We recommend cots with a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 70%.

This overall score is made up of safety performance (70%) and ease of use (30%).

Our Recommended models meet all key safety requirements and score at least 80% for safety performance, but may fail some very minor information requirements (such as instructions and labelling).

Some lower-scoring models may still be worth considering if they meet all key safety requirements, but fail some minor points (such as finger entrapment).

Models scoring 40% or less for safety have at least one serious failure.

We rate how easy it is to put the cot together. Models may be marked down for having many parts, poor instructions or awkward assembly stages.

Whether the cot passed our key safety tests.

Based on the latest safety standard. Some cots may not pass some very minor information requirements such as labelling or instructions. We still recommend cots that pass all key safety tests so long as the information failures are very minor.

Manufacturer's stated warranty period in years. This doesn't include the rights you already have under the Australian Consumer Law.

Manufacturer's claimed country of origin.

'Tested model' refers to cots that are currently available in shops and online, while 'Discontinued model' refers to cots that are no longer available in shops, but may be available second-hand or in clearance sales.

Recommended or typical retail price at the time of testing.

L x W x maximum thickness, in millimetres. The mattress length and width are based on information found on the box, instructions, swing tag and marking on the mattress base, and where these vary the smallest value is shown. The mattress thickness is based on the same sources of information, and the greatest value is shown.

A side that can be lowered for easy access when putting baby to bed or taking them from the cot.

Plastic strips on the top edges of the cot, so that neither baby nor cot is damaged if it's chewed on.

Whether the cot is able to be converted into a children's bed. This is either supplied with the cot or available as an optional extra.

Wheels make the cot easier to move around (but should have lockable brakes on at least two wheels).

If the cot has wheels, there should be lockable brakes on at least two of them, to stop the cot rolling freely.