What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £200 (~$266) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £170 (~$226) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £130 (~$173) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £90 (~$120) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £50 (~$67) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a cot is worth what is being asked:
- Missing fittings, which make reassembly impossible
- Bite marks and splintering along the top rails
- Older cots not meeting current spacing standards
- Drop-side designs, which are no longer recommended
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Current safety standard labels intact
- All fittings, bolts and instructions present
- Solid wood construction with no splits
- Adjustable base heights working properly
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit car seats and carriers exist and fail catastrophically in exactly the situation they were bought for. Buy safety-critical items new.
Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a cot, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Count them against the instructions before listing. This is the question that decides a cot sale, because sourcing replacements is genuinely difficult.
Say so either way. Many buyers prefer to buy a new mattress regardless, so a cot without one is not a problem when stated up front.
Photograph them. They are almost universal on used cots, buyers expect them, and showing them makes the rest of your listing more believable.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Bag every bolt and fitting with the cot when dismantling
- Check the bar spacing and safety label
- Inspect the top rails for bite damage and splinters
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The cot assembled, from the side
- The fixings, allen key and instructions laid out together
- The mattress base and slats from above
- Any chew marks on the rails, which are extremely common and should be shown rather than hidden
Details to confirm before you commit
- Cot or cot bed, and the mattress size in centimetres
- Whether a mattress is included, and its age and condition
- Whether all fixings and the instructions are present
- Material, and whether the height adjusts or a side drops
Live cot listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse baby & kids for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady all year. Cot beds sell faster than plain cots because they last longer, and solid wood outsells board.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a cot sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell cot for what to photograph and how to price, or what cot is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used cot?
Around £26 to £130 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a cot before buying?
Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.
Is buying a cot second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.
See also: all buying guides · cot value guide · selling cot · Baby & Kids · condition grades.