How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The most comfortable cot bed is a essential item for any baby. We've put together this guide to help you choose the ideal bed for your little one.
A premium option that is perfect for Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable option will grow with your child with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a stylish bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are also different options that have different lifespans and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used throughout the preschool years or even beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for parents looking for an extremely high-quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. The minimalist design and warm color will look great in the Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a handy drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was a better option than some less expensive cots with a built-in drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites along the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth stuck between the bars. This cot bed is not inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key for setting up.
A less expensive alternative that will still provide your baby a comfortable night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The simple design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parents who tested it. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, because it fits in bags similar to the one used to store the 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 too much.
We recommend the SnuzKot for an alternative to a cot that is budget-friendly, particularly when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they are around four years old. Our dad tester liked that it could be transformed into a minimalist toddler bed, and created the feeling of a cocoon with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards but also feel sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design that includes safety bars or sides, as well as an erect base, so your baby can't easily get out. Some cots include extra features like teething rails or drawers under the bed that will aid you in staying organized as your baby grows.
Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and still looks amazing." Its traditional style will fit in with any home and is made of sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you can feel good about the purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you reassurance) and comes with an option for an extension kit that can take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a great option for those on a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. cheap cots has three mattress height settings, so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It fits most standard cot mattresses and is an excellent purchase for the price.
This is a fantastic option if you are looking for an expensive cot. It offers four mattress base positions in the cot position and will last until your child is three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it portable for moving it from one room to another.
This cot is very lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a handy bag for traveling. It's also extremely sturdy and has a strong frame that'll stand up to boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it to be a little difficult to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. They noted that the slats are enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than the other cots we looked at but it's well worth the price for its longevity and practicality.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It's important that you choose a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the perfect bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the traditional sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling 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 side. Our mother tester found it to be solid and sturdy, with three positions of base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes in a panelled design that can be suitable for any nursery. It's designed to last until they are six years older. It transforms into a junior mattress, and then into an elegant sofa bed. It is also one of only a handful of cots that we 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 that comes with panels. It comes in a variety of colors to complement your nursery's decor. Our mum testers loved its unique features and the drawer for storage being particularly useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also among the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It is also an excellent option for those with little space since it can be rolled up 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 up to 10 years old.
Convertibility
There are a variety of baby necessities you need to think about as you become a new parent. 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 safe place to sleep.
While great crib of cots can be transformed to toddler beds through the purchase of a conversion kit, certain cots are designed to go further than this. Our preferred choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Bed, which can be converted into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and also a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, because it is designed to last through the years from birth until childhood.
It's not cheap in comparison to other cot beds that we tested, but it has a premium appearance and feel that would be a perfect fit for any nursery. Our parent testers were really amazed by how easy it was to put together and construct however they did mention that the instructions could be more clear. This isn't a major issue but it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another impressive aspect of this cot is that it comes with four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three most common options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child grows. They may require an upper or lower base level based on their age and abilities. It comes with teething rails that can be useful and a plastic strip at the top to stop it from being bit.
The grey finish was the preferred of our dad's testers. It's not expensive however it offers great value for money as it will see your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with a 1-year warranty so you can be sure it will last. The only thing that you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.