How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many essentials for babies to consider, the best cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. This guide has been created to help find the best choice for your baby.
A high-quality bed that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable choice can expand with your baby, with three mattress positions and the ability to remove 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 and some of them can be transformed into toddler beds that can be used throughout the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its gorgeous design and easy to assemble make it a great option for those looking for an excellent cot that will last for a long time. The sleek design and warm finish will look fantastic in a Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina considered to be a better choice than some cheaper cots which have a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot to stop your child's teeth from getting caught. The cot bed isn't cheap, and requires an Allen key for setting up.
The cot for the Elementary is a more affordable option that will provide your baby a good night's rest. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. The simple design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parent testers. The cot is compact when folded and can be tucked away easily too, fitting into a bag that's as big as a camp chair's carry case. It's a bit lighter than the average cot and therefore may not be ideal for car camping however it's suitable for living in an apartment or for those who don't intend to move their cot all the time.
We suggest the SnuzKot as another cot for under $100, particularly when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they reach around four years old. Our dad tester loved the possibility of converting it into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and created the feeling of a cocoon by putting up a fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and feel secure. Choose a sturdy design with safety bars or sides and an erect base, so your baby can't easily climb out. Some cots include extra features, such as teething rails or under-bed storage drawers which can help you stay organized while your baby grows.
The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to provide security) 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, stylish cot is a good choice if you're on a budget. It's easy to set up and has clearly labeled components and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard cot mattresses and is a great value buy for the money.
If you're looking to buy a high-end cot, this one is a great option. It has an impressive four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is three years old. It folds flat and comes with lockable wheels, making it extremely mobile if you have to move it from room to room.
This cot is very light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for traveling. It's also extremely durable and has a sturdy frame that can handle the raging toddlers. Our test subjects found it a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught between them. It is also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the quality and durability are worth the cost.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It is essential to choose the cot bed that is both practical and attractive.
The classic ickle bubba Bed is the ideal bed for those who love design with its sleek contemporary take on a traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these beds usually feature. It has plenty of space-saving storage and storage options, including a drawer that fits underneath the cot and teething rails on the side. Our mom tested it and found it sturdy and robust and has a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.
Alternately you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has a smart panelled look that would suit any nursery. It's designed to last until they are six years old. It transforms into a junior mattress and it transforms into a stylish sofa bed. It is also one of only a few cot beds that we have tested with a drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.
Another option with a smart panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available 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 awed by its features. It is also one of the easiest cot beds to put together. The components are clearly labeled and the instructions are easy to follow. It is also an excellent alternative for those with limited space because it can be rolled up and rolled down. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for babies to toddlerhood. An extension kit allows it to be used up to 10 years of age.
Convertibility
There are many baby essentials that you must consider when you become a 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 safe place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than a bed for toddlers. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Cot Bed, which converts into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm), as well as a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, as it will last your child through the years from birth until childhood.
best infant cribs 's a little more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested however, its high-end appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed by how simple it was to set up and build, although they did note that the instructions could be clearer. This is a minor fault, however, as it was incredibly simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.
The cot comes with four different base heights for the mattress. This is an improvement over the three most common options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They might require a higher or lower base level based on their age and abilities. It also comes with teething rails and a strip along the top to shield it from biting.
This cot comes in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was particularly attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap, but it offers great value as it will last your child through toddlerhood and beyond. It's also covered by a 1-year warranty so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.