How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many baby essentials to consider, the best cot bed is among the most important purchases. This guide will help find the best choice for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect to be used in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable option can expand with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options with different lifespans some of which can be transformed into toddler beds that can be used throughout the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its stunning aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it a great option for those looking for a high-quality cot that will last for a long time. The sleek design and warm color will look fantastic in an Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a handy drawer, which mum tester Katrina found to be an improvement over less expensive cots 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 stuck between the bars. However, at over PS599 with a mattress sold separately, this crib isn't cheap. It requires an Allen key to make it functional.
A more budget-friendly option that will still give your baby a good night's sleep is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parents liked the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, as it fits into bags similar to that used for a camping chair. It's not the best choice for camping in the car but it's perfect for people living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot a lot.
The SnuzKot is a good affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your baby until they are around four years old. Our dad tester liked the possibility of converting it into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and created 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 solid and secure. Look for a robust design that has sides or safety bars and a solid base to ensure that your child is unable to be able to climb out. Some cots have additional features, such as teething rails and drawers under the bed, which can help you organize your home as your baby is growing.
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 (leaving three sides open to give you reassurance) and has an option to add an extension kit that takes it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a great option for those with a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress height settings so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It can be used with standard crib mattresses and is a great purchase for the price.
This is a great choice when you're in search of an extremely high-end cot. It has an impressive four mattress base positions in cot mode, and will last until your baby is about three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it portable for moving it from room to.
The cot comes with a handy travel bag, and is among the lightest cots we tested at 6kg. It is also very durable, with a sturdy frame that will be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. Our testers found it a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were clear and well-written. They noted that the slats are far enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a bit more expensive than the other cots that we looked at but it's well worth the price for its durability and functionality.
Design
It's easy to overlook the style when you are buying a cot bed. The cot you choose for your baby will be in use for a long time, so it's important to find one you like and is also practical and functional.
The classic ickle bubba Bed is the ideal bed for those who appreciate design, with its sleek modern design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these beds often have. It also doesn't skimp on storage space and features an extra drawer that slides under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be attached to the side of the. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base lets it expand with your baby.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes in a panelled design that will suit any nursery. It's made to be used until your child is six years old, before transforming first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the cot beds that we tested that has an opening with a hanging rail as well as teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it an excellent option for parents who want their cot to endure the test of time.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has a panelled design. It comes in a range of colors to match the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers loved its clever features and the storage drawer particularly useful for storing bedding and clothing. It is also one of the most simple cot beds to put together. The components are clearly labelled, and the instructions are simple to follow. It's also a great choice for those who have limited space as it can be folded flat and rolled down. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used until 10 years old.
Convertibility
There are a lot of baby essentials you need to think about as the new parent. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed. You want something that will last for as long as it can and will change with your child, giving them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than just a toddler bed. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted to an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) as well as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, as it should see your child through childhood to.
It's more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tried however, its high-end design and feel will look great in any nursery. Our parents were amazed by how easy it was to set up and build but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This isn't a big issue, though, considering it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another unique feature of this cot is that it comes with four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child grows. They might require a higher or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails that are useful and a plastic strip on the top to stop it from getting bitten.
The grey finish was the favorite of our dad test-driver. It's not cheap but it offers an excellent value, since it will last until they reach toddlerhood and beyond. Additionally, best crib comes with a one-year warranty and gives you confidence that it's sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.