How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is an absolute must-have for every baby. This guide will help you choose the right bed for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect to be used in Scandi style nurseries. It's a sturdy and durable choice that can grow with your child, offering three mattress height options and the option of removing the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot that fits every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that have different lifespans, some of which can be converted into toddler beds to be used throughout the age of preschool or beyond. The ones that can be turned into a bed are more expensive, however they will last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its luxurious design and easy to assemble makes it a fantastic choice for those who want an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. Our testers for parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which looks amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. infant cot bed has a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina felt was a better option than some cheaper cots that have a built-in drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites along the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately this crib isn't cheap. It requires an Allen key to start it up.
The cot for the Elementary is a more affordable option that can give your baby a comfortable night's rest. It's part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. The easy design and simple assembly were praised by our testers' parents. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked and easily tucked away into a bag that's as big as a camp chair's carry case. It's a bit light and therefore may not be ideal for camping in the car but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't plan to move their cot around too much.
We suggest the SnuzKot as an alternative to a cot that is budget-friendly, particularly when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they reach around four years old. Our dad tester liked the possibility of converting it into a minimalist toddler bed and create an atmosphere of cocoons with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is of good quality should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and feel secure. Find a sturdy style with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your baby cannot easily climb out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails and under-bed drawers which can help keep things organised as your baby is growing.
Parent test participant Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its classic design will suit most homes and is made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about your purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to provide reassurance) and also has the option to add an extension kit that takes it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This stylish but simple cot is a great option for those on a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattress and is a great buy for the price.
This is a fantastic option if you are looking for a high-end cot. It offers four mattress positions in cot mode and will last until your child is about three years old. It also folds flat and comes with locks on the wheels, making it very portable if you need to move it from room to room.
This cot is very lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a convenient bag to carry it around in. It's also very sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly a little difficult. They were impressed by the fact that the slats were spaced enough apart to prevent 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 you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to be engrossed in the spec and safety features, but don't neglect the style. The crib of your baby will be used for a long time, so it's essential to find one you like and also is practical and functional.
The classic ickle bubba Bed is the ideal bed for those who love design with its sleek contemporary design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these types of beds can often feature. It also offers storage space, and comes with an open drawer that can be placed under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be attached to the side of the. Our mother tester found it sturdy and robust with three positions of base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.
The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes in a panelled design that can suit any nursery. It is designed to last until they reach six years old. older. It transforms into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also one of only a handful of cot beds that we have tested with the option of a drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with panels. It is available in a variety of colours to match the decor of your nursery. Our mum testers loved its clever features and the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also one of the most simple cot beds to put together, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It is also an excellent option for those with limited space as it can be folded flat and rolled down. It fits a standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used until your child turns 10 years old. old.
Convertibility
When you're a new parent there are a lot of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important things to think about is a top-quality cot bed. You want it to last for as long as possible and grow with your child, ensuring that they have a secure bed to sleep in.
Some cots are designed to be more than a toddler bed. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, as it is designed to last through the years from birth until childhood.
It's not cheap compared to some of the other cot beds we tested, but it has a premium look and feel that will fit in with any nursery. The instructions could have been more clear, but our parent test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for to construct and put up. This isn't a big issue however, since it was still very simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.
Another unique feature of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress heights for the base which is an upgrade on the three most common options. This allows you to adjust it as your child grows, since they may require a lower or higher base level based on their age and abilities. It comes with teething rails that are useful and a plastic strip on the top to stop it from being bit.
The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was keen on the grey finish. It's not inexpensive, but it does offer great value for money as it will see your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an assurance of one year to ensure that it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is a mattress, which is not included.