish on the wood must be safe for a child, so ask about the finish and certificates. For a used cot check the fittings: loose bolts, cracks and chew marks are a reason to bargain or walk away. A used mattress is better replaced with a new one.
How to compare offers and why BlaBlaPrice helps
Check size, material, what is included and whether a mattress is there. Wooden models are bulky, so ask about delivery, carrying up to your floor and whether they assemble the cot on site. You write the request in BlaBlaPrice once, and sellers reply in the chat with the model, price and terms. The platform shows the best offer first, judged on what it contains, with reviews of the seller next to each. Contacts stay hidden until you choose. Details are on the “How it works” page.
While you are here, see children's furniture and prams and strollers.
