How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many baby essentials to think about, choosing the ideal cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. We've created this guide to help find the best choice for your baby.
A top-quality option that will look great in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable option can expand with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability to remove the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
When you think of cots, there's something to suit every budget and every nursery. There are a myriad of choices that come with different durations some of which can be transformed into toddler beds to be used throughout the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be converted into a bed are more expensive, but they will last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its luxurious aesthetics and easy-to assemble design makes it a fantastic choice for those looking for an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. Our parent testers loved the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which looks beautiful in a contemporary nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was more suitable than less expensive cots that have a drawer built in. It also comes with an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot to stop your child's teeth from getting caught. This cot bed is not cheap, and requires an Allen key for setup.
The Elementary cot is a less expensive option that will provide your baby a good night's rest. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. The easy design and simple assembly were highly praised by our testers' parents. The cot is compact when folded and can be tucked away easily too, fitting into a bag that's the size of the carry case for a camp chair. It's a little on the lightweight side and therefore may not be suitable for camping in the car however it's suitable for living in an apartment or for those who don't plan to move their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot we recommend particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until approximately four years old and our dad tester liked the fact that it was able to transform into an unassuming toddler bed, and also created a cocoon-like feeling by incorporating a fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is well-designed will not only meet UK safety standards, but will also feel solid and secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation so that your child is unable to get out. Some cots have additional features such as teething rails, or drawers for under-bed storage which can help you stay organized while your baby grows.
Parent test subject Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still stunning." Its classic design will suit most homes and is made of sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about your purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to provide peace of mind) and also has the option to add an extension kit that can take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings that allow you to alter the height as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard mattress cots and is a good buy for the money.
If you're looking for a top cot, this one is a great option. It offers four mattress positions in cot mode and will last until your baby is around 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 very light at just 6kg, and comes with a handy bag for travel. It's also extremely sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can handle the raging toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly a little difficult. The slats were set apart to avoid fingers getting stuck 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 purchasing a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the specifications and safety features, but don't forget the style. It is essential to choose a cot that is both functional and beautiful.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the best cot bed for design lovers with its sleek contemporary design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these beds usually feature. It has plenty of storage space-saving features and storage options, including a drawer that fits underneath the cot, as well as teething rails on the sides. Our mom tested it and found it robust and durable, with three positions of base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
Alternately alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has a stylish panel design that would suit any nursery. It's made to last until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also one of only a few cot beds that we tested with an apex drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with panels. It is available in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothes. Our mum testers were awed by the features. It is also one of the easiest cot beds to assemble. The components are clearly labelled, and the directions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those who have limited space because it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It fits the standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit allowing it to be used up until your child is 10 years old. old.
Convertibility
When you're a new parent there are a myriad of baby essentials to think about. One of the most important is a quality cot bed. You want something that will last for as long as it can and grow with your child to provide them a safe and secure place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for toddlers. see post is our top choice. It can be converted to an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it our most durable pick, as it will last your child from birth through the age of.
It's more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested however its superior appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. The instructions could be more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for them to build and set up. This is a minor flaw but it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot comes with four base heights for the mattress. This is an improvement over the three standard options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows since they may require a lower or higher base level based on their age and level. It also comes with useful teething rails and a plastic strip along the top to guard it from being bitten.
The grey finish was the preferred of our dad tester. It is not cheap however it is a the best value for money since it will last your child through toddlerhood and beyond. It's also covered by an assurance of one year so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll have to buy an additional mattress, which isn't included.