Cot vs Cot Bed vs Toddler Bed: Sizes & When to Make the Move
If you’re trying to work out whether your child has a cot, a cot bed or a toddler bed, you’re not alone. The names are often used interchangeably, which can make choosing the right mattress, fitted sheet or duvet unnecessarily confusing.
The simplest place to start is with the size of the mattress and whether the cot is designed to convert into a bed.
A cot bed is a type of bed rather than simply the name for a cot after its sides have been removed. So even if your child is currently sleeping in it with all four sides up and you naturally think of it as their “cot”, you may technically already own a cot bed.
Here’s how to work out what you have, when it may be time to make the move and what bedding you’ll need at each stage.
What’s the difference between a cot and a cot bed?
The main differences are usually size and whether the bed converts.
A cot commonly takes a mattress measuring around 60 × 120cm, while a cot bed commonly takes a larger 70 × 140cm mattress. Dimensions can vary between manufacturers, however, so it’s always worth checking the mattress or the original product information rather than relying on the name alone.
A cot is generally designed to be used with its sides in place throughout its life.
A cot bed is designed to last for longer. It begins life looking and functioning much like a cot, but the sides or end panels can usually be removed later so that it becomes a small bed.
That means you might quite naturally say, “My toddler is still in a cot,” while actually owning a cot bed. This is also one of the reasons it can be easy to buy the wrong size fitted sheet or bedding.
How do I know whether I have a cot or a cot bed?
If you’re unsure what you own, check these three things:
- Measure the mattress. A mattress around 60 × 120cm usually indicates a cot, while 70 × 140cm is commonly used for cot beds.
- Look at the frame. If the sides or end panels are designed to be removed so that the cot becomes a small bed, it is likely to be a cot bed.
- Check the manufacturer or model. If you still have the instructions or can find the model online, the product information should confirm whether it is a cot or convertible cot bed.
When you’re buying fitted bedding, the mattress measurement is the most useful information. The words “cot”, “cot bed” and “toddler bed” are not always enough to tell you what size you need.
Cot vs cot bed sizes
| Bed type | Typical mattress size | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Cot | 60 × 120cm | A smaller sleeping space, generally used with the sides attached. |
| Cot bed | 70 × 140cm | A larger cot designed to convert into a small bed. |
| Toddler bed | Varies | This may be a converted cot bed or a separate low bed designed for toddlers. |
| Single bed | 90 × 190cm | A full-size UK single bed that can be used well beyond the toddler years. |
These are common UK mattress dimensions, but sizes can vary, so always measure before choosing fitted sheets, mattress protectors or other size-specific bedding.
Is a toddler bed the same as a cot bed?
Not necessarily — and this is where the terminology can become particularly confusing.
Sometimes the words “toddler bed” describe the converted version of a cot bed. The cot sides have been removed, but your child continues sleeping on the same cot-bed mattress.
Other times, a toddler bed is a completely separate piece of furniture: usually a small, low bed designed specifically for younger children.
So if somebody tells you that their child sleeps in a toddler bed, that alone doesn’t tell you what size bedding they need.
A converted 70 × 140cm cot bed, for example, still needs cot-bed-size fitted sheets, even though it now looks much more like a little bed than a cot.
When should I convert my cot bed into a bed?
There isn’t one age at which every child needs to move from a cot to a bed.
Many children make the transition sometime during the toddler years. Signs that it may be time to consider the move include your child trying to climb out of their cot or becoming too large to sleep comfortably in it.
If you own a convertible cot bed, this may simply mean removing the sides according to the manufacturer’s instructions and allowing your child to continue sleeping on the same mattress.
Some children take to the change straight away, while others benefit from a little more time and reassurance. Keeping familiar elements of their bedtime routine — such as the same room, favourite story or familiar bedding — can help make the change feel less significant.
Do I have to use the cot bed as a bed?
No. Owning a convertible cot bed doesn’t mean you have to use every stage of it.
Some families follow:
Cot → converted cot bed → single bed
while others choose:
Cot → single bed
Neither route is automatically better. It depends on your child, the bed you already own, the space available and whether you would prefer to move straight to something that will last for much longer.
Can my toddler go straight from a cot to a single bed?
Yes. A separate toddler-bed stage isn’t essential for every family.
Moving directly to a single bed can make sense if your child is ready to leave their cot and you would rather invest in a bed they can continue using for years.
A younger child moving into a single bed also doesn’t necessarily need an adult-style pillow straight away. For example, they may sleep on a smaller child-sized pillow while using a single-size duvet that correctly fits their new bed.
You can explore our Single Bedding collection if your child is moving straight into a full-size single bed.
Once a child can get in and out of bed independently, it’s also worth thinking about the safety of the whole bedroom rather than just the bed itself — including stairs, windows, blind cords and furniture they may be able to climb.
When can a toddler use a duvet?
Duvets and pillows should not be used for babies under 12 months old.
After their first birthday, there isn’t one single moment when every child has to move from a sleep bag or lighter bedding to a duvet. Some toddlers continue happily using a sleep bag for longer, while others begin using a duvet as they move into a cot bed or their first proper bed.
Importantly, moving from a cot to a bed and moving from a sleep bag to a duvet do not have to happen at exactly the same time.
Always choose bedding appropriate for your child’s age, their sleeping environment and the individual product guidance.
For children who are ready for a duvet and still sleeping in a cot or cot bed, our Toddler Wool Duvet is available in both cot and cot bed sizes.
When can a toddler use a pillow?
Pillows should also not be used for babies under 12 months old.
Once your child is older, you may decide to introduce a smaller pillow designed for younger sleepers rather than moving immediately to a fuller adult pillow.
This can also work if your child has moved straight into a single bed — the size of their bed doesn’t mean their pillow has to change at exactly the same time.
Our Wool Pillow includes a smaller 40 × 60cm Cot/Cot Bed size as well as larger kids and adult sizes.
What size bedding does my child need?
The easiest rule is to start with the mattress measurement rather than the name of the bed.
- 60 × 120cm mattress: look for cot-size fitted sheets.
- 70 × 140cm mattress: look for cot-bed fitted sheets — even if the cot bed has already been converted and you now think of it as a toddler bed.
- 90 × 190cm mattress: this is generally a UK single mattress, so look for single-size fitted sheets and bedding.
At Kabode, our cot fitted sheets are designed for 60 × 120cm mattresses, while our cot bed fitted sheets are designed for 70 × 140cm mattresses.
If your child sleeps on a 70 × 140cm mattress, you can find fitted sheets, duvet covers, quilts and other options in our Cot Bed Bedding collection.
If they have moved into a 90 × 190cm bed, explore our Single Bedding collection.
A simple way to work out what comes next
If all the different names are becoming confusing, forget the labels for a moment and work through these questions:
-
What size is the mattress?
This tells you what size fitted sheet you need. -
Can the cot safely convert into a bed?
Check the manufacturer’s instructions rather than assuming that every cot converts. -
Is your child becoming too big for the cot or trying to climb out?
These can be signs that it is time to consider moving to a bed. -
Do you actually need a toddler bed?
Not necessarily. Your child might use the converted form of their cot bed, a separate toddler bed, or move directly into a single. -
Is your child ready for a duvet or pillow?
Do not use pillows or duvets for babies under 12 months. After this stage, introduce bedding according to your child’s needs and the product guidance.
Cot, cot bed or single — there isn’t one right route
The transition from a cot can sound much more complicated than it needs to be, largely because the words used for children’s beds aren’t always very clear.
Your child doesn’t have to move through every bed size in order. A cot bed can be a useful way of extending the life of their first bed, while other families prefer to move straight from a cot into a single.
The important things are to understand what size bed you actually have, follow the manufacturer’s instructions when converting it, and choose bedding that fits both the mattress and your child’s stage.
And if you’re ever unsure what size bedding you need, start by measuring the mattress — it’s usually the quickest way to find the answer.