The 9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. So we've put together this guide to help you find the ideal bed for your baby.

This premium option fits perfectly in Scandi style nurseries. It's a durable and sturdy option that will grow with your child, offering three mattress height positions and the ability to remove the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

When you think of cots, there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There are a variety of options that have different lifespans and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used into the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design, making it an excellent choice for those who want a top quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. This model's minimalist design and warm-toned finish will look great in a Scandi nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer, which mom tester Katrina found to be an improvement over less expensive cots with an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip across the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. The cot bed isn't cheap, and requires an Allen key for setting up.

The cot for the Elementary is a cheaper option that will give your baby cot online a comfortable night's rest. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. Our parent testers liked the simple design and easy assembly. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked and easily tucked away into a carry bag that's as big as a camp chair's carry case. It's a bit light and therefore may not be suitable for car camping but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't intend to move their cot around too much.

The SnuzKot is an additional affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It can grow with your child until around four years old, and our dad testers loved the fact that it can be converted into a minimalist toddler bed and gave an ambiance of cocoons by incorporating a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but will also feel solid and secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid base so that your baby cannot easily move out. Some cot beds will also have additional features, such as teething rails and drawers under the bed which can help keep things organised while your Baby Crib is growing.

Parent test participant Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still stunning." Its classic design is suitable for all homes and it's made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for safety. There is also an extension kit that can transform it to a larger bed when your child is ready.

This stylish and simple cot is a good choice if you're on a budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress options that allow you to alter the height as your baby grows. It will fit most standard cot mattresses and is a great value buy for the price.

This is a great choice when you're in search of a high-end cot. It has an impressive four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your baby is about three years old. It also folds flat and has locks on the wheels, making it very portable if you need to move it from room to room.

This cot sets comes with convenient travel bag and is among the smallest cots we've test at 6kg. It's also extremely durable, with a strong frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. Our testers found it a little challenging to put together, but the instructions were clear and well-written. They noted that the slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a bit more expensive than the other cots that we looked at but it's well worth the investment for its durability and functionality.

Design

When buying a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the specifications and safety features, but don't forget the design. It's crucial to select a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the best cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh style isn't as bulky that these cots are known for. It has plenty of storage space-saving features such as an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot and teething rails on the sides. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base allows it to expand with your baby.

The Modena cot beds for sale-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's designed to last until they reach six years old. older. It can be converted into a junior mattress and transforms into a chic sofa bed. It's also one of only a handful of cots that we've tested with an apex drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.

Another option that has a stylish panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of color options to fit the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothes. Our mum testers were awed by its features. It is also one of the easiest cot beds to put together. All the pieces are clearly labeled and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great option for those with limited space, as it can be folded and flat-packed. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used up to 10 years old.

Convertibility

If you're a newly-wed there are a lot of baby essentials to think about. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed. You need something that will last as long as possible and will grow with your child, giving them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for children. Our preferred choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which can be converted into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability that will last your child from birth until the time of their childhood.

It's not cheap in comparison to other cot beds that we tested, but it has a premium look and feel that will be a perfect fit for any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed with how easy it was to put together and construct but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This is a minor flaw however, as it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another impressive aspect of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress heights for the base that are an improvement on the three most popular options. This allows you to adjust it as your child gets older, as they may need a lower or higher base level, based on their age and ability. It includes teething rails that can be useful as well as a plastic strip on the top to stop it from getting bitten.

This cot comes in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was impressed by the grey finish. It's not cheap but it offers an excellent value, because it will last until they reach the age of toddler and beyond. It's also covered by one-year warranty, so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is a mattress, which isn't included.