How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The most comfortable cot bed is a essential item for any baby. 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. It's a durable and sturdy option that will grow with your child, with three mattress height positions and the option of removing the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
When you think of cots, there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There are also a range of options that provide various levels of longevity, with some converting into toddler beds to be used through the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, but they will last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its luxurious aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it an ideal choice for those looking for an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. This model's minimalist design and warm color is perfect for a Scandi nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer, which mum tester Katrina found to be superior to cheaper cots that come 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 in the bars. However, at over PS599 with a mattress sold separately, this bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to start it up.
The cot for the Elementary is a less expensive option that can give your baby a comfortable night's sleep. cot beds for sale of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our parents liked the simple design and easy assembly. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked away easily too, fitting into a bag that's about the size of the carry case for a camp chair. It's a little lighter than the average cot and therefore may not be ideal for car camping however it's suitable for apartment living or for those who don't intend to move their cot all the time.
The SnuzKot is another 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 that it could be converted into a modern-looking toddler bed and create a cocoon like feeling by putting up a fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot must not only meet strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your baby cannot easily climb out. Some cot beds have additional features, such as teething rails and under-bed drawers which can help organize your life while your baby is growing.
Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its traditional style will fit in with any home and is made of sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about your purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for reassurance) and comes with an option of an extension kit that takes it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a great option for those on a tight budget. It's simple to put together, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress options that allow you to alter the height of your baby as he grows. It is compatible with most standard mattress cots and is a good purchase for the price.
This is a great choice when you're in search of an expensive cot. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It can last your baby until they are about three years old. It folds up and has wheels that lock, making it portable to move it from room to.
This cot is very light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It is also very robust with a sturdy frame that will 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. They also noted that the slats are spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers from getting caught between them. It's also more expensive than some of the other cots we reviewed however, it's worth the price for its longevity and practicality.
Design
When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to be engrossed in the specs and safety features, but don't neglect the design. The cot you choose for your baby will be used for a long time, so it's important to find one that you enjoy and is also practical and useful.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the ideal bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh design doesn't have that bulky feeling that these types can have. It's packed with storage space such as an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. Our mum tested it and found it solid and sturdy, 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 and comes in a panelled design that can suit any nursery. It's designed to be used 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 with a hanging rail as well as teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a great option for parents who want their cot bed to last for a long time.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with panels. It comes in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its clever features and the drawer for storage being particularly useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also the most simple cot beds to put together. The components are clearly labeled, and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great alternative for those with limited space as it can be rolled up and rolled down. It takes an ordinary cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used until your child is 10 years old.
Convertibility
There are a lot of baby essentials that you must consider when the new parent. One of the most important things to think about is a top-quality crib bed. You want it to last as long as you can and evolve with your child, so that they have a safe 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 beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability that will last your child from birth until childhood.
It's a little more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tried however its superior design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents testers were impressed by how easy it was for them to build and set up. This is a minor fault however, as it was incredibly simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another great feature of this cot is that it comes with four mattress base heights which is an upgrade on the three most popular options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They may need a lower or higher base level depending on their age and ability. It also comes with useful teething rails and a plastic strip on the top to guard it from biting.
This cot comes in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was especially impressed by the grey finish. It's not cheap, but it offers great value since it will last your child through the toddler years and beyond. It also comes with a 1-year warranty so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.