How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. This guide has been created to help you choose the right bed for your baby.

This premium option fits perfectly it perfectly Scandi style nurseries. This sturdy and durable option can grow with your baby with three mattress positions, and the ability to remove the sides to create a stylish bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

When you think of cots, there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There's also a variety of options that offer different levels of durability and some convert into toddler beds to be used throughout the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, however they will last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design, making it an excellent option for parents who want a top quality cot that will stand the test of time. Our parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which looks stunning in a Scandi-style nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was more suitable than cheaper cots with a drawer built-in. It also has an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. The cot bed isn't cheap, and requires an Allen key to set up.

A more budget-friendly option that still gives your baby cots online a good night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our testers with parents were impressed by the simplicity of the design and easy assembly. The cot is compact when folded and can be put away and easily tucked away into a carry bag that's as big as the carry case for a camp chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car, but should be fine for apartment life or those who don't need to move their cot around too often.

We suggest the SnuzKot as an alternative to a cot that is budget-friendly, particularly if 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 loved that it could be converted into a minimalist toddler bed, and created the feeling of a cocoon with its canopy made of fabric.

Safety

A good cot should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Choose a sturdy design that has sides or safety bars and a solid base, so your baby can't easily climb out. Some cots have additional features such as teething rails, or under-bed storage drawers which can aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby develops.

The Boori cot is constructed of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be confident in your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure safety. There's also an extension kit available that can transform it to a full-sized bed when your child is ready.

This stylish and simple cot is a great option when you're on a tight budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings, so you can adjust the height as your baby grows. It can be used with standard cot mattresses and is a great purchase for the money.

This is an excellent choice If you're looking for an expensive cot. It has an impressive four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is around three years old. It folds flat and has lockable wheels, making it extremely portable if you need to move it from room to room.

This cot is very lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It's also extremely sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. Our testers found it a little difficult to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to prevent fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed, however the durability and functionality make it worth the investment.

Design

When buying a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the specs and safety features, but don't overlook the style. The crib of your baby will be in use for a long time, so it's essential to find one that you enjoy and is also practical and functional.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is the best bed for those who love design with its sleek, modern take on a traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these types of beds usually come with. It has plenty of space-saving storage and storage options, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot, as well as teething rails on the sides. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base allows it to expand with your baby.

Alternately you can choose the Modena sale cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money. It also has a stylish panel design that will look great in any nursery. It's designed to be used until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed, and later into a chic sofa bed. It is also one of only a few cot beds that we have tested with the option of a drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with an elegant panel design. It is available in a range of colors to complement your nursery's decor. Our mom testers loved its nifty features, with the drawer for storage being particularly useful to store bedding and clothes. It is also one of the easiest cot bed to put together. All the pieces are clearly labeled and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great option for those with a small space, as it can be folded and flat-packed. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used until 10 years of age.

Convertability

If you're a new parent there are a lot of Baby beds must-haves to consider. One of the most important items to think about is a top ranked cribs-quality crib bed. You want it to last as long as you can and grow with your child, so they can have a safe bed to sleep in.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a toddler bed. Our preferred choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which transforms into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and also a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, since it should see your child through from birth to childhood.

It's a little more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tested however its superior appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. Our parents who tested it were impressed with 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, though, considering it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

The cot comes with four different base heights for mattresses. This is an improvement over the three standard options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They may need an upper or lower base level depending on their age and abilities. 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 most popular of our dad test-driver. It is not cheap however it is a the best value for money because it will last through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with one-year warranty, so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is a mattress that's not included.