When Melbourne dad Jim Walsh and his wife Megan Cooper welcomed their first child, they quickly realised something was missing from the world of baby furniture: personality. Like many modern parents, they found themselves surrounded by nurseries decorated in a sea of beige, with little room for individual style or creativity. But instead of settling, Jim decided to take matters into his own hands.

What started as a simple DIY project—upcycling a hand-me-down cot by adding painted panels to give it a fresh look—soon grew into something much bigger. That spark of creativity lit the way for what would eventually become Bold Baby, the world’s first fully customisable cot.

“There wasn’t anything available that truly reflected parents’ unique style, personality and individuality,” says Megan. “We wanted a cot that captured that family’s character, and that could change and evolve alongside the baby. That’s why Jim created the first Bold Baby cot – a beautiful, safe, long-lasting and fully customisable cot that can easily be changed up to give a whole new look.”

With three children of their own and years of real parenting experience under their belt, Jim and Megan poured their hearts into developing a product that felt different. During Melbourne’s lockdowns in 2020, Jim—who worked near the National Gallery of Victoria—began to see children’s furniture through a new lens. Inspired by the rotating exhibitions and vibrant colours surrounding him, he imagined a cot not just as a piece of furniture, but as a creative canvas.

“Working near the NGV, I was surrounded by rotating exhibitions and incredible design,” he says. “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.”

Four years later, after meticulous development and testing, the Bold Baby Cot was born—a statement piece that grows and evolves with your child. Crafted from premium European beechwood, the cot features an ingenious panel system with four double-sided inserts, allowing parents to create up to 16 unique combinations. Whether you’re welcoming a newborn or updating a toddler’s space, the cot can adapt and grow with your child.

The design isn’t just about aesthetics, though. It’s backed by research in colour psychology and early childhood development, which shows that a child’s surroundings play a powerful role in shaping their emotional and cognitive growth. As Clinical Psychologist Dr. Easton Gaines explains, “The environments we create for our children send powerful messages about identity, belonging, and self-expression. 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.”

Built with safety and function in mind, the cot offers adjustable mattress heights, smooth rounded edges, and is compatible with a toddler bed conversion kit. It meets Australia’s strict safety standards and is designed to last from newborn to five years and beyond, making it a sustainable, long-term investment.

And while the cot is already a design triumph, Jim and Megan are far from finished. Bold Baby plans to collaborate with Australian artists and illustrators to create limited-edition panel collections—transforming each cot into a one-of-a-kind art piece that continues to evolve with your family.

“We believe nurseries should be an extension of the family’s style and values,” Megan adds. “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 Bold Baby Cot is available now at boldbaby.com.au and at The Memo.

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