9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many essentials for babies to consider, the best cots cot bed is one of the most important buys. We've put together this guide to help you find the perfect bed for your baby.

This premium option fits perfectly to be used in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable option will grow with your child with three mattress positions, and the ability to take the sides off to create a chic bench style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are a variety of options with different lifespans, some of which can be converted into toddler beds to be used into the preschool years or even beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its stunning aesthetics and easy-to assemble design makes it a fantastic choice for those who want an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. This model's minimalist design and Mini Cotbed warm color will look fantastic in an Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina thought was a better choice than some cheaper cots which have an integrated drawer. It also comes with an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. But at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately, this crib isn't cheap. It requires an Allen key to get it up and running.

A more affordable alternative that will still provide your baby a comfortable night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our testers with parents loved the simple design and easy assembly. The cot sets is small cot beds when folded and can be stored and easily tucked away into a bag that's the size of the carry case of a camping chair. It's a little on the lightweight side, meaning it may not be ideal for camping in the car but it should be fine for living in an apartment or for those who don't want to move their cot too much.

The SnuzKot is a good budget-friendly cot that we recommend particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they are around four years old. Our dad tester loved that it could be transformed into a minimalist-looking toddler bed and create the feeling of a cocoon with its canopy made of fabric.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy must not only meet strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and feel secure. Find a sturdy design that has safety bars or sides, as well as an erect base, so your baby can't easily climb out. Some cots come with extra features, such as teething rails or under-bed storage drawers which can aid you in staying organized as your baby grows.

Parent tester Becki says her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and still looks amazing." Its traditional style is suitable for all homes and is made of sustainably-sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure safety. There is an extension kit available which can convert it to a full-sized bed once your child is ready.

This simple, stylish cot is a good choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to set up and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. It has three mattress settings that allow you to alter the height as your baby grows. It can be used with standard mattress cots and is a great purchase for the money.

If you're looking for a premium cot, this one is a great choice. It has an impressive four mattress base positions in cot mode, and will last until your baby is around three years old. It also folds flat and comes with lockable wheels, making it portable if you need to move it from room to room.

The cot is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It's also very sturdy, with a strong frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly to be a bit difficult. They noted that the slats are spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers from getting caught between them. It is also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed, however the durability and functionality make it worth the investment.

Design

It's easy to overlook the style when buying a cot-bed. Your baby's cot will be in use for a long time, so it's essential to find one you like and is also practical and functional.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the perfect cot for those who love design. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling that these types of cots can provide. It also offers space-saving storage and has a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, plus teething rails that can be connected to the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your baby.

The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with a panelled design that will suit any nursery. It's made to last until your child reaches six years old, before transforming first into a junior bed, and then into a stylish sofa bed. It is also one of only a handful of cot beds that we've tested with the option of a drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.

Another option with a smart panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of colors to match the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer is useful for bedding and clothes. Our mom testers were awed by the features. It is also one of the easiest cot beds to put together. The pieces are clearly labeled and the instructions are simple to follow. It's also a great option for those with limited space as it can be folded and then flat-packed. It fits a standard cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood with an extension kit that permits it to be used up until your child is 10 years older.

Convertibility

If you're a newly-wed there are a myriad of baby essentials to think about. But one of the most important is a good quality cot bed. You want something that will last for as long as you can and will grow with your child to provide them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

While the majority of cots can be transformed into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cots are made to go beyond this. Our preferred choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which converts into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our Most Recommended Cribs durable choice that will last from birth through the age of.

It's more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tested however, its high-end look and feel will fit in any nursery. Our parents were amazed by how easy it was to build and set up however they did mention that the instructions could be more clear. This is not a major issue, however, as it was still a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

The cot comes with four different mattress base heights. This is an improvement over the three standard options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child develops. They might require a higher or lower base level based on their age and capabilities. It also comes with useful teething rails as well as a plastic strip along the top to shield it from biting.

The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap however it is a the best value for money because it will last your child into the toddler years and beyond. Plus, it's covered by a one-year warranty and gives you peace of mind that it's durable and long-lasting. The only thing you'll have to purchase separately is a mattress, which isn't included.