The Saplings Glideaway Cot Bed is unique because when it’s a cot, it can rock as a crib would, because of its gliding function. This is basically a rocking motion, but brought about by the base gliding on its mechanism. It can be converted back into a non-rocking standard cot (and bed) easily by locking it. It also comes with under-cot/bed drawers, which are handy for storing spare bedding.
The Glideaway has three different heights for the mattress base and fixed sides with teething rails.
The Glideaway comes in white (which I tested) and a country pine finish, and is made of replenished pine. The white version is 'shabby chic' in style, in that it’s not a high-gloss white, but more of a whitewashed look. Some parents will love this rustic style, though others might prefer a sharper white gloss.
The Glideaway fits a standard cotbed size mattress (140cm x 69cm) that has to be purchased separately, though you might find some retailers sell the cotbed and a mattress as a package.
What we love
As the mum of two kids (a toddler and a 10-week-old) I felt a familiar sense of gloom at the thought of putting another child-related product together. However, I was pleasantly surprised as bar an Allen key and some heavy lifting, it was reasonably easy. Changing the cot into a junior bed requires swapping the end panel from the cot to the one for the bed, but this too was easy. The result is a nice - if slightly country-cottage style - junior bed that will last until your child is 5 years old.
This is a quality item and is unlikely to be wrecked by your toddler - my eldest boy had a good go, using it as a ladder/climbing frame!
The gliding/rocking function will really appeal to some parents, although I thought it unnecessary as very young babies are usually happier in a Moses basket or similar, and older babies aren't as likely to need rocking to sleep.
What to watch out for
I was disappointed about the fixed sides. I found night breastfeeds a pain as I had to get up and lift 10-week-old Ted out, rather than just sliding him from the cot into my own bed as you can with drop-sided cot styles. However, Saplings has told us that dropsides aren't possible, because if they were left lowered, they'd hit the base of the cotbed when in gliding mode.
As the Saplings Glideaway Cot Bed is such a large cot, Ted wasn't a great fan because he didn't get the comfort of the closeness his Moses basket gives.
When in junior bed mode, there are no safety rails included, so you and your child would have to be prepared for the possibility of a few night-time tumbles, although the bed is low enough for this not to be a real problem.
You’ll need to buy a mattress, though some places may sell the cotbed and mattress as a package, but it's not a given. The Saplings mattresses range in price from £35 for a foam mattress, £45 for eco-foam, £70 for a spring mattress and £90 for the cool flow model.
You'll also need to have storage space for the parts that convert the Glideaway into a bed and for the cot rails when your child has outgrown his cot.
Who is the Sapling Glideaway Cot Bed best for?
Parents who want one sleep solution for their baby and child, and older babies who like to be rocked gently into snooze-land.
The Sapling Glideaway Cot Bed is an expensive, but high-quality cotbed with a unique rocking function. It converts into a junior bed, so is a great single sleeping solution for the first 5 years of your child's life. Just be prepared to store the parts and pay extra for the mattress.
