How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is an absolute must-have for every baby. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you locate the perfect choice for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect in Scandi style nursery. It's a sturdy and durable choice that can grow with your child, with three mattress height options and the option of removing the sides to create a chic 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 turned into a bed are more expensive, but they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its gorgeous aesthetics and simple to assemble design makes it a fantastic choice for those who want an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. Our testers for parents liked the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was a better choice than some cheaper cots which have a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. However, at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately this cot isn't cheap and it requires an Allen key to make it functional.
A more affordable option that will still give your baby a good night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The easy design and simple assembly were highly praised by our testers' parents. The cot can be folded down and stored easily since it can fit into a bag the size of the one used for the camping chair. It's light which means it might not be ideal for camping in the car but it's a good choice for apartment living or for those who don't plan to move their cot around too much.
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 expand with your child until approximately four years old and our dad testers loved the fact that it can be converted into a minimalist toddler bed and gave an ambiance of cocoons by incorporating a fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but will also feel sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your baby is not able to get out. Some cot beds come with extra features like teething rails and drawers under the bed, which can help you keep things organised while your baby is growing.
Parent test participant Becki says her Boori cot "has been through three children and still looks amazing." Its traditional style will fit in with any home 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 into a toddler bed by leaving three sides unlocked for security. There's an extension kit available that will take it up to a full-sized bed when your child is ready.
This elegant and simple cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress options, so you can adjust the height as your baby grows. It can be used with standard cot mattresses and is a good buy for the price.
If you're looking for a premium cot, this is a great choice. It offers four mattress base positions when in the cot position and will last until your baby is about three years old. It folds up and has wheels that lock, making it easy to move it from one room to the next.
This cot comes with handy travel bag and is one of the lightest cots we tested, weighing just 6kg. It's also extremely sturdy and has a strong frame that can handle noisy toddlers. Our testers found it a bit tricky to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. They noted that the slats are spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than some of the other cots that we looked at, but it is worth the cost for its durability and functionality.
Design
When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to be engrossed in the spec and safety features, but don't overlook the style. Your baby's cot will be used for a long period of time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you enjoy as well as is functional and practical.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the perfect cot bed for design lovers with its sleek contemporary take on a traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these types of beds usually have. It also has plenty of storage space and features an open drawer that can be placed under the cot, plus teething rails that can be attached to the side. It was sturdy and robust. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your baby.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that will suit any nursery. It's designed to last until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also one of the only cot beds we tested to have an opening, a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a great option for parents who want their cot to stand the test of time.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with a panelled design. It is available in a variety of colours to complement your nursery's decor. Our mum testers loved its unique features including the storage drawer being especially useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also the easiest cot bed to assemble. The components are clearly labeled, and the instructions are simple to follow. It's also a great option for those with limited space because it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies to toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used until 10 years of age.
Convertability
There are a lot of baby essentials that you should consider as the new parent. One of the most important items to think about is a top-quality crib bed. You want it to last as long as you can and grow with your child, so that they have a secure bed to sleep in.
While the majority of cots can be made into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go a step further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, as it will last your child through the years from birth until childhood.
It's expensive in comparison to other cot beds that we test, but it comes with an attractive design and feel that will be a perfect fit for any nursery. Our parent testers were really amazed by how easy it was to put together and construct however they did mention that the instructions could be more clear. recommended you read isn't a big issue however, since it was still a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another great feature of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base that are an improvement on the three most common options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child gets older, since they may require an upper or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip at the top to stop it from getting bitten.
The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors, and our dad tester was particularly attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap, but it offers an excellent value, since it will last your child through the toddler years and beyond. It's also covered by one-year warranty, to ensure that it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.