How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is an absolute must-have for every baby. This guide has been created to help find the best choice for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable choice can expand with your baby 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 something for every budget and every nursery. There's also a variety of options that offer different levels of durability and some convert into toddler beds that can be used through the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, but they will last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design making it a great option for parents who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. The sleek design and warm finish will look fantastic in a Scandi nursery. This cot bed has a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina thought was an improvement over cheaper cots that have an integrated drawer, as well as an anti-bite strip of plastic across the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately the crib isn't cheap. It requires an Allen key to make it functional.
The cot for the Elementary is a cheaper option that will give your baby a comfortable night's rest. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. The easy design and simple assembly were well-loved by our testers' parents. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked away easily too, fitting into a bag that's as big as a camp chair's carry case. It's not ideal for car camping but it's perfect for people living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot a lot.
We recommend the SnuzKot for another cot for under $100, particularly if it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they are around four years old. Our dad tester liked that it could be transformed into a modern-looking toddler bed and create a cocoon like feeling by putting up a fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it should also be sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy design that includes sides or safety bars and solid foundations, so your baby can't be able to climb out. Some cots include extra features, such as teething rails or drawers for under-bed storage that will aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby develops.
Parent test participant Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and still looks amazing." Its traditional design will suit most homes and it's made from sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to provide peace of mind) and has an option of an extension kit that can take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This stylish but simple cot is a great choice for those with a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with 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 purchase for the price.
This is a great choice when you're in search of a high-end cot. It offers four mattress base positions in the cot position and will last until your child is around three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it a great option to move it from room to.
This cot comes with handy travel bag, and is among the smallest cots we've tested at 6kg. It's also very sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. Our testers found it a little challenging to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. They noted that the slats were spaced enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed but the durability and function are worth the cost.
Design
When purchasing a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the spec and safety features, but don't overlook the design. The crib of your baby will be used for a long period of time, so it's important to find one that you enjoy and also is functional and practical.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the ideal bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern take on 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 as well as rails for teething on the sides. It was sturdy and robust. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your baby.
The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with a panelled design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's made to be used until your child is six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It is also one of only a handful of cot beds that we've tested with a drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.
Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of colour options to coordinate with the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features and the storage drawer particularly useful for storing bedding and clothes. It is also one of the most simple 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 as 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 up until your child turns 10 years old. of age.
Convertability
There are many baby essentials you need to think about as a new parent. One of the most important things to think about is a top-quality cot bed. You want it to last as long as you can and grow with your child so that they have a safe place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for children. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Cot Bed, which converts into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, as it is designed to last through from birth to childhood.
It's more expensive than the other cot beds we tested, but its premium appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed with how easy it was to put together and construct, although they did note that the instructions could be more clear. best cots isn't a big issue however, since it was still very simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot comes with four base heights for mattresses. This is an upgrade over the three most common options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They might require an upper or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails as well as a plastic strip on the top to guard it from being bitten.
This cot comes in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was keen on the grey finish. It's not inexpensive, but it does offer excellent value for money since it will see your child through toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with an assurance of one year so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.