How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many baby essentials to consider, a top cot bed is among the most important items to purchase. So we've put together this guide to help you find the ideal bed for your little one.
This premium option fits perfectly in Scandi style nursery. It's a sturdy and durable option that grows with your child. It has three mattress height positions as well as the option of removing 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 offer different levels of durability and some convert into toddler beds for use into the preschool years and beyond. Obviously, the ones that convert into beds do tend to be more expensive but the extra investment could be worth it in the event that you need an item that lasts for many years, not just the duration of a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its gorgeous aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it an ideal choice for parents looking for an excellent cot that will last for a lifetime. Our parent testers appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look stunning in a Scandi-style nursery. This cot bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was a better choice than some less expensive cots that have a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. However, at over PS599 with a mattress sold separately this bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to get it up and running.
The cot for the Elementary is a less expensive option that will give your baby a good night's sleep. It's part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. The simple design and easy assembly were well-loved by our parents who tested it. The cot is foldable down and stored easily because it fits in bags that are similar to the one used to store the camping chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car but it's perfect for people living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot around too often.
We recommend the SnuzKot for another budget-friendly cot, especially when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they reach four years old. Our father tester liked that it could be converted into a modern-looking toddler bed, and created the feeling of a cocoon with its canopy made of fabric.
Safety
A cot that is of good quality is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and feel secure. Find a sturdy style with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to move out. Some cots come with extra features, such as teething rails or drawers under the bed that can aid you in staying organized as your baby develops.
Parent test participant Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its classic design will fit in with any home 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 from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure safety. There is also an extension kit available that can transform it to a larger bed when your child is ready.
This elegant and simple cot is a great option for those on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble and has clearly labeled components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress options that allow you to alter the height as your baby grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattresses and is a great buy for the price.
This is a great choice If you're looking for an expensive cot. It comes with four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is around three years old. It also folds flat and has lockable wheels, making it very mobile if you have to move it from room to room.
This cot is very light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag to carry it around in. It is also very durable with a sturdy frame that will withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly to be a bit difficult. best cot newborn cots4totsuk noted that the slats were spaced far enough apart to prevent fingers from getting caught between them. It's also a little more expensive than the other cots that we looked at, but it is worth the cost for its durability and utility.
Design
When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to be engrossed in the spec and safety features, but don't overlook the style. Your baby's cot will be used for a long period of time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you enjoy and also is functional and practical.
The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh design does not have the bulky feel that these types can have. It also doesn't skimp on storage space and features a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, plus teething rails that can be connected to the side of the. It was strong and sturdy. 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 an elegant panel design that will suit any nursery. It's designed to last your child until they reach six years old. old. It can be converted into a junior mattress and transforms into a chic sofa bed. It's also one of the few cot beds we've tested with an opening as well as a hanging rail and teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a good choice for parents who want their cot bed to last for a long time.
Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of colors to match the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers were impressed by its clever features, with the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothes. It is also one of the easiest cot beds to assemble. The pieces are clearly labeled and the instructions are simple to follow. It is also an excellent choice for those who have limited space because it can be folded flat and rolled down. It takes the standard cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood with an extension kit allowing it to be used until your child is 10 years old.
Convertability
If you're a newly-wed there are a lot of baby essentials to think about. One of the most important things to think about is a top-quality crib bed. You want it to last for as long as possible and grow with your child, ensuring that they have a safe bed to sleep in.
Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for toddlers. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice and will last your child from birth through childhood.
It's expensive when compared to other cot beds we tested, but it has a premium look and feel that will fit in with any nursery. Our parent testers were really amazed by how easy it was to put together and construct but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This is not a major issue however, since it was incredibly simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another unique feature of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress base heights that are an improvement on the three standard options. This allows you to adjust the cot as your child grows. They may require a higher or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails that are useful and a plastic strip at the top to stop it from getting bitten.
The grey finish was the preferred of our dad tester. It is not cheap but it offers an excellent value, because it will last until they reach toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with a 1-year warranty so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing that you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.