How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to consider, the best cot bed is one of the most important purchases. We've put together this guide to help you choose the perfect choice for your little one.

This top-quality option is perfect in Scandi style nurseries. It's a sturdy and durable option that grows with your child, with three mattress height positions and the ability to remove the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots, there's something to suit every budget and every nursery. There are also a range of options with different amounts of longevity and some convert into toddler beds for use into the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design making it a great crib option for parents who want an excellent cot that will stand the years. The minimalist design and warm finish will look great in an Scandi nursery. This cot bed also comes with a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina thought was an improvement over cheaper cots that come with an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip along the top of the rails of the cot sales to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. However, at over PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately the bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to get it up and running.

The Elementary cot is a more affordable option that will provide your baby a comfortable night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our testers with parents loved the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is compact when folded and can be stored easily, fitting into a carry bag that's the size of a camp chair's carry case. It's a little on the lightweight side and therefore may not be ideal for camping in the car but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't plan to move their cot all the time.

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're about four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to a minimalist toddler bed and gave the feeling of a cocoon with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only meet UK safety standards, but will also feel sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy style with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to climb out. Some cot beds will also include extra features, such as teething rails and under-bed drawers, which can help you keep things organised while your baby is growing.

The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be confident in your purchase. It converts from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for security) and comes with an option to add an extension kit that takes it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.

This stylish but simple cot is an excellent choice for those with a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three height settings for the mattress so that you can alter the height as your baby grows. It fits most standard cot mattresses and is a great buy for the price.

If you're looking for a premium cot, this one is a great choice. It offers four mattress positions in the cot position and will last until your child is about three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it easy for moving it from room to.

The cot comes with a handy travel bag, and is one of the smallest cots that we tested at 6kg. It's also extremely sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can withstand the raging toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly a little difficult. They were impressed by the fact that the slats are enough apart to prevent fingers from getting caught between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed but the quality and durability make it worth the investment.

Design

When purchasing a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the specs and safety features, but don't neglect the style. Your baby's cot will be used for a long time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you enjoy as well as is practical and useful.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the best cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the traditional sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling that these types can have. It's packed with storage space-saving features and storage options, including the drawer that is built into the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. It was sturdy and robust. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your baby.

The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that can fit in with any nursery. It's designed to last until they reach six years old. old. It converts into a junior mattress, Top Ranked Cribs and transforms into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only cot beds we tested to have draw as well as a hanging rail and teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a great choice for parents who want their cot to last for a long time.

Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of color options to fit the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features including the storage drawer being especially useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also one of the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It is also an excellent option for those with little space since it can be rolled up and collapsed. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth through toddlerhood. An extension kit allows it to be used up to 10 years of age.

Convertibility

There are many baby cots on sale essentials that you should consider as the new parent. One of the most important is a quality cot bed. You want something that will last as long as possible and grow with your child, giving them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.

While 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 pick. It can be converted into an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, as it should see your child through the years from birth until childhood.

It's expensive when compared to other cot beds that we evaluated, but it offers an elegant appearance and feel that would fit in with any nursery. Our parents who tested it were impressed by how simple it was to set up and build however they did mention that the instructions could be more clear. This isn't a big issue however, since it was still very simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot has four different base heights for mattresses. This is an improvement over the three most common options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows, because they might require an upper or lower base level based on their age and level. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip on the top to protect it from biting.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad tester. It's not cheap but it's excellent value for money since it will last your child through to toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with a 1-year warranty so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll have to purchase separately is a mattress which is not included.