Nine Things That Your Parent Teach You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many essentials for babies to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important purchases. This guide will help find the best choice for your baby.

A top-quality option that is perfect for Scandi-style nurseries. It's a durable and sturdy choice that can grow with your child, offering three mattress height options and the ability to remove the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot that fits every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that provide different levels of durability and some convert into toddler cribs beds that can be used through the age of preschool and beyond. Of course, the ones that convert into beds tend to be more expensive, but the investment can really pay off in the event that you need an item that lasts for many years, not just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its luxurious design and easy to assemble make it an ideal choice for those who want a high-quality cot that will last a lifetime. Our parents loved the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which would look amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina believed was a better choice than some less expensive cots to tots that have an integrated drawer. It also has an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the sale cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. The cot bed isn't cheap, and requires an Allen key to set up.

The cot for the Elementary is a cheaper option that will provide your baby a good night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. The simple design and easy assembly were praised by our parents who tested it. The cot is small when folded and can be stored easily, fitting into a carry bag that's about the size of the carry case of a camping chair. It's not the best choice for camping in the car however it's suitable for people living in apartments or who don't need to move their cot around too often.

We recommend the SnuzKot for another budget-friendly cot, especially if it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your child until they're around four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to a minimal-looking toddler bed and created a cocoon-like feeling by incorporating a fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot will not only meet UK safety standards, but will also feel solid and secure. Look for a robust design that includes sides or safety bars and solid foundations to ensure that your child is unable to easily get out. Some cots include extra features such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib that can help you organize your home while your little one is growing.

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

This elegant and simple cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height as your baby grows. It is compatible with most cots with a standard mattress and is a great purchase for the price.

This is a fantastic option if you are looking for an extremely high-end cot. It comes with four mattress positions in the cot position and will last until your baby is three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it easy for moving it from one room to the next.

This cot is light at just 6kg, and comes with a great bag to carry it around in. It's also extremely durable with a sturdy frame that will withstand boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it a little challenging to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. The slats were set apart to prevent fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed, but the durability and functionality make it a worthwhile investment.

Design

It's easy to overlook the design when you are buying a cot bed. It is essential to choose the Cot Bed (top article) that is both functional and beautiful.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the perfect cot for those who love design. Its modern, sleek take on the classic sleigh style does not have the bulky feel that these types can have. It has plenty of space-saving storage, including the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the sides. Our mum test subject found it to be solid and sturdy, with a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.

If you prefer you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money. It also has an elegant panel design that will look great in any nursery. It's designed to last until they reach the age of six old. It converts into a junior mattress, and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also among the only cot beds we've tested with a draw, a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a good option for parents who want their cot to last for a long time.

Another option with a smart panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of colors to match the decor of your nursery. Our mum testers loved its clever features including the drawer for storage being particularly useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also the most recommended cribs simple cot beds to assemble. The pieces are clearly labelled, and the instructions are simple to follow. It is also an excellent choice for those who have little space since it can be flat-packed and then collapsed. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used until 10 years of age.

Convertibility

There are a lot of baby essentials you need to think about as you become a new parent. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed. You want something that lasts as long as possible and will grow with your child to give them a safe and secure place to sleep.

Some cots and tots are designed to be more than a toddler bed. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which can be converted into a toddler bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm), as well as a sofa and daybed (L234cm x 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 more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested, but its premium appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. The instructions could be more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with the ease with which it was for to construct and put up. This is not a major issue however, as it was incredibly simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another unique aspect of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child grows. They might require a lower or higher base level depending on their age and ability. It also comes with useful teething rails and a plastic strip on the top to shield it from being bitten.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad's testers. It's not cheap, but it's a the best value for money because it will last through the age of toddler and beyond. Plus, it's covered by one-year warranties which gives you peace of mind that it will be sturdy and durable. The only thing that you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.