9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best mini cot beds Bed

With so many essentials for babies to think about, choosing the ideal cot bed is one of the most important buys. So we've put together this guide to help you locate the ideal bed for your little one.

A premium option that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable option will grow with your child with three mattress positions and the ability to remove the sides to create 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 a myriad of options that offer different levels of durability and even convert into toddler beds to be used throughout the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be converted into a bed are more expensive, however they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design making it a great option for parents who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. The sleek design and warm finish will look fantastic in the Scandi nursery. This cot bed has a handy drawer that mum tester Katrina felt was superior to cheaper cots that come with an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip along the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth stuck between the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately the cot isn't cheap and it requires an Allen key to get it up and running.

A less expensive alternative that will still provide your baby a comfortable night's sleep is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parents liked the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is foldable down and stored easily because it fits in bags similar to the one used for the camping chair. It's not ideal for car camping however it's suitable for apartment life or those who don't need to move their cot a lot.

The SnuzKot is an additional budget-friendly cot that we recommend particularly if you decide to opt for the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your baby until they reach around four years old. Our father tester liked that it could be converted into a minimalist-looking toddler bed and create a cocoon like feeling with its canopy made of fabric.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only meet UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy design that has safety bars or sides and a solid base that your child can't be able to climb out. Some cots have additional features, such as teething rails and under-bed drawers, which can help you keep things organised 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 your purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to provide reassurance) and comes with an option to add an extension kit that can take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is an excellent choice for those on a limited budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three height settings for the mattress so that you can adjust it 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 features four mattress positions. It'll keep your baby safe until they are about three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it easy to move it from room to.

This cot comes with a handy travel bag, and is among the smallest cots that we tested at 6kg. It is also very robust with an extremely sturdy frame that can stand up to the demands of boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were placed far enough apart to avoid fingers getting trapped between them. It is also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed but the durability and function make it a worthwhile investment.

Design

When buying a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the specifications and safety features, but don't forget the design. It's important that you choose a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the ideal bed for those who appreciate design, with its sleek modern take on a traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these beds can often feature. It's packed with space-saving storage such as the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the side. Our mom test subject found it to be robust and durable, with the ability to adjust the height of the base three times, which allows the bed to grow with your child.

The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's made to last until your child is six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed, and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of only a handful of cots that we have tested with the option of a drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Mini Cot Bed Bed is another option that has a panelled design. It is available in a variety of colors to match the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothing. Our mum testers were awed by the features. It is also one of the most simple cot beds to put together. The components are clearly labeled, and the instructions are simple to follow. It's also a great option for those with limited space as it can be flat-packed and collapsed. It takes the 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 turns 10 years old. older.

Convertability

There are a variety of baby necessities that you must consider when you become a new parent. One of the most important things to think about is a top-quality cot bed. You want it to last as long as you can and grow with your child, ensuring that they have a secure place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for toddlers. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm), it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice, as it will last your child from birth until the time of their childhood.

It's a bit pricey when compared to other cot beds that we tested, but it has a premium design and feel that will suit any nursery. Our parents who tested it were impressed with how easy it was to build and set up but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This is a minor fault however, as it was still very simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.

Another unique feature of this cot bed sales is the fact that it has four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three most common options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child gets older, since they may require an upper or lower base level based on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails which are helpful as well as a plastic strip on the top to keep it from becoming a bit.

This cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was keen on the grey finish. It's not cheap but it's great value for money as it will last your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It's also covered by a 1-year warranty so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll have to buy separately is a mattress, which isn't included.