How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. So we've put together this guide to help you find the ideal bed for your little one.
A top-quality option that is perfect for nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. This sturdy and durable choice will grow with your child with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a chic bench style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There's also a variety of options that offer different levels of durability and some convert into toddler beds to be used through the preschool years and beyond. Naturally, those that convert into beds tend to be more expensive, but the cost can be well-repaid in the event that you need an item that lasts for many years, not just a few months.
see more & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its stunning aesthetics and easy-to assemble design makes it a fantastic choice for parents looking for an excellent cot that will last for a long time. Our parent testers appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look stunning in a Scandi-style nursery. This cot bed also comes with a handy drawer that mum tester Katrina found to be an improvement over less expensive cots with a built-in drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic across the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately the crib isn't cheap. It does require an Allen key to make it functional.
The Elementary cot is a more affordable option that can give your baby a peaceful night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our parent testers loved the simple design and quick, straightforward assembly. The cot is foldable down and stored easily because it fits in a bag the size of that used for the camping chair. It's a bit light which means it might not be suitable for car camping but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't intend to move their cot all the time.
The SnuzKot is an additional budget-friendly cot we recommend, especially if you choose to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until around four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact that it was able to transform into an unassuming toddler bed and gave a cocoon-like feeling with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot will not only meet UK safety standards, but will also feel solid and secure. Choose a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your child is unable to get out. Some cots come with extra features, such as teething rails or under-bed storage drawers which can aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby grows.
The Boori cot is made from sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about your purchase. It converts from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for reassurance) and has an option for an extension kit to take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.
This elegant and simple cot is a great choice for those with a tight budget. It's easy to set up and has clearly labeled components and clear instructions. It has three mattress settings, so you can adjust the height of your baby as he grows. It is compatible with most cots with a standard mattresses and is an excellent purchase for the price.
If you're looking for a premium cot, this one is a great choice. It comes with four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your baby is around three years old. It folds flat and comes with locking wheels, making it extremely convenient to move it from room to room.
The cot comes with a convenient travel bag and is among the lightest cots we test at 6kg. It's also extremely durable and has a sturdy frame that'll stand up to noisy toddlers. Our testers found it to be a little difficult to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. They were impressed by the fact that the slats are sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It is also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed but the durability and function make it worth the investment.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when buying a cot-bed. It's crucial to select a cot that is both practical and attractive.
The classic ickle bubba Bed is the ideal bed for those who love design, with its sleek modern design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these beds often feature. It's packed with space-saving storage, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. Our mother tester found it to be sturdy and robust and has three positions of base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that will fit in with any nursery. It's designed to last your child until they reach six years old. old. It can be converted into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also one of the only cot beds we tested to have an opening, a hanging rail and teething rails. Additionally, its solid pine construction makes it a great choice for parents who want their cot bed to endure the test of time.
Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of colors to match the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothing. Our mom testers were awed by its features. It's also among the most simple cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great choice for those with limited space, since it can be folded down and then flat-packed. It can be used with an ordinary cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from the time of birth until toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used until your child is 10 years old. older.
Baby beds
If you're a new parent there are a myriad of essential items for babies to consider. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed - you want something that will last for as long as you can and grow with your child to provide them a safe 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 an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice, as it will last from birth to the age of.
It's a little more expensive than the other cot beds we tested however, its high-end design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could be more precise, but our parent testers were awed by how easy it was them to build and put up. This is a minor flaw however, as it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another impressive feature of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress base heights that are an improvement on the three most popular options. This allows you to adjust it as your child grows because they might require a lower or higher base level depending on their age and ability. It also comes with useful teething rails and a strip along the top to guard it from being bitten.
This cot comes in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was particularly impressed by the grey finish. It's not expensive however it offers great value for money as it will take your child through toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with an assurance of one year to ensure that it will last. The only thing you'll have to purchase separately is a mattress, which isn't included.