How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many essentials for babies to think about, choosing the ideal crib bed is among the most important buys. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you find the ideal bed for your little one.
A high-quality bed that is perfect for Scandi-style nursery rooms. 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 chic bench style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot that fits every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that offer different amounts of longevity and even convert into toddler beds that can be used throughout the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be turned into a bed are more expensive, but they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its gorgeous aesthetics and easy-to assemble design make it an ideal choice for those looking for a high-quality cot that will last a lifetime. Our parent testers appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which would look stunning in a Scandi-style nursery. This cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina felt was an improvement over less expensive cots with an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic across the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately the cot isn't cheap and it does require an Allen key to start it up.
A less expensive option that will still give your baby a comfortable night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parents liked the simple design and easy assembly. The cot is small when folded and can be put away and easily tucked away into a carry bag that's as big as the carry case of a camping chair. It's a little on the lightweight side and therefore may not be ideal for car camping but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't plan to move their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is an additional budget-friendly cot we recommend particularly if you decide to opt for the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they reach around four years old. Our father tester liked that it could be transformed into a minimalist toddler bed, and created a cocoon like feeling with its canopy made of fabric.
Safety
A good cot will not only meet UK safety standards, but will also feel solid and secure. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation so that your baby is not able to get out. Some cots come with extra features such as teething rails and drawers under the bed that can help you organize your home while your little one is growing.
Parent tester Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still stunning." Its traditional style is suitable for all homes and is made of sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you can feel good about your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you reassurance) and has an option to add an extension kit that can take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.
This stylish but simple cot is a great option for those on a limited budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings, so you can adjust it as your baby grows. visit this website will fit on any standard cot mattresses and is a great purchase for the price.
If you're looking for a premium cot, this one is a good choice. It can be used as a cot, and comes with four mattress positions. It can last your baby until they are about three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it easy for moving it from one room to the next.
The cot is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a handy bag for travel. It is also very durable with an extremely sturdy frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly a little challenging. They were impressed by the fact that the slats are spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other cots we reviewed, but it is worth the cost for its durability and functionality.
Design
It's easy to overlook the style when buying a cot-bed. The cot you choose for your baby will be used for a long period of time, so it's essential to find one you like and also is practical and useful.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the perfect bed for those who love design with its sleek contemporary design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these types of beds usually have. It's got plenty of storage space-saving features and storage options, including the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the sides. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base lets it expand with your baby.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes in an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's designed to last until your child reaches six years old, converting first into a junior bed and later to a chic sofa bed. It is also one of only a few cot beds that we've tested with an apex drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with a panelled design. It comes in a range of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features, with the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also one of the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great alternative for those with limited space as it can be folded flat and rolled down. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for babies to toddlerhood. An extension kit allows it to be used until 10 years of age.
Convertibility
There are a lot of baby essentials that you should consider as a new parent. One of the most important things to consider is a high-quality cot bed. You want it to last for as long as possible and grow with your child, ensuring they can have a safe bed to sleep in.
While most cots can be converted into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit some cot beds are designed to go further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted to a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) as well as the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and a sofa (L234cm, 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 a bit pricey in comparison to other cot beds that we test, but it comes with an attractive design and feel that will be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents testers were impressed by the ease with which it was for them to build and install. This isn't a major issue but it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another unique aspect of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base that are an improvement on the three most popular options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child grows. They might require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip along the top to shield it from biting.
This cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors, and our dad tester was attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not expensive, but it does offer excellent value for money since it will last your child through 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.