Founder Story Q&A: How a Cot (and a Couple) Gave Birth to Bold Baby’s World-First Design

Let’s be real—shopping for a cot isn’t usually the stuff of Pinterest dreams. It’s more like a journey through a sea of sameness. You walk into the store and it’s just…white cot, wooden cot, white cot with a drawer, wooden cot with a drawer. You start to wonder: Do I even like white?

Enter Megan and Jim, the dream team behind Bold Baby—the brand shaking up the baby furniture aisle with a cot that doesn’t just sit there, it speaks. A cot that says, I’m fun, I’m unique, I’m totally you. A cot withinterchangeable panels, splashes of colour, and a cheeky nod to parents who are just so over the bland.

Here’s their story, filled with creativity, determination, and just the right amount of “Why can’t we make it cooler?”

Q: Let’s start at the beginning—how did Bold Baby come about? Was there a “lightbulb moment”?

Megan: “When I was pregnant with our first daughter, Betty, the nesting instinct hit hard. I was literally fluffing around in that room like a hyperactive mother bird—shifting, adjusting, sewing, arranging and clucking. We lived in a tiny apartment in Bondi at that time, so the nursery was fairly basic, but we loved it. When the time came for Betty to move from her bassinet into a cot, we were lucky enough to be given a second-hand cot from a friend. This was great, but it wasn’t really our style, and it didn’t really fit with the feel of the room we had so carefully created. Jim’s a super creative person, and he decided to upcycle it, so he set off to Bunnings one Saturday and returned with sheets of plywood and a bunch of paint. He made 2 new ends for the cot, which he painted with colourful designs, and suddenly we had a cot that was just right. It fitted the room, it fitted our style, it fitted our little family, and it was totally unique. We were super busy with a new baby, but a little seed was planted… What if there were other parents who wanted something that didn’t fit the mould? Something unique, colourful and a little bit different?”

 Parenthood360 aside: Can we all take a moment to appreciate that most of us are just trying to assemble the flat-pack cot, let alone redesign the thing with custom panels? #ParentGoals

Q: The cot is such a staple in early parenthood—why reinvent it?

Jim: “When we were having our babies, cots all felt the same to us. White or wood, and not much else. There was no colour, no unique personality, and certainly nothing that allowed for individuality. We saw a real gap for something more expressive—a cot that gave parents the ability to put their mark on it and design it their way. When you buy a car, a couch, or even a phone case, you get a choice of colour, finish or fabric. With cots, what you see is what you get. We wanted to change that. We’ve got three kids, and now that they’re older, I really believe the most important thing we can teach them is to be themselves, not to follow the masses. There’s so much pressure to conform, but our cot says—Be different. Be yourself.”

 Parenthood360’s take: Jim is basically the superhero of the nursery world, right? If you’ve ever stood in a baby store and thought, “Why does everything look the same?”—this one’s for you.

Q: Bold Baby’s design is incredibly innovative. Can you tell us more about the interchangeable panel system and what inspired it?

Jim: “I’ve always been fascinated by how people take everyday objects and customise them to reflect their style. I follow blogs that show IKEA hacks—it’s people saying, ‘I want more than just something off-the-shelf.’ That mindset really inspired me. We wanted to give parents that same creative control. Our cot has four interchangeable panels that you can flip or swap to completely change the look. You might start with yellow, then switch to polka dots later, or let your child help choose. It’s about keeping things fresh and giving families the freedom to evolve their space over time. It’s a cot that can keep refreshing its look as the family grows. And as future panel designs are released, there are even more opportunities for re-styling.”

 Parenthood360 fun fact: This cot is basically the DIY-meets-designer dream we never knew we needed. Imagine giving your toddler a say in the colour of their cot (and maybe distracting them long enough to not draw on the walls).

Q: What were some of the challenges (or unexpected wins) that came with creating something that’s a world first?

Jim: “The hardest part was simply knowing where to start. We weren’t from the world of furniture manufacturing. We had no idea how to find the right partners, how to translate a design into something that could actually be made, or how to navigate regulations and safety standards. The difference between making one cot and making hundreds was a steep learning curve, and it could get overwhelming. Some manufacturers wanted us to adapt our design to fit their existing processes, or just sell us something off the shelf. But we were clear from day one that we were trying to create something new. The single most important step was finding a manufacturing partner who understood the value of our idea and was willing to build it with us. One of the biggest wins has been seeing the physical product come to life. I’ve spent 25 years in advertising, creating campaigns that have their day in the sun and then disappear. This was different. This was something you could hold in your hands. Something real. Bringing a design from a sketch to a finished product has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life… after marrying Megan and having kids (in case they read this article). And then there’s the reaction. When people get the idea, you can see their imagination switch on. They start talking about mixing panels, collaborating with artists, and styling the cot in all these creative ways. That spark is exactly what we hoped to create—and we’ve only just begun.”

 Parenthood360’s nod: We love a humble brag that keeps the family brownie points intact. Jim, your kids are going to read this and say, “That’s our Dad!”

Q: You’ve prioritised sustainability and safety. Why were those values important to you during the design process?

Megan: “Having been through the whole journey of early parenthood with our three girls, I know how important these two things are. Especially safety. I think if you asked most mums what’s the number one thing they look for in those big item buys like cots, prams and car seats, they’d all say ‘safety’. So we knew off the bat that we’d need to rigorously test our product and make sure it met and exceeded standards. Little extras like overly rounded edges for little hands mean there’s no sharp bits, and it just feels beautiful to touch. We love the idea of our cots being handed down through the generations, just like ours was handed down to us, so durability was also key.”

Q: What’s been the early feedback from parents or interior designers who’ve seen the product in action?

Megan: “The feedback has been incredible so far. In the early days, it was just friends and family who were giving us all the amazing feedback, but I suppose they have to be kind! It was when we started receiving all the positive feedback from the public and from customers that we could finally breathe out. The website is as beautiful as the cot itself, and it really showcases the product and allows people to instantly see its function and its potential. Parents love how solid and beautifully made it feels—and how different it is from what they’re used to seeing.”

 Parenthood360 verdict: If your mother-in-law says it’s gorgeous and the website makes you want to order two (even though you only have one baby), that’s a serious win.

Q: Will we see more designs or products from Bold Baby soon?

Jim: “Absolutely. That’s the whole idea in a nutshell. Bold Baby cot is just getting started, and we have plans in the works for more panels, more colours, more designs. As well as this, we’ll be collaborating with artists to create truly unique panels where the cot will literally become a canvas for creativity. We’re so excited for where the brand is going and can’t wait to get started on the next phase.”

Q: Finally, any advice for parents dreaming up the next great parenting product?

Jim: “Follow your instincts—if you have an idea and can see a gap in the market, then go for it. Often it’s in those little moments of frustration when you can’t get the thing that you’re looking for—that’s where good ideas live. Most great products start with someone thinking, ‘Why does it have to be like this?’. Also, trust that your personal taste and experience matter. If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, chances are you’re not alone. That was us with the cot. We didn’t set out to build a brand—we just wanted something more ‘us’. And once we found a solution, we realised it could help others too.”

 Parenthood360’s takeaway: Never settle for “just another white cot.” Bold Baby is proof that with a little creativity, a dash of colour, and a lot of heart, even the most basic nursery staple can be a bold statement of who you are.