How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cots cot bed is a must-have for every baby. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you choose the perfect choice for your little one.
A high-quality bed that will look great in Scandi-style nurseries. 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 stylish bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There is a cot for every nursery and budget. There are also different choices that come with different durations some of which can be transformed into toddler beds to be used into the age of preschool or beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its luxurious aesthetics and easy-to assemble design makes it a fantastic choice for those who want an excellent cot that will last for a lifetime. This model's minimalist design and warm color will look fantastic in an Scandi nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer that mum tester Katrina felt was a better option than some cheaper cots that come with an integrated drawer, as well as an anti-bite plastic strip on the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. However, at over PS599 with a mattress sold separately, this crib isn't cheap. It requires an Allen key to get it up and running.
The Elementary cot is a less expensive option that will give your baby a peaceful night's rest. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. The basic design and easy assembly were highly praised by our testers' parents. The cot can be folded into a compact size and stored since it can fit into a bag the size of the one used for the camping chair. It's light and therefore may not be ideal for camping in the car, but it's a good choice for apartment living or for those who don't want to move their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is another good affordable cot that we suggest, especially if you choose to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It can grow with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad testers loved the fact that it was able to transform into an unassuming toddler bed, and also created the feeling of a cocoon by incorporating a fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is of good quality is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation so that your baby cannot easily get out. Some cots have additional features, such as teething rails or Baby Crib drawers for under-bed storage which can help you stay organized while your baby grows.
Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its traditional design is suitable for all 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 into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for security. There is also an extension kit available which can convert it to a full-sized bed when your child's ready.
This stylish and simple cot is a great option if you're on a budget. It's easy to set up, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress options which allows you to adjust the height of your baby as he grows. It is compatible with most standard crib mattresses and is a great value purchase for the money.
This is a great choice if you are looking for a high-end best cot newborn. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It'll last until your child are around three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it portable for moving it from one room to another.
The cot is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a great bag for traveling. It is also very durable with a sturdy frame that will stand up to the demands of boisterous toddlers. Our test subjects found it a little challenging to put together, however the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were placed far enough apart to prevent fingers from getting trapped between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, however the durability and function make it a worthwhile investment.
Design
It's easy to overlook the style when buying a cot-bed. Your baby's cot will be in use for a long time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you love and is also practical and useful.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is the ideal bed for those who love design with its sleek contemporary take on a traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these beds can often have. It also has plenty of space-saving storage and has a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, plus teething rails that can be connected to the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your child.
Alternately you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and comes with a stylish panel design that is perfect for any nursery. It's designed to last until your child reaches six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed, and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only cot beds we've tested with a draw, a hanging rail and teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it an excellent choice for parents who want their cot bed to endure the test of time.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with a panelled design. It is available in a variety of colours to match your nursery decor. Our mum testers loved its nifty features including the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also among the most simple 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 flat-packed and then collapsed. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years old.
Convertibility
When you're a new parent there are a myriad of baby cots on sale essentials to think about. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you want something that will last for as long as you can and will change with your child to provide them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than a toddler bed. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable pick, as it will last from birth until childhood.
It's a little more expensive than the other cot-beds we tested however, its high-end look and feel will fit in any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent testers were impressed by how easy it was to construct and install. This isn't a major issue but it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot has four different mattress base heights. This is an upgrade over the three most popular options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They might require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and abilities. It includes teething rails that can be useful and a plastic strip at the top to keep it from being bit.
This cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors, and our dad tester was especially impressed by the grey finish. It's not inexpensive, 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 an assurance of one year so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is a mattress that's not included.