How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many baby must-haves to think about, choosing the ideal cot bed is among the most important items to purchase. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you locate the perfect bed for your little one.
A top-quality option that will look great in Scandi-style nurseries. It's a sturdy and long-lasting choice that can grow with your child, with three mattress height options and the ability to remove the sides for a sleek bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There is a cot for every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that offer different levels of durability and even convert into toddler beds for use through the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its stunning aesthetics and easy-to assemble design makes it a fantastic choice for parents looking for a high-quality cot that will last a lifetime. Our testers for 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 a better choice than some cheaper cots with a drawer built-in. best crib newborn has an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. However, at over PS599 with a mattress sold separately, this bed 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 good night's sleep is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. The simple design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parents who tested it. The cot can be folded up and stored easily, as it fits into bags that are similar to the one used to store a camping chair. It's not the best choice for car camping but it's perfect for apartment life or those who won't be moving their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is a good budget-friendly cot that we recommend, especially if you choose to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they reach four years old. Our dad tester liked the possibility of converting it into a minimalist toddler bed and create a cocoon like feeling with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but it should also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Find a sturdy design that has safety bars or sides and a solid base to ensure that your child is unable to be able to climb out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails or under-bed storage drawers which can aid you in staying organized as your baby develops.
The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be confident in the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure security. There's an extension kit available that will take it up to a larger bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a great option when you're on a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress height settings, so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard crib mattresses and is a great value purchase for the price.
This is a great choice If you're looking for an expensive cot. It has an impressive four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is about three years old. It folds flat and comes with locking wheels, making it extremely mobile if you have to move it from room to room.
The cot is extremely light at just 6kg, and comes with a convenient bag for traveling. It's also extremely durable, with a strong frame that'll stand up to the raging toddlers. Our testers found it to be a little challenging to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. They also noted that the slats are spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers from getting caught between them. It's also more expensive than some of the other cots we looked at however, it's worth the cost for its durability and functionality.
best crib newborn to overlook the style when you are buying a cot bed. It is essential to choose a cot that is both functional and beautiful.
The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the ideal bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the traditional sleigh style does not have the bulky feel that these types can have. It also offers space-saving storage and has an open drawer that can be placed under the cot, plus teething rails that can be affixed to the side. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base allows it to expand with your baby.
Alternatively, 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 is designed to last your child until they reach six years old. older. It converts into a junior mattress, and it transforms into a stylish sofa bed. It's also among the only a few cot beds that we tested with a drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has a panelled design. It is available in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features, with the storage drawer being especially useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also the easiest cot bed to assemble. The pieces are clearly labeled and the directions are easy to follow. It is also an excellent alternative for those with little space since it can be folded flat and then collapsed. It can be used with an ordinary cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used until your child is 10 years of age.
Convertibility
There are a variety of baby necessities you need to think about as you become a new parent. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you want something that lasts for as long as you can and will change with your child to give them a safe and secure place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than a bed for children. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, since it will last your child through the years from birth until childhood.
It's a bit more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tested, but its premium design and feel will look great in any nursery. Our parents were impressed with how easy it was to build and set up however they did mention that the instructions could be clearer. This isn't a big issue, though, considering it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another impressive aspect of this cot is that it comes with four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three most common options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child grows, since they may require a lower or higher base level, based on their age and abilities. It also comes with useful teething rails and a plastic strip that runs along the top to shield it from being bitten.
The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not expensive however it offers an excellent value for money, as it will take your child through toddlerhood and beyond. Additionally, it comes with a one-year warranty and gives you peace of mind that it will be sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing that you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.
