10 Tips For Getting The Most Value From Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the best cots Cot Bed

With so many essentials for babies to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important buys. We've created this guide to help you choose the right bed for your baby.

This high-end option works perfectly it perfectly Scandi style nursery. It's a durable and sturdy choice that can grow with your child, offering three mattress height positions as well as 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's also a variety of options that offer different levels of durability and some convert into toddler beds for use throughout the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, however they will last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its luxurious design and easy to assemble make it a great option for those looking for an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. Our parents loved the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which would look amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was an excellent alternative to less expensive cots that have a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. This cot bed isn't inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key for setting up.

The Elementary cot is a less expensive option that can give your baby a peaceful night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our parents liked the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, because it fits in bags similar to the one used for the camping chair. It's not the best cots for newborns choice for car camping however it's suitable for people living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot too much.

We recommend the SnuzKot as another budget-friendly cot, especially when it comes with a toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they reach around four years old. Our dad tester loved the possibility of converting it into a minimalist toddler bed, and created an atmosphere of cocoons with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is of good cribs quality is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and secure. Look for a robust design with sides or safety bars and a solid base, so your baby can't easily get out. Some cot beds will also include extra features like teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib sets that can help you organize your home while your baby is growing.

Parent test participant Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and still looks amazing." Its classic design will suit most recommended cribs homes and it's made from sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you peace of mind) and has an option for an extension kit that takes it all the way up to a double 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 put together, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It has three height settings for the mattress so that you can adjust it as your baby grows. It can be used with standard cot mattresses and is a great purchase for the money.

If you're looking to buy a high-end cot, this is a great choice. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It'll last your baby until they reach the age of three. It also folds flat and comes with locking wheels, making it extremely convenient to move it from room to room.

This cot is very lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a great bag for travel. It is also very robust, with a sturdy frame that will withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, however our testers found the assembly a bit difficult. They noted that the slats are far enough apart to prevent fingers from getting caught between them. It's also a little more expensive than the other cots we reviewed but it's well worth the investment for its durability and functionality.

Design

It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It's crucial to select a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling that these types of cots can provide. It has plenty of space-saving storage and storage options, including a drawer that fits underneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the sides. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your baby.

Alternatively alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money. It also has a smart panelled look that would suit any nursery. It's made to last until they reach the age of six old. It can be converted into a junior mattress and transforms into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only cot beds we tested to have an opening as well as a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a great choice for parents who want their cot bed to stand the test of time.

Another option with a smart panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of color options to fit the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothing. Our mum testers were impressed with its features. It's also among the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It's also a great choice for those who have little space since it can be folded flat and rolled down. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used until 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are many baby essentials you need to think about as you become a new parent. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed - you need something that will last for as long as it can and will grow with your child, giving them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

Although most cots can be converted to toddler beds through the purchase of a conversion kit some cot beds are designed to go further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), a 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 until childhood.

It's expensive compared to some of the other cot beds that we test, but it comes with a premium look and feel that will be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for them to build and put up. This is a minor flaw however, as it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot has four different base heights for mattresses. This is an upgrade over the three most common options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child grows. They may require a higher or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip that runs along the top to shield it from being bitten.

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 an excellent 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 confident that it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.