9 Lessons 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. This guide has been created to help you choose the right bed for your baby.

A high-quality bed that will look great in nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. This sturdy and durable choice will grow with your child, with three mattress positions, and the ability to take the sides off to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.

Budget

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

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its gorgeous design and easy to assemble makes it a fantastic choice for those looking for a high-quality cot that will last for a long time. Our testers for parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which looks amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. This cot bed also comes with a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina found to be an improvement over less expensive cots with an inbuilt drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites along the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately, this cot isn't cheap cot bed and it requires an Allen key to start it up.

A more affordable option that will still give your Baby Crib a good night's sleep is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our testers with parents loved the simple design and easy assembly. The cot is foldable down and stored easily since it can fit into bags similar to the one used to store a camping chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car however it's suitable for those living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot a lot.

The SnuzKot is a good affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until about four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to a minimalist toddler bed and created a cocoon-like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but will also feel solid and secure. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your child is unable to move out. Some cot beds will also include extra features, such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib which can help organize your home while your baby is growing.

The Boori cot is made from sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up for peace of mind) and comes with an option for an extension kit that takes it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This stylish and simple cot is a great option for those on a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings, so you can adjust the height as your child grows. It is compatible with most cots with a standard mattresses and is a great purchase for the price.

If you're looking for a top cot, this is a great option. It comes with four mattress base positions in cot mode and will last until your child is about three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it easy to move it from room to.

This cot comes with a handy travel bag, and is one of the smallest cots that we tested, weighing just 6kg. It is also very durable with strong frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly a little difficult. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to prevent fingers from getting trapped between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the durability and function are worth the cost.

Design

When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to be engrossed in the specs and safety features, but don't overlook the design. The cot you choose for your baby will be in use for a long period of time, therefore it's crucial to choose one you like and is also practical and useful.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the best bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh design does not have the bulky feel that these types of cots can provide. It also doesn't skimp on storage space and features an extra drawer that slides under the cot, and teething rails that can be affixed to the side. Our mom test subject found it robust and durable and has 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 an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's made to last until your child reaches six years old, converting first into a junior bed and later to a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only a handful of cot beds that we have tested with a drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has panels. It comes in a variety of colours to complement your nursery's decor. Our mum testers loved its clever features, with the storage drawer particularly useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also the easiest cot bed to put together. The components are clearly labeled, and the instructions are simple to follow. It is also an excellent alternative for those with limited space as it can be rolled up and collapsed. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. An extension kit allows it to be used up to 10 years old.

Convertability

If you're a new parent there are a myriad of essential items for babies to consider. But one of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you need something that will last for as long as it can and grow with your child to provide them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for toddlers. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) and a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice, as it will last from birth to the time of their childhood.

It's a bit pricey compared to some of the other cot beds that we tested, but it has an elegant appearance and feel that would fit in with any nursery. The instructions could have been more precise, but our parent test subjects were impressed with the ease with which it was for them to build and put up. This is a minor fault however, as it was incredibly simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.

Another impressive characteristic of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress base heights which is an upgrade on the three most popular options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows as they may need an upper or lower base level, based on their age and abilities. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip that runs along the top to shield it from biting.

The grey finish was the favorite of our dad's testers. It's not expensive however it offers excellent value for money since it will see your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an one-year guarantee, so you have peace of mind that it's sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.