Cot vs. Crib — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 14, 2024
A cot is a lightweight, portable bed, often foldable, while a crib is a stationary bed with high sides for infants.
Difference Between Cot and Crib
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cots are designed for portability and temporary sleeping arrangements, making them ideal for travel or as a temporary bed for guests. They typically feature a foldable metal or wood frame and a fabric or mesh base. Cribs, on the other hand, are designed for infants and young children, featuring a sturdy, stationary frame with high, slatted sides to prevent the child from climbing out and to ensure safety during sleep.
While cots are used for a variety of age groups, from babies to adults, depending on their design and size, cribs are specifically designed for babies and toddlers, providing a secure sleeping environment during the early years of a child's life.
Cots can be easily assembled and disassembled for storage or transport, offering convenience for families on the go or those with limited space. Cribs require more permanent assembly and are often a fixed piece of furniture in a child's nursery, sometimes convertible into toddler beds as the child grows.
Safety standards for cots vary widely and are generally less regulated than those for cribs, which are subject to strict safety regulations to protect infants. This includes specifications for slat spacing, mattress size, and non-toxic finishes to prevent accidents and health risks.
Despite their differences, both cots and cribs serve the essential function of providing a safe and comfortable sleeping environment, each suited to different needs and stages of life.
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Comparison Chart
Design
Portable and often foldable
Stationary with high, slatted sides
Usage
Temporary or travel sleeping arrangements
Permanent bed for infants and toddlers
Age Range
Babies to adults, depending on design
Primarily for babies and toddlers
Assembly
Easy to assemble and disassemble
Requires more permanent assembly
Safety Standards
Less regulated, vary by type
Subject to strict safety regulations
Compare with Definitions
Cot
A portable, often foldable bed suitable for temporary sleeping arrangements.
We brought a cot for the baby to sleep in while visiting grandparents.
Crib
A bed with high sides designed for infants and young children to ensure safety.
The nursery was set up with a beautiful wooden crib.
Cot
Can be used for a range of ages, from infants to adults.
The guest room had a cot ready for unexpected overnight guests.
Crib
Provides a secure sleeping environment for the early years.
The crib's mattress was adjusted to the lowest setting for the toddler's safety.
Cot
Ideal for travel or as a temporary bed due to easy storage.
The foldable cot proved invaluable for family vacations.
Crib
Features a sturdy, stationary frame with slatted sides.
The convertible crib could transform into a toddler bed as the child grew.
Cot
Typically features a metal or wood frame with a fabric or mesh base.
The camping cot folded easily and fit into the car's trunk.
Crib
Requires assembly and is often a fixed piece in a nursery.
Assembling the crib took some time, but it was a key piece of the nursery.
Cot
Safety standards can vary, especially for adult and camping cots.
Ensure the cot has a sturdy frame and secure locking mechanism.
Crib
Subject to strict safety standards to protect infants.
The crib met all safety standards, including the correct slat spacing and non-toxic finish.
Cot
A narrow bed, especially one made of canvas on a collapsible frame.
Crib
A bed with high sides for a young child or baby.
Cot
Chiefly British A crib.
Crib
A small building, usually with slatted sides, for storing corn.
Cot
A small house.
Crib
A rack or trough for fodder; a manger.
Cot
A protective covering or sheath.
Crib
A stall for cattle.
Cot
A simple bed, especially one for portable or temporary purposes.
Crib
A small crude cottage or room.
Cot
A bed for infants or small children, with high, often slatted, often moveable sides.
Crib
(Slang) One's home.
Cot
A wooden bed frame, slung by its corners from a beam, in which officers slept before the introduction of bunks.
Crib
A framework to support or strengthen a mine or shaft.
Cot
(archaic) A cottage or small homestead.
Crib
A wicker basket.
Cot
A pen, coop, or similar shelter for small domestic animals, such as sheep or pigeons.
Crib
A petty theft.
Cot
A small, crudely-formed boat.
Crib
Plagiarism.
Cot
A cover or sheath; a fingerstall.
A roller cot (the clothing of a drawing roller in a spinning frame)
A cot for a sore finger
Crib
See pony.
Cot
(obsolete) A man who does household work normally associated with women.
Crib
See cheat sheet.
Cot
A small house; a cottage or hut.
The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm.
Crib
(Games) A set of cards made up from discards by each player in cribbage, used by the dealer.
Cot
A pen, coop, or like shelter for small domestic animals, as for sheep or pigeons; a cote.
Crib
To confine or cramp.
Cot
A cover or sheath; as, a roller cot (the clothing of a drawing roller in a spinning frame); a cot for a sore finger. See also finger cot.
Crib
To furnish with a crib.
Cot
A small, rudely-formed boat.
Crib
To plagiarize (an idea or answer, for example).
Cot
A sleeping place of limited size; a little bed; a cradle; a piece of canvas extended by a frame, used as a bed.
Crib
To steal.
Cot
A sheath worn to protect a finger
Crib
To plagiarize; cheat.
Cot
Baby bed with high sides
Crib
(US) A baby’s bed with high, often slatted, often moveable sides, suitable for a child who has outgrown a cradle or bassinet.
Cot
A small bed that folds up for storage or transport
Crib
(British) A bed for a child older than a baby.
Crib
(nautical) A small sleeping berth in a packet ship or other small vessel
Crib
A wicker basket.
Moses basket
Crib
A manger, a feeding trough for animals elevated off the earth or floor, especially one for fodder such as hay.
Crib
The baby Jesus and the manger in a creche or nativity scene, consisting of statues of Mary, Joseph and various other characters such as the magi.
Crib
A bin for drying or storing grain, as with a corn crib.
Crib
A small room or covered structure, especially one of rough construction, used for storage or penning animals.
Crib
A confined space, as with a cage or office-cubicle
Crib
(obsolete) A job, a position; (British) an appointment.
Crib
A hovel, a roughly constructed building best suited to the shelter of animals but used for human habitation.
Crib
One’s residence, house or dwelling place, or usual place of resort.
Crib
A boxy structure traditionally built of heavy wooden timbers, to support an existing structure from below, as with a mineshaft or a building being raised off its foundation in preparation for being moved; see cribbing.
Crib
A collection of quotes or references for use in speaking, for assembling a written document, or as an aid to a project of some sort; a crib sheet.
Crib
(obsolete) A minor theft, extortion or embezzlement, with or without criminal intent.
Crib
(cribbage) The card game cribbage.
Crib
(cribbage) The cards discarded by players and used by the dealer.
Crib
(cryptography) A known piece of information corresponding to a section of encrypted text, that is then used to work out the remaining sections.
Crib
A small holiday home, often near a beach and of simple construction.
Crib
A snack or packed lunch, especially as taken to work to eat during a break.
Crib
(Canada) A small raft made of timber.
Crib
The stomach.
Crib
A literal translation, usually of a work originally in Latin or Ancient Greek.
Crib
(slang) A cheat sheet or past test used by students; crib sheet.
Crib
(transitive) To place or confine in a crib.
Crib
To shut up or confine in a narrow habitation; to cage; to cramp.
Crib
(transitive) To collect one or more passages and/or references for use in a speech, written document or as an aid for some task; to create a crib sheet.
I cribbed the recipe from the Food Network site, but made a few changes of my own.
Crib
To plagiarize; to copy; to cheat.
Crib
(intransitive) To install timber supports, as with cribbing.
Crib
To steal or embezzle, to cheat out of.
Crib
(Indian English) To complain, to grumble
Crib
To crowd together, or to be confined, as if in a crib or in narrow accommodations.
Crib
To seize the manger or other solid object with the teeth and draw in wind.
Crib
A manger or rack; a feeding place for animals.
The steer lion at one crib shall meet.
Crib
A stall for oxen or other cattle.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean.
Crib
A small inclosed bedstead or cot for a child.
Crib
A box or bin, or similar wooden structure, for storing grain, salt, etc.; as, a crib for corn or oats.
Crib
A hovel; a hut; a cottage.
Why rather, Sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, . . . Than in the perfumed chambers of the great?
Crib
A structure or frame of timber for a foundation, or for supporting a roof, or for lining a shaft.
Crib
A structure of logs to be anchored with stones; - used for docks, pier, dams, etc.
Crib
A small raft of timber.
Crib
A small theft; anything purloined; a plagiarism; hence, a translation or key, etc., to aid a student in preparing or reciting his lessons.
The Latin version technically called a crib.
Occasional perusal of the Pagan writers, assisted by a crib.
Crib
A miner's luncheon.
Crib
The discarded cards which the dealer can use in scoring points in cribbage.
Crib
To shut up or confine in a narrow habitation; to cage; to cramp.
If only the vital energy be not cribbed or cramped.
Now I am cabin'd, cribbed, confined.
Crib
To pilfer or purloin; hence, to steal from an author; to appropriate; to plagiarize; as, to crib a line from Milton.
Child, being fond of toys, cribbed the necklace.
Crib
To crowd together, or to be confined, as in a crib or in narrow accommodations.
Who sought to make . . . bishops to crib in a Presbyterian trundle bed.
Crib
To make notes for dishonest use in recitation or examination.
Crib
To seize the manger or other solid object with the teeth and draw in wind; - said of a horse.
Crib
Baby bed with high sides
Crib
A literal translation used in studying a foreign language (often used illicitly)
Crib
A card game in which each player is dealt 6 cards and discards one or two to make up the crib
Crib
Use a crib, as in an exam
Crib
Take unauthorized (intellectual material)
Crib
Line with beams or planks;
Crib a construction hole
Common Curiosities
Are all cribs convertible into toddler beds?
Not all cribs are convertible, but many modern designs offer this feature to extend the furniture's life as the child grows.
Can a crib be portable?
Some cribs, known as portable or mini cribs, are designed for easier movement, but they are generally less portable than cots and are still primarily intended for stationary use.
What should I consider when buying a cot?
Consider its size, ease of assembly, portability, and whether it meets safety standards for the intended age group.
What is the difference in mattress size between a cot and a crib?
Crib mattresses are standardized to fit within the crib's dimensions safely, while cot mattresses can vary widely in size and thickness.
Are cots safe for newborns?
Cots designed specifically for infants can be safe, but it's important to ensure they meet safety standards and are used with appropriate bedding.
How do I choose between a cot and a crib for my baby?
The choice depends on your needs; a crib is suitable for everyday use at home, providing a safe, stable environment, while a cot is ideal for travel or temporary situations.
How long can a child sleep in a crib?
Children can sleep in cribs until they are ready to transition to a toddler or standard bed, typically around 2 to 3 years old, depending on their size and mobility.
Are there travel cribs that combine the features of cots and cribs?
Yes, travel cribs are designed to be portable like cots but with features and safety standards more closely aligned with traditional cribs, suitable for infants and young children.
Can a cot be used as a permanent bed for a baby?
While cots can be used for babies, especially when traveling, they are not recommended as a permanent sleeping solution due to their less regulated safety standards.
How can I ensure a crib is safe for my baby?
Choose a crib that meets current safety standards, ensure proper assembly, and use a firm mattress with a snug fit.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
