9 . What 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. We've created this guide to help find the best choice 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, offering three mattress height positions as well as the option of removing the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There is a cot for cribs beds every nursery and budget. There's also a variety of options that provide various levels of longevity and some convert into toddler beds for use through the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its elegant design and simple design, making it an excellent choice for parents looking for an excellent cot that will stand up to the years. Our testers for parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which looks amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was more suitable than cheaper cots 4 tots with a drawer built-in. It also comes with an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. But at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately, this cot isn't cheap and it requires an Allen key to get it up and running.

A more budget-friendly alternative that will still provide 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 highly praised by our parent testers. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked away easily too, Cots Offers fitting into a carry bag that's about the size of the carry case of a camping chair. It's a bit on the lightweight side, meaning it may not be ideal for camping in the car but it should be fine for apartment living or for those who don't plan to move their cot too much.

The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot that we recommend particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It can grow with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad testers loved the fact that it can be converted into a minimal-looking toddler bed and created a cocoon-like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards but also feel sturdy and secure. Look for a robust design that has safety bars or sides and a solid base that your child can't easily climb out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails and drawers under the bed that can help you organize your home while your baby is growing.

Parent test subject Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and still looks amazing." Its traditional style is suitable for all homes 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 to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to give you security) and has an option of an extension kit to take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with 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 purchase for the price.

If you're looking for a premium cot, this one is a great option. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It'll last until your child are around three years old. It also folds flat and has locks on the wheels, making it extremely portable if you need to move it from room to room.

The cot comes with a convenient travel bag and is one of the smallest cots we've tested at 6kg. It's also extremely sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly a little difficult. They noted that the slats are spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a little more expensive than the other cots we reviewed but it's well worth the cost for its durability and functionality.

Design

It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It is essential to choose a cot bed that is both functional and beautiful.

The classic ickle bubba Bed is the best cot bed for design lovers with its sleek, modern design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these beds usually come with. It also has plenty of storage space, and comes with an open drawer that can be placed under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be attached to the side of the. Our mum tester found it to be sturdy and robust with a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.

Alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and comes with a smart panelled look that will look great in any nursery. It's designed to last until your child reaches six years old, before transforming first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also one of only a handful of cots that we have tested with an apex drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has an elegant panel design. It is available in a variety of colours to complement your nursery's decor. Our mum testers loved its clever features, with the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also one of the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great choice for those with limited space as it can be folded down and then flat-packed. It fits the standard cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used up until your child turns 10 years old. older.

Convertibility

If you're a new parent, there are plenty of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important is a quality cot bed - you want something that will last as long as possible and will change with your child, giving them a safe and secure place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for children. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted to an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm), the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) tots and cots sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, because it will last your child through from birth to childhood.

It's a little more expensive than the other cot beds we tested however, its high-end design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could be more precise, but our parent 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 a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another great feature of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child grows. They may require an upper or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip on the top to keep it from getting bitten.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad test-driver. It's not cheap but it's excellent value for money since it will take your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with one-year warranties and gives you confidence that it's sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll have to buy separately is a mattress which is not included.