9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a must-have for any baby. This guide has been created to help you choose the right bed for your baby.

A high-quality bed that will look great in nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. This sturdy and durable choice can expand with your baby with three mattress positions and the ability remove the sides to create a chic bench style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots there's something to suit every budget and every nursery. There are a myriad of options with different lifespans and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used in the preschool years or even beyond. Obviously, the ones which convert into beds tend to be more expensive but the extra investment could be worth it if you want an item that lasts for a long time instead of just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its stunning design and easy to assemble make it a great option for those looking for an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. This model's minimalist design and warm-toned finish is perfect for an Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a drawer that mum tester Katrina felt was an improvement over cheaper cots that have a built-in drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip on the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. However, at PS599 with a mattress sold separately, this bed isn't cheap, and it requires an Allen key to make it functional.

A more budget-friendly 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 well-loved by our parent testers. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, as it fits into bags similar to that used for the camping chair. It's a bit lighter than the average cot which means it might not be ideal for camping in the car but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't intend to move their cot around too much.

We recommend the SnuzKot as an alternative to a cot that is budget-friendly, particularly when it comes with a toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they are around four years old. Our father tester liked that it could be transformed into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and also create an atmosphere of cocoons by putting up a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but will also feel solid and secure. Look for a robust design that has safety bars or sides and an erect base, so your baby can't easily get out. Some cots include extra features, such as teething rails and drawers under the bed which can help organize your home while your baby is growing.

Parent test participant Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its classic design will suit most homes and it's made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about the purchase. It can be transformed from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for safety. There is an extension kit available which can convert it to a full-sized bed when your child's ready.

This simple, stylish cot is a good choice if you're on a budget. It is easy to assemble 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 mattress cots and is a great value buy for the money.

If you're looking for a premium cot, this one is a great choice. It comes with four mattress positions in the cot position and will last until your child is around three years old. It folds flat and comes with lockable wheels, making it very portable if you need to move it from room to room.

This cot is very light at only 6kg and comes with a great bag for traveling. It's also extremely sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly a little challenging. The slats were placed far enough apart to prevent fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also a bit more expensive than the other cots that we looked at, but it is worth the price for its longevity and practicality.

Design

It's easy to overlook the style when buying a cot-bed. The crib of your baby will be used for a long time therefore it's crucial to choose one that you love as well as is practical and functional.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the perfect Mini Cot Bed for those who love design. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh design doesn't have that bulky feeling that these cots are known for. It also offers space-saving storage and has an extra drawer that slides under the cot sale, plus teething rails that can be connected to the side. It was sturdy and robust. The three-position height of the base allows it to grow with your baby.

If you prefer, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and comes with a smart panelled look that is perfect for any nursery. It's designed to last until they are six years older. It converts into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also one of the only cot beds we tested that has a draw as well as a hanging rail and teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a good choice for parents who want their cot bed to endure the test of time.

Another option that has a stylish panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of colour options to coordinate with your nursery decor. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothing. Our mom testers were impressed by the features. It's also one of the most simple cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It is also an excellent option for those with limited space as it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. An extension kit allows it to be used up to 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are many Baby Crib essentials that you should consider as the new parent. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you want something that will last for as long as it can and grow with your child to provide them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a toddler bed. Our top choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which converts into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and also a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, because it will last your child through childhood to.

It's a bit more expensive than the other cot-beds we tested, but its premium 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 install. This isn't a big issue however, as it was still very simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.

This cot has four different base heights for the mattress. This is an upgrade over the three most popular options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They may require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails and a strip that runs along the top to guard it from biting.

This cot comes in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was particularly keen on the grey finish. It's not cheap however it offers excellent value for money since it will see your child through toddlerhood and beyond. It's also covered by an assurance of one year so you can be sure it will last. The only thing that you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.