The Comprehensive Guide To Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to consider, a top crib bed is among the most important purchases. This guide will help find the best choice for your baby.

A top-quality option that will look great in Scandi-style nursery rooms. It's a durable and sturdy option that will grow with your child. It has three mattress height positions as well as the option of removing the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots, there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There are also different choices that come with different durations some of which can be transformed into toddler beds to be used in the preschool years or even beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its stunning aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it an ideal choice for those who want an upscale cot that can last for a long time. The sleek design and warm-toned finish is perfect for an Scandi nursery. The cot bed has an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina believed was more suitable than cheaper cots which have a drawer built-in. It also has an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. This cot bed isn't expensive, and requires an Allen key for setting up.

A more budget-friendly option that will still give your baby a comfortable night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The basic design and easy assembly were well-loved by our parent testers. recommended you read is compact when folded and can be stored easily, fitting into a carry bag that's as big as the carry case for a camp chair. It's not ideal for car camping but it's perfect for apartment life or those who don't need to move their cot a lot.

We suggest the SnuzKot as another cot for under $100, particularly when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until about four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact that it can be converted into a minimal-looking toddler bed and created a cocoon-like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is of good quality is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your child is unable to move out. Some cots have additional features such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib that can help you organize your home while your baby is growing.

Parent test participant Becki says her Boori cot "has been through three children and still looks amazing." Its traditional design will suit most homes and is made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you peace of mind) and comes with an option of 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 choice when you're on a tight budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard mattress cots and is a good purchase for the price.

This is an excellent choice if you are looking for an expensive cot. It offers four mattress positions in the cot position and will last until your child is around three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it easy for moving it from one room to the next.

The cot is extremely lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a great bag for travel. It is also very durable, with strong frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, however our testers found the assembly to be a bit difficult. The slats were placed far enough apart to keep fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also more expensive than some of the other cots that we looked at but it's well worth the cost for its longevity and practicality.

Design

When purchasing a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the specs and safety features, but don't overlook the style. The cot you choose for your baby will be in use for a long time so it's important to find one that you enjoy and is also functional and practical.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the ideal cot bed for design lovers with its sleek, modern design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that does not have the bulky look that these beds often have. It also offers space-saving storage and has a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, plus teething rails that can be attached to the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base allows it to grow with your child.

The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that can suit any nursery. It is designed to last your child until they reach the age of six old. It can be converted into a junior mattress, and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also one of the few cot beds we tested to have a draw, a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a good choice for parents who want their cot to endure the test of time.

Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which is available in several colour options to coordinate with your nursery decor. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothes. Our mom testers were impressed with its features. It is also one of the most simple cot beds to assemble. The components are clearly labeled and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those with a small space, as it can be folded and flat-packed. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used until 10 years old.

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 as long as possible and grow with your child, giving them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

Although most cots can be transformed into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit some cots are made to go beyond this. Our preferred choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which transforms into a toddler bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm), as well as a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our most durable pick and will last your child from birth through childhood.

It's a bit pricey compared to some of the other cot beds we've tested, but it has an attractive look and feel that will fit in with any nursery. Our parents who tested it were impressed with how easy it was to set up and build but they did say that the instructions could be clearer. This is a minor fault, however, as it was still a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot comes with four base heights for mattresses. This is an upgrade from the three standard options. This allows you to adjust the cot as your child develops. They might require a lower or higher base level, based on their age and abilities. It comes with teething rails that can be useful as well as a plastic strip on the top to keep it from becoming a bit.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad test-driver. It's not inexpensive but it's excellent value for money since it will see your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an assurance of one year so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.