At a glance:
This cot won silver in our awards this year and it’s easy to see why – it saves space, there’s a mattress included in the price and there’s three adjustable base heights, allowing you to adapt the base height to your baby’s age. That said, the sides cannot be dropped, so if you’ve got a bad back, this might not be the best choice.
What they say:
"The Carolina Cot is a space-saving size, so it won't take up too much space in your room for the first six months. So when you move baby to their own room, their cot will be familiar, which can make the transition easier. The open sides and ends give the Carolina Cot a light, airy feel and allow you to check on your baby easily. The antique finish will complement a modern or more traditionally styled nursery. The Carolina Cot is supplied complete with a mattress."
Tested by mum Jeanette Bell for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I loved the compact nature of this cot, so would recommend it on that quality alone. The only downside was that it was not able to be folded or transported. However, it did come complete with a mattress so there is no need for extra expenditure. This is excellent, as mattresses can be really pricey on their own.
How did this product make your life easier?
Life was made easier as I was able to squeeze the Carolina Space-Saving Cot into any corner of the room, rather than having to designate a large space for a bulky cot. The compact length was perfect for what we needed. Also, storing the cot for use with future children will be easy down to its size.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would choose this cot to win as the colour and finish are very smart - the white coating looks crisp and fresh in a nursery or bedroom. The smaller size makes it very compact, but you might struggle when your baby gets to around two-years-old, it is then a tight squeeze.
What changes would you make to this product?
It would be really handy if the sides of the cot could be dropped or removed to make it easier to reach baby. Otherwise the cot is fabulous value for money.
Tested by mum Natalia Dziegelewska for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this cot to every mum. It is the perfect size for a baby and is a great space saver. It's very easy to assemble and the water-resistant mattress makes the whole design very hygienic.
How did this product make your life easier?
It is a perfect size for our small bedroom, but still very spacious for baby – win, win. It's also easy to put up and down and I like the adjustable height. We also used it in the living room for naps and it fit perfectly. It was easy to transport in and out of rooms, which is not the case with every cot I’ve seen.
Would you choose this product to win?
I wish I had known about this product earlier. It's compact, very good quality and comfortable for baby. I would definitely choose it over my current cot bed!
What changes would you make to this product?
I'm happy with everything about this product. I don’t even think the price is too bad.
Tested by mum Clare Jenkinson for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this cot over a Moses basket for example, as it is easier to feed baby in and you can move it from room to room. It’s very lightweight which is amazing, and the mattress is wipe-clean. I do think that the mattress could be a little thicker though.
How did this product make your life easier?
The cot itself is very sturdy and well-built but I wouldn’t say my life is easier because I can’t leave my baby unattended in the cot, as he likes climbing in and out.
Would you choose this product to win?
This is a great cot and I think it should win a Mother & Baby award. The ease of setting it up is a bonus and the instructions are very helpful. The space saving aspect is unbeatable!
What changes would you make to this product?
It would be great if this cot had teething rails on the top, to stop older babies biting down on it.
Tested by mum Jennifer Wilson for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product for the first few months after a child has moved on from a Moses basket. The mattress seemed very comfortable and my son slept soundly on it. It was lightweight and a great size. The design is simple and it was easy to assemble.
How did this product make your life easier?
As a single mother, having a product that is easy to assemble is key. I did not get stressed at all and managed to work it out single-handedly. The size of the cot was ideal for the limited space available in my room and I felt reassured having my son sleeping so close to me. It was also easy to carry around the house too for naps in different rooms.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would if it was a bit cheaper. I do love the product and felt reassured by the open design which enabled me to check on my son throughout the night, and if it was a lower price I would choose this product to win.
What changes would you make to this product?
Being able to lower the sides would make life easier as it would be gentler on my back. I find it hard to bend down so low all the time. Otherwise it’s a great product!
Tested by mum Jennifer Abrahams for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The price of this product is the main reason I would recommend it to other mums. Cots and mattresses can be expensive but, for just over £100, both the cot and the mattress are included in this package! This is a great deal. The only thing is that the mattress is slightly thin and will only last until baby is of a certain weight or age.
How did this product make your life easier?
This is an all-in-one product as both cot and mattress arrive together in one package. The cot saves so much space and makes our lives so much easier.
Would you choose this product to win?
If I didn’t have much space in the house, then this would definitely be a contender. However, that is not the case for me. I personally felt that my 12-month-old girl looked very large in this space saving cot and outgrew it quickly.
What changes would you make to this product?
If I could change anything, it would be that you can’t drop down the sides of the cot to get your baby in and out. This made getting my heavy 12-month-old girl in and out difficult and is a feature that could be improved upon.