Aussie-born customised cot is a world first

The Advertiser

16-05-2025

The year 2020 may be associated with a global pandemic, however it also inadvertently gave people more time - and with that, the headspace to create new innovations that continue to be released to this day.
This week Bold Baby launched the world's first fully customisable cot, the idea of husband and wife Jim Walsh and Megan Cooper, which was able to be fully realised during Melbourne's COVID lockdowns.
"Working near the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria), I was surrounded by rotating exhibitions and incredible design," says Jim, who has worked in advertising and design.
"It made me see the cot not just as a piece of furniture, but as a canvas; something that could evolve, tell a story, and reflect the life around it."
This story began when Megan and Jim had their first child. Jim upcycled a hand-me-down cot by giving it new ends with painted designs, and the concept for a cot incorporating art was born.
Family life and the arrival of two more children took over before the restrictions that transpired in 2020 allowed the idea to flourish.
"There wasn't anything available that truly reflected parents' unique style, personality and individuality," Megan says. "We wanted a cot that captured that family's character, and that could change and evolve alongside the baby."
After four years of meticulous design, rigorous safety testing, and honest feedback from parents, Bold Baby has just launched online.
The cot's unique interchangeable panel system sets it apart, four double-sided panels offering 16 different combinations that can be swapped as a parent's mood changes, or as the child grows. The concept taps into a growing demand from families who want nursery spaces that grow with and reflect them, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Crafted from sustainably sourced European beechwood, the cot is as functional as it is beautiful. It has two adjustable mattress heights, smooth rounded edges, and a toddler bed conversion that's coming soon.
But it's not just about aesthetics. Research in colour psychology shows the visual environment plays a crucial role in a child's emotional and cognitive development.
"The environments we create for our children send powerful messages about identity, belonging, and self-expression," says Dr. Easton Gaines, clinical psychologist and founder of MindCare Psychology.
"When we incorporate bold and bright colours, we're not just decorating - we're giving kids permission to take up space, feel joy, and explore their emotions in a sensory-rich way."
"We believe nurseries should be an extension of the family's style and values," Megan says. "Our cot gives parents the freedom to create a space that feels personal, vibrant and full of possibility, without compromising on quality or safety."
The year 2020 may be associated with a global pandemic, however it also inadvertently gave people more time - and with that, the headspace to create new innovations that continue to be released to this day.
This week Bold Baby launched the world's first fully customisable cot, the idea of husband and wife Jim Walsh and Megan Cooper, which was able to be fully realised during Melbourne's COVID lockdowns.
"Working near the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria), I was surrounded by rotating exhibitions and incredible design," says Jim, who has worked in advertising and design.
"It made me see the cot not just as a piece of furniture, but as a canvas; something that could evolve, tell a story, and reflect the life around it."
This story began when Megan and Jim had their first child. Jim upcycled a hand-me-down cot by giving it new ends with painted designs, and the concept for a cot incorporating art was born.
Family life and the arrival of two more children took over before the restrictions that transpired in 2020 allowed the idea to flourish.
"There wasn't anything available that truly reflected parents' unique style, personality and individuality," Megan says. "We wanted a cot that captured that family's character, and that could change and evolve alongside the baby."
After four years of meticulous design, rigorous safety testing, and honest feedback from parents, Bold Baby has just launched online.
The cot's unique interchangeable panel system sets it apart, four double-sided panels offering 16 different combinations that can be swapped as a parent's mood changes, or as the child grows. The concept taps into a growing demand from families who want nursery spaces that grow with and reflect them, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Crafted from sustainably sourced European beechwood, the cot is as functional as it is beautiful. It has two adjustable mattress heights, smooth rounded edges, and a toddler bed conversion that's coming soon.
But it's not just about aesthetics. Research in colour psychology shows the visual environment plays a crucial role in a child's emotional and cognitive development.
"The environments we create for our children send powerful messages about identity, belonging, and self-expression," says Dr. Easton Gaines, clinical psychologist and founder of MindCare Psychology.
"When we incorporate bold and bright colours, we're not just decorating - we're giving kids permission to take up space, feel joy, and explore their emotions in a sensory-rich way."
"We believe nurseries should be an extension of the family's style and values," Megan says. "Our cot gives parents the freedom to create a space that feels personal, vibrant and full of possibility, without compromising on quality or safety."
The year 2020 may be associated with a global pandemic, however it also inadvertently gave people more time - and with that, the headspace to create new innovations that continue to be released to this day.
This week Bold Baby launched the world's first fully customisable cot, the idea of husband and wife Jim Walsh and Megan Cooper, which was able to be fully realised during Melbourne's COVID lockdowns.
"Working near the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria), I was surrounded by rotating exhibitions and incredible design," says Jim, who has worked in advertising and design.
"It made me see the cot not just as a piece of furniture, but as a canvas; something that could evolve, tell a story, and reflect the life around it."
This story began when Megan and Jim had their first child. Jim upcycled a hand-me-down cot by giving it new ends with painted designs, and the concept for a cot incorporating art was born.
Family life and the arrival of two more children took over before the restrictions that transpired in 2020 allowed the idea to flourish.
"There wasn't anything available that truly reflected parents' unique style, personality and individuality," Megan says. "We wanted a cot that captured that family's character, and that could change and evolve alongside the baby."
After four years of meticulous design, rigorous safety testing, and honest feedback from parents, Bold Baby has just launched online.
The cot's unique interchangeable panel system sets it apart, four double-sided panels offering 16 different combinations that can be swapped as a parent's mood changes, or as the child grows. The concept taps into a growing demand from families who want nursery spaces that grow with and reflect them, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Crafted from sustainably sourced European beechwood, the cot is as functional as it is beautiful. It has two adjustable mattress heights, smooth rounded edges, and a toddler bed conversion that's coming soon.
But it's not just about aesthetics. Research in colour psychology shows the visual environment plays a crucial role in a child's emotional and cognitive development.
"The environments we create for our children send powerful messages about identity, belonging, and self-expression," says Dr. Easton Gaines, clinical psychologist and founder of MindCare Psychology.
"When we incorporate bold and bright colours, we're not just decorating - we're giving kids permission to take up space, feel joy, and explore their emotions in a sensory-rich way."
"We believe nurseries should be an extension of the family's style and values," Megan says. "Our cot gives parents the freedom to create a space that feels personal, vibrant and full of possibility, without compromising on quality or safety."
The year 2020 may be associated with a global pandemic, however it also inadvertently gave people more time - and with that, the headspace to create new innovations that continue to be released to this day.
This week Bold Baby launched the world's first fully customisable cot, the idea of husband and wife Jim Walsh and Megan Cooper, which was able to be fully realised during Melbourne's COVID lockdowns.
"Working near the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria), I was surrounded by rotating exhibitions and incredible design," says Jim, who has worked in advertising and design.
"It made me see the cot not just as a piece of furniture, but as a canvas; something that could evolve, tell a story, and reflect the life around it."
This story began when Megan and Jim had their first child. Jim upcycled a hand-me-down cot by giving it new ends with painted designs, and the concept for a cot incorporating art was born.
Family life and the arrival of two more children took over before the restrictions that transpired in 2020 allowed the idea to flourish.
"There wasn't anything available that truly reflected parents' unique style, personality and individuality," Megan says. "We wanted a cot that captured that family's character, and that could change and evolve alongside the baby."
After four years of meticulous design, rigorous safety testing, and honest feedback from parents, Bold Baby has just launched online.
The cot's unique interchangeable panel system sets it apart, four double-sided panels offering 16 different combinations that can be swapped as a parent's mood changes, or as the child grows. The concept taps into a growing demand from families who want nursery spaces that grow with and reflect them, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Crafted from sustainably sourced European beechwood, the cot is as functional as it is beautiful. It has two adjustable mattress heights, smooth rounded edges, and a toddler bed conversion that's coming soon.
But it's not just about aesthetics. Research in colour psychology shows the visual environment plays a crucial role in a child's emotional and cognitive development.
"The environments we create for our children send powerful messages about identity, belonging, and self-expression," says Dr. Easton Gaines, clinical psychologist and founder of MindCare Psychology.
"When we incorporate bold and bright colours, we're not just decorating - we're giving kids permission to take up space, feel joy, and explore their emotions in a sensory-rich way."
"We believe nurseries should be an extension of the family's style and values," Megan says. "Our cot gives parents the freedom to create a space that feels personal, vibrant and full of possibility, without compromising on quality or safety."