How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. We've created this guide to help find the best choice for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable choice will grow with your child, with three mattress positions and the ability to take the sides off to create 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 a myriad of choices that come with different durations and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used into the age of preschool or beyond. Naturally, those that convert into beds do tend to be more expensive, but the cost can be well-repaid when you're looking for a cot that lasts for many years, not just for a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its luxurious design and easy to assemble make it an ideal choice for those looking for a high-quality cot that will last for a lifetime. The minimalist design and warm finish is perfect for the Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a drawer, which mom tester Katrina felt was an improvement over cheaper cots that have an integrated drawer, as well as a plastic strip that prevents bites along the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. However, at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately the bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to get it up and running.
The Elementary cot is a more affordable option that will give your baby a comfortable night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our testers with parents were impressed by the simplicity of the design and quick, straightforward assembly. The cot is small when folded and can be put away and easily tucked away into a bag that's the size of the carry case for a camp chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car but it's perfect for people living in apartments or who don't need to move their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot that we recommend particularly if you decide to opt for the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad tester loved the fact that it can be converted into a minimal-looking toddler bed and gave 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 also be sturdy and feel secure. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to move out. Some cot beds will also have additional features, such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib which can help organize your life while your baby is growing.
The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to provide peace of mind) and comes with an option of an extension kit to take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.
This stylish and simple cot is a great option if you're on a budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings, so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard cot mattresses and is a good buy for the price.
If you're looking for a top cot, this is a good choice. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It'll last until your child reach the age of three. cribs folds flat and comes with locking wheels, making it extremely convenient to move it from room to room.
This cot is very light at only 6kg and comes with a great bag for travel. It's also very sturdy and has a strong frame that'll stand up to the raging toddlers. Our test subjects found it a little difficult to put together, however the instructions were well-written and clear. They also noted that the slats are spaced enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the durability and functionality are worth the cost.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when you are buying a cot bed. The crib of your baby will be in use for a long period of time, so it's essential to find one that you enjoy and is also functional and practical.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its modern, sleek take on the classic sleigh design isn't as bulky that these types can have. It also has plenty of storage space and features an extra drawer that slides under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be affixed to the side. It was strong and sturdy. 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 be suitable for any nursery. It's designed to last until they are six years older. It can be converted into a junior mattress and transforms into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the few cot beds we've tested with an opening with a hanging rail as well as teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it an excellent choice for parents who want their cot to stand the test of time.
Another option with a smart panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which is available in several color options to fit your nursery decor. The storage drawer is useful for bedding and clothing. Our mom testers were awed by the features. It's also one of the most simple cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It is also an excellent choice for those who have little space since it can be folded flat and rolled down. It takes a standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from the time of birth until toddlerhood, with an extension kit that permits it to be used up until your child is 10 years old.
Convertibility
If you're a newly-wed, there are plenty of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you want something that lasts 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 a bed for children. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted to a toddler (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm), it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, because it is designed to last through the years from birth until childhood.
It's a bit more expensive than the other cot beds we tested however, its high-end look and feel will fit in any nursery. The instructions could be more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with how easy it was to construct and set up. This is not a major issue, however, as it was incredibly simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.
This cot has four different base heights for the mattress. This is an upgrade over the three most common options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child develops. They may need a higher or lower base level depending on their age and capabilities. It also comes with useful teething rails as well as a plastic strip along the top to guard it from biting.
The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was keen on the grey finish. It's not cheap but it's excellent value for money since it will last 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 need to purchase separately is the mattress.