Mamas & Papas Petite Compact Cot review

Verdict in 10 seconds

• Smaller than standard cots so it fits easily into your room for those early months

• Two height settings so you can lower it when your baby becomes more mobile

• Lasts up to 12 months – longer than bedside cribs and Moses baskets

Pros

• Just like a standard cot, but more compact for bedsides and small spaces so you can keep your baby close

• Allows baby more room to grow and develop than Moses baskets and bedside cribs, which only last up to six months on average

• A neutral, yet stylish, cot that will compliment any bedroom

• Slatted bars make it easy to see baby from your bed

• As it lasts longer, there’s no need to rush your baby into a bigger bed – or into their own room – too soon

• Adjustable height makes picking up easier – and you can lower as your baby grows

• Easy to assemble

Cons

• Unlike bassinets or beds with wheels, it doesn’t move around so you may need a basket to keep baby close during the early months

• Not breastfeeding-friendly as there is no drop-side, so you will have to get out of bed to pick up your baby for night feeds or cuddles

• Doesn’t incline or rock to give baby extra comfort

• No mattress included – you'll need to buy one separately

• Can’t be used as a travel cot

• May not last as long for bigger, or more mobile, babies

What are the key features?

• Cot is 0.61m² so can fit into smaller spaces

• Offers two height positions which you can adjust as baby grows

• The open-slatted design offers all-round visibility

• Crib and mattress can be wiped clean

What are the specs?

• Suitable from birth to approximately 12 months

• Dimensions: 89.5 × 63.5 × 95.5cm

• Mattress size: 90cm x 54cm x 7.5cm

• Weight: 12.3kg

• Made from pine and engineered board

• Mattress made from foam

• Comes in two colours: white pine and pebble grey

• RRP: £99 at time of writing

• Resale price: £10-£50 (at time of review)

• Extras: Mamas and Papas fibre mattress (£22)

How easy is the Mamas & Papas Petite Compact Cot to set up?

It took just 20 minutes for our tester, Anna, to set up this cot ready for her baby to sleep in. The instructions came with clear diagrams which were really easy to follow.

The Mamas & Papas Petite Compact Cot comes with 12 screws and an allen key to get the bed set up. You simply screw the four sides and the base together, then put the mattress in.

Our tester didn’t need any more guidance once the bed was set up, but if you lose your instructions you can search for a copy on the Mamas & Papas website or contact customer services, the details of which are on there too.

If you go to Mamas & Papas’ YouTube page you can also find a video showing how to build the cot. Anna gave it high marks for how easy it was to get started.

How adjustable is it?

As with any standard cot, the Mamas & Papas Petite Compact Cot is, quite simply, just a bed.

There are no fancy extras, such as a drop rail or rocking mechanism and it can’t really be moved around the house, but if you are looking for a cot that will fit into smaller spaces but will last longer than a Moses basket or bedside crib, then this could be it.

It has two height settings which can be adjusted as your baby grows. When our tester first set it up, she fixed the base to the higher level which made it easier to pick up her baby, but as your child grows, rolls over and sits up unaided it will need to be lowered.

Mamas & Papas do warn that if the baby can climb out of the cot then you should move them into a bigger bed.

While changing the height setting is fairly straightforward – you undo the screws with the allen key and move the base down to the lower level – it isn’t as quick to adjust as other baby beds.

For example, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Bedside Crib can be changed by simply pressing buttons and lifting the bed up or down but, with this cot, once you lower it you are unlikely to change it again.

How does it look?

A classic, slatted cot, this bed comes in neutral colours, either pebble grey or white, which look clean and elegant.

Made from pine and engineered board, Anna thought the cot was well-made. The Mamas & Papas foam mattress, which unfortunately you do need to buy to fit the cot, also felt thick and comfortable as well as suitable for a baby's delicate skin.

The mattress is bigger than others we tested, such as the mattresses for both the Purflo Keep Me Close Bedside Crib and the Chicco Next2Me Magic Side-Sleeping Crib, but smaller than a standard cot.

This mini cot fit well in our tester’s bedroom with plenty of room for her now chunky three-month-old.

We tested the white cot, and Anna really loved the traditional design and thought her baby boy looked gorgeous in it.

What is it like to use day-to-day?

While Anna loved how easy the bedside cribs were when her baby was up regularly in the night during testing, there was a lot she liked about the Mamas & Papas Petite Compact Cot too.

It works just like a traditional cot – a sturdy, slatted bed that can be altered as the baby grows – but small enough to fit into your bedroom so you can be close to feed or comfort them during the early months. It could also be used in a small nursery.

The downsides are that it doesn’t rock or incline to help with congestion or reflux, and, because it doesn't have a side rail, it is not as breastfeeding-friendly as bedside cribs, such as the SnuzPod 3.

It does have two height settings though and Anna actually found it easier to put her son down after a feed as she didn't have to twist in her bed as she would have done with a co-sleeper.

That did mean, however, that she had to get out of bed, which is not ideal if your baby is up a lot throughout the night. Thankfully, though, her son wasn’t taking long to settle so there was no standing around in the dark.

The wooden slats also allowed her to see him from her bed – and, as babies can be quite noisy when they sleep, she liked that he was a bit further away from her bed.

By this stage, Anna’s baby was napping in their bedroom but, just like any traditional cot, there are no wheels or handles and it can’t be folded up to move around or take away with you, so you would need to consider what you will use during the day for naps or when you travel.

This cot is pretty basic compared to the Tutti Bambini CoZee Bedside Crib and a lot of the other baby beds we tested, but Anna felt her little boy was really happy in it and gave it high marks.

She even found the gap underneath the crib a handy place to keep nappies and baby wipes.

As the cot can last for up to a year, you don’t need to rush your baby into their own room before either of you are ready, and being able to keep them in the same bed when they do move could make the transition easier too.

How safe is it?

As safe-sleeping experts recommend you keep your baby in the same room as you for the first six months, the Mamas & Papas Petite Compact Cot allows you to do this for even longer than recommended.

Made from pine and engineered board, it feels strong and secure for a newborn to grow and explore as they become more mobile. There are no sharp corners or loose parts for baby to get hold of and the traditional slatted design allows air to flow freely through the cot.

Anna thought it was very safe as the sides and base securely fit together with screws and she didn’t feel it could be easily knocked over – especially when, during testing, Anna’s twin four-year-old daughters found the gap underneath the cot the perfect place for a den.

There are two height levels and, once your child is old enough to sit up unaided, the base should be used in the lowest position.

The mattress, which you need to buy to fit the small cot, fits the base nicely and is hypoallergenic. You can also flip it over so it lasts longer. Mamas & Papas do say that the gap between the mattress and the sides and ends should not exceed 30mm.

How easy is it to clean?

Babies can be pretty messy but, with no covers or gaps for dirt to creep in, this cot is really easy to keep clean.

The bed still looked as good as new after more than a week of testing (and falling victim to snot and dribble) but, thankfully, if you do need to clean it, the wooden slats can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Mamas & Papas advise that you always leave the cot clean and dry and never use abrasive bleach or strong detergents.

The mattress lifts out easily and is water-repellent to protect it from any spillages. Our tester used a protective sheet which was washable, but you can also wipe the mattress down if anything gets on it.

Is this cot good value for money?

At £99, there are both cheaper and more expensive newborn beds out there but this one will last longer than most.

Unfortunately, you do need to buy a mattress (£22), baby blankets  and sheets separately – sheets cost around £12 to £15 – so the price does add up, but this bed is high quality and does feel comfortable for a newborn.

While you don’t have some of the extras that other baby beds on the market offer, buying a small cot means you can keep your baby closer for longer and don’t have to worry about paying for a bigger bed too soon. Although you will need to consider where your baby will nap in the first few weeks.

While the Petite Compact Cot isn’t as in demand as, say, bedside sleepers like the CoZee and Next2Me, Mamas & Papas is a popular brand so you should still get some money back if you sell it on after use.

Final verdict?

When you compare it to other newborn beds, the Mamas & Papas Petite Compact Cot may not seem as exciting. It doesn’t rock or incline, you can’t travel with it or attach it to your bed for night feeds, but it does have a lot of other benefits.

It’ll give peace of mind to parents who want to keep their baby close but don’t want to co-sleep. Bigger than a crib but smaller than a cot, your baby can also sleep in the same bed for the first year of their life – as opposed to a maximum of six months with cribs or baskets – without it taking up too much space.

You won’t need to worry about moving them into a big cot when they are still so small and it can even help them adjust to their own room as they can stay in the same bed for longer.

A compact but stylish bed, this cot will compliment any bedroom while providing a safe, familiar place for your baby to sleep.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage. Read our how we test page to find out more.

For more information about what to look for when buying a newborn bed, check out our buyer's guide.

All prices correct at time of publication