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 purchases. This guide will assist you in choosing the right cot for your baby.
A premium option that will look great in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable choice can grow with your baby with three mattress positions, and the ability to remove the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There is a cot for every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that provide different levels of durability and even convert into toddler beds for use through the preschool years and beyond. Of course, the ones that convert into a bed tend to be more expensive but the extra investment could be worth it if you want a cot that lasts for years rather than just a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its elegant design and simple design. It's a great option for parents who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand the test of time. Our testers for parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look beautiful in a contemporary nursery. The cot bed has an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina thought was more suitable than cheaper cots which have an integrated drawer. It also comes with an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. The cot bed isn't inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key for setting up.
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. The basic design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parent testers. The cot is compact when folded and can be put away easily, fitting into a bag that's about the size of the carry case for a camp chair. It's not the best choice for camping in the car however it's suitable for apartment life or those who won't be moving their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot we recommend particularly if you decide to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your baby until they reach four years old. Our dad tester loved the possibility of converting it into a modern-looking toddler bed, and also create a cocoon like feeling by putting up a fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy will not only meet UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to climb out. Some cots come with extra features such as teething rails, or drawers under the bed that will help you stay organized while your baby develops.
The Boori cot is constructed of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about your purchase. It can be transformed from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for safety. There is also an extension kit available that will take it up to a full-sized bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a good choice if you're on a budget. It's simple to put together, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. Baby Cot Bed comes with three mattress height settings, so you can alter the height as your baby grows. mini cotbed can be used with standard mattress cots and is a good purchase for the money.
If you're looking for a top cot, this one is a great choice. It can be used as a cot, and comes with four mattress positions. It will last your baby until they reach the age of three. It can be folded flat and has locking wheels, making it very portable if you need to move it from room to room.
This cot comes with handy travel bag and is one of the smallest cots that we test at 6kg. It is also very durable with strong frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it a little difficult to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting stuck between them. It's also a little more expensive than the other cots we reviewed but it's well worth the investment for its durability and functionality.
Design
When purchasing a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the specifications and safety features, but don't neglect the design. It's crucial to select a cot bed that is both functional and beautiful.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is the perfect 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 feeling that these beds often come with. It has plenty of storage space, including a drawer that fits underneath the cot and teething rails on the sides. Our mom test subject found it to be robust and durable with a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.
The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's designed 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 only a few cot beds that we've tested with the option of a drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has panels. It is available in a range of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers loved its nifty features including the storage drawer being especially useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also one of the most simple cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It is also an excellent choice for those who have limited space because it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It takes the standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from the time of birth until toddlerhood, with an extension kit allowing it to be used up until your child is 10 years of age.
Convertibility
There are a lot of baby essentials that you must consider when a new parent. But one of the most important is a good quality cot bed. You want something that lasts for as long as it can and grow with your child to give them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than just a toddler bed. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which converts into a toddler bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, because it should see your child through childhood to.
It's expensive compared to some of the other cot beds we tested, but it has an elegant appearance and feel that would be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent test subjects were impressed with how easy it was them to build and install. This isn't a major issue, though, considering it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot has four different base heights for the mattress. This is an improvement over the three most popular options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child grows. They may need an upper or lower base level, based on their age and capabilities. It comes with teething rails that can be useful and a plastic strip at the top to prevent it from becoming a bit.
The grey finish was the most popular of our dad test-driver. It's not cheap, but it does offer great value for money as it will see your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an one-year guarantee which gives you confidence that it's durable and durable. The only thing you'll have to purchase an additional mattress, that's not included.