Do Americans Say Cot or Crib? The Truth About Baby Sleep Furniture Names

Ever walked into a baby store and heard someone ask for a crib, only to feel confused because you’ve always called it a cot? You’re not alone. This isn’t just a spelling difference-it’s a cultural divide hidden in plain sight. In the U.S., almost every parent, retailer, and pediatrician says crib. In the U.K., Australia, and Canada, it’s cot. But why? And does it even matter when you’re shopping for your newborn’s first bed?

What’s the real difference between a crib and a cot?

There’s no physical difference. A crib and a cot are the same thing: a small bed with high, slatted sides designed for babies and toddlers under two years old. Both are made to keep little ones safe while they sleep, with firm mattresses and no soft bedding. The only thing that changes is the word you use to describe it.

In the United States, crib is the universal term. You’ll see it on product labels at Target, in pediatrician handouts, on parenting blogs, and in baby registries. If you search for "cot" on Amazon.com, you’ll mostly find camping cots or fold-out beds for adults-not baby beds.

Meanwhile, in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Canada, cot is the standard. Walk into a baby shop in London or Sydney, and you’ll see rows of cots. Ask for a crib there, and you might get a puzzled look-or worse, someone handing you a metal frame meant for a campsite.

Why do Americans say crib and not cot?

The answer goes back to the 17th century. The word crib originally meant a small basket or feeding trough for animals. By the 1600s, it started being used for baby beds in English-speaking colonies. The term stuck in America, even as British English shifted toward cot, which comes from the Old English word cotte, meaning a small bed or hut.

After the American Revolution, language began to diverge. Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary helped standardize American spellings and vocabulary-and he favored simpler, more phonetic terms. Crib was already common in everyday speech, so it became the official term. Meanwhile, in Britain, cot became the preferred word, possibly because it sounded more refined or less rustic than crib.

Today, American English has fully embraced crib as the only term for baby beds. Even American expats living abroad often default to crib out of habit. And if you try to use cot in a U.S. baby store, you’ll likely be asked, "Do you mean crib?"

What about Canada? Do they say crib or cot?

Canada sits in the middle. Because of its close ties to both the U.S. and the U.K., you’ll hear both terms-but crib is winning. Major retailers like Walmart Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Amazon.ca list baby beds as "cribs." Baby product manuals from Canadian brands like Stokke or Babyletto use "crib" in their instructions.

That said, older generations or families with British roots might still say "cot." If you’re shopping in Quebec, you’ll hear "lit de bébé"-but that’s French, not English. In English-speaking parts of Canada, "crib" is now the default. The shift happened over the last 20 years, as American media, parenting websites, and online shopping flooded the market with American terminology.

What happens if you use the wrong word?

It’s not a disaster-but it can cause confusion. Imagine you’re an American mom visiting a friend in Australia. You say, "I need to buy a crib for the baby." Your friend replies, "Oh, you mean a cot?" You both think you’re talking about the same thing, but now you’re stuck in a loop of clarification.

Online shopping is where this gets messy. If you’re in the U.S. and search for "baby cot," you’ll get a lot of irrelevant results: folding camp cots, metal bed frames, or even dog beds. You might end up buying the wrong thing-or spending 45 minutes sorting through junk.

On the flip side, if you’re in the U.K. and search for "baby crib," you’ll mostly find American imports, often with higher shipping costs and no safety certifications that meet British standards (like BS EN 716). You might not realize the product isn’t approved for use in your country until it arrives.

How to avoid confusion when buying baby furniture

Here’s a simple rule: Use the term that matches your location. If you’re in the U.S., search for "crib." If you’re in the U.K., Australia, or New Zealand, search for "cot."

But if you’re shopping online from another country, do this:

1. Check the product description for safety standards. In the U.S., look for ASTM F1169. In the U.K., look for BS EN 716.
2. Look at the dimensions. Most standard baby beds are 28 x 52 inches, regardless of name.
3. Read the reviews. People often mention whether they’re from the U.S., U.K., or elsewhere-and whether the product matched their expectations.
4. Use both terms in your search. Type "crib OR cot" to catch all results.

Also, don’t assume all "cribs" are the same. Some are convertible-meaning they turn into toddler beds or even full-size beds. Others are portable. Make sure you know what you’re getting before you click "buy."

What do experts say about crib vs. cot?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) only uses the word crib in its official guidelines. Their Safe Sleep recommendations all refer to "firm crib mattresses," "crib slats," and "crib safety standards."

The NHS in the U.K. and Red Nose in Australia use cot exclusively. Their safety checklists talk about "cot bars," "cot mattress size," and "cot bumper safety."

These aren’t just word choices-they’re part of official safety language. If you’re following a safety guide from the U.S., it’s written for a crib. If you’re following one from the U.K., it’s written for a cot. Mixing them up could lead to buying a mattress that’s too big or a bed with unsafe spacing between slats.

Is this just a language quirk-or does it matter?

It matters. A lot. Because language shapes how we think about safety, shopping, and parenting. If you don’t know the right term, you might miss critical information. You might buy a bed that doesn’t meet local safety rules. You might waste time and money.

And for new parents? Every second counts. You’re already overwhelmed. You don’t need to be confused by a word that means the same thing but sounds completely different.

So if you’re in the U.S., say crib. If you’re in the U.K., Australia, or New Zealand, say cot. And if you’re shopping online from abroad? Always check the safety standards, not just the name.

At the end of the day, it’s not about which word is "right." It’s about making sure your baby sleeps safely-and that means using the language your local experts, stores, and safety agencies use.