The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the best cots for newborns Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a must-have for any baby. This guide will help find the best choice for your baby.

This high-end option works perfectly in Scandi style nurseries. It's a durable and sturdy option that grows with your child, with three mattress height options and the option of removing the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are a variety of choices that come with different durations and some of them can be transformed into toddler beds to be used into the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be transformed into a bed are more expensive, however they'll last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its elegant design and simple design, making it an excellent choice for those who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand up to the years. Our parent testers appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which would look beautiful in a contemporary nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer that mum tester Katrina felt was a better option than some cheaper cots that come with an integrated drawer, as well as an anti-bite strip of plastic across the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. This infant cot bed bed is not cheap, and requires an Allen key for setup.

The Elementary cot is a cheaper option that will give your baby a good night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our parent testers liked the simple design and easy assembly. The cot is foldable down and stored easily as it fits into bags similar to that used for the camping chair. It's not ideal for car camping but it's perfect for those living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot a lot.

We recommend the SnuzKot as another budget-friendly cot, especially when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to an unassuming toddler bed and created a cocoon-like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and feel secure. Find a sturdy design with sides or safety bars and an erect base that your child can't be able to climb out. Some cots include extra features such as teething rails, or drawers for under-bed storage which can aid you in staying organized as your baby develops.

Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still stunning." Its classic design will fit in with any home and is made of sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to provide reassurance) and also has the option of an extension kit to take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It has three height settings for the mattress so that you can alter the height as your baby grows. It fits most standard cot mattress and is a great purchase for the price.

If you're looking to buy a high-end cot, this one is a great choice. It comes with four mattress base positions when in the cot position and will last until your child is around three years old. It also folds flat and comes with locks on the wheels, making it convenient to move it from room to room.

The cot is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a handy bag to carry it around in. 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 set apart to prevent fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the durability and function are worth the cost.

Design

When purchasing a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the spec and safety features, but don't forget the design. It's crucial to select a cot that is both practical and attractive.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is the ideal bed for those who love design with its sleek contemporary take on a traditional sleigh design that does not have the bulky look that these beds usually have. It's packed with storage space-saving features and storage options, including the drawer that is built into the cot, as well as teething rails on the side. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base allows it to expand with your baby.

Alternately, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and comes with a stylish panel design that would suit any nursery. It's made to be used until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed, and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of only a handful of cots that we've tested with the option of a drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with panels. It comes in a variety of colors to complement your nursery's decor. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothes. Our mum testers were awed by its features. It's also one of the easiest cot beds for parents to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It's also a great choice for those who have a limited space as it can be collapsed and then flat-packed. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. An extension kit allows it to be used up to 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are many baby essentials that you should consider as the new parent. One of the most important is a quality cot bed. You need something that will last for as long as you can and will grow with your child to provide them a safe and secure place to sleep.

While the majority of cots can be made into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit some cots are made to go a step further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) as well as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, since it will last your child through childhood to.

It's more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tested, but its premium design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could have been more precise, but our parent test subjects were impressed with how easy it was to construct and set up. This isn't a major issue however, as it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another unique feature of this cot is that it has four mattress base heights that are an improvement on the three most popular options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child develops. They may require a lower or higher base level based on their age and capabilities. It also comes with useful teething rails and a strip on the top to guard it from being bitten.

This cot sale is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors, and our dad tester was especially impressed by the grey finish. It's not inexpensive however it offers excellent value for money since it will last your child through to toddlerhood and beyond. Additionally, it comes with a one-year warranty which gives you assurance that it's sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.