At a glance:
The Mothercare Folding cot is aesthetically pleasing, made of solid beech wood that looks both traditional and stylish. It comes complete with a mattress, making it more affordable. That said, it’s very heavy and not so easy to transport, so whilst it is a good option if you needed to save space and fold your cot away, it’s not convenient to move too often.
What they say:
The Mothercare Folding Cot is made from sturdy, solid beech wood with a natural finish that looks beautiful in any bedroom. The design is a great mix of contemporary and traditional, with clean lines and a solid structure that will give you longevity and value, as well as great style. Practical and easy installation, with two locking levers for safety.
Tested by mum Naomi Stokes for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I’m not sure – on one hand, this cot is sturdy and easy to clean and use, on the other, it is very difficult to transport anywhere, and too bulky and heavy to move around the house. Therefore, I don’t think it is the most practical product I have come across yet.
How did this product make your life easier?
I like the large size and how sturdy the structure of this cot is, but I don’t think the fold-down feature is particularly useful because it is still too big to carry around. Perhaps it would save you space when storing it but otherwise, a travel cot seems like a much better option.
Would you choose this product to win?
The large size is great as it means the cot would last quite a long time and the mattress is of very good quality. I would not choose it to win though, because I cannot transport it anywhere, and this is very important to me when making a purchase.
What changes would you make to this product?
I like the idea of a cot that folds up, but I feel that the point is to be able to travel with it. Since this is too large to carry around, I don’t really think it is ideal. But I really approve of the comfy mattress and would recommend it as a mere stand-alone cot for the nursery.
Tested by mum Ashley Smith for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would only recommend this cot to someone who had very little space available in their house, and needed to regularly fold up their cot in the day to make room for other things. Otherwise, the fold-down feature is not particularly useful as the product is too hefty to carry around with you. However, I really appreciate how comfortable the mattress is for baby.
How did this product make your life easier?
It would make life easier if I needed extra space and had to fold it up frequently, but I don’t need that space personally, so it didn’t make my life much easier. But I can see the benefits for those with smaller rooms.
Would you choose this product to win?
I wouldn’t choose this product over others. It was comfortable, but not compact enough to merit a prize in the Mother and Baby Awards.
What changes would you make to this product?
I think I would make this cot more lightweight, so that it could be carried around easily or even taken on holiday.
Tested by mum Stacie Howson for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Once you know what you are doing, this cot is easy to put down. The design is nice and simple and is therefore never fiddly. It is very sturdy and well-made yet, which I really like! However, that unfortunately means that it is heavy to carry. It is a good length, which means it will last a long time.
How did this product make your life easier?
I think it would make life easier in hotel rooms when you have limited space and need to fold up the cot after use. But the problem is, it is too heavy to transport around easily and so wouldn’t be easy to bring on holiday. Having said that, I am happy to use it as a regular cot in the home as I like the strong, sturdy structure, it puts me at ease that my baby is safe and secure inside.
Would you choose this product to win?
I don't know enough about the market, but I don’t think I would, simply because it is so hard to store and carry around, due to its substantial size and weight.
What changes would you make to this product?
I would change how bulky it is, but without compromising on the sturdy structure of the cot.
Tested by mum Amy Farnfield for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Yes, I like the nice, simple design and how sturdy it is. It is easy to fold down flat when needed. I would recommend this for hotels as there is often no room to keep the cot up all the time. However, since it is very heavy, I would probably prefer a travel cot on holiday.
How did this product make your life easier?
This cot is a great length, meaning that it is durable and will last until my baby is much bigger. I really appreciate this as it will save me money in the long run. Also, the mattress has a plastic cover, which makes cleaning a breeze. But it is still very comfortable for baby. The cot is easy collapse when needed.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would choose it to win if I didn't have room to keep a cot up all the time in my nursery. But as I don’t require extra space, it is not wholly relevant to me. But I am a fan of how strong and sturdy it is, I can trust that my child is safe inside.
What changes would you make to this product?
I think I would make this cot easier to manoeuvre around, by making it more lightweight for transportation.