How To Explain Best Cot Bed To A 5-Year-Old

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to consider, the best crib bed is among the most important buys. We've created this guide to assist you in choosing the right cot for your baby.

This premium option fits perfectly in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable choice can grow with your baby, with three mattress positions and the ability to take the sides off 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 with different lifespans, some of which can be transformed into toddler beds that can be used in the preschool years or beyond. Obviously, the ones that convert into a bed do tend to be more expensive but the extra investment could be worth it in the event that you need an item that lasts for many years, not just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its elegant design and simple design, making it an excellent choice for those who want a top quality crib that can stand the years. The sleek design and warm finish will look great in the Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a drawer, which mom tester Katrina felt was an improvement over less expensive cots with a built-in drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic across the top ranked cribs of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately, this crib isn't cheap baby cots for sale. It requires an Allen key to get it up and running.

The Elementary cot is a cheaper option that will provide your baby a good night's sleep. 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 foldable down and stored easily because it fits in a bag the size of the one used for a camping chair. It's a little light, meaning it may not be suitable for camping in the car but it's a good choice for apartment living or for those who don't intend to move their cot around all the time.

The SnuzKot is a good affordable cots cot that we suggest, especially if you choose to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they reach around four years old. Our dad tester loved the possibility of converting it into a minimalist-looking toddler bed and create a cocoon like feeling by putting up a fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but it should also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to climb out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails and drawers under the bed which can help keep things organised while your baby is growing.

Parent tester Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still stunning." Its traditional design will fit in with any home and is made of sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for safety. There's also an extension kit available which can convert it to a full-sized bed when your child's ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great choice for those with a tight budget. It's easy to assemble 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 cots with a standard mattresses and is a great purchase for the price.

This is a great choice when you're in search of an expensive cot. It offers four mattress base positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is three years old. It also can be folded flat and has lockable wheels, making it very portable if you need to move it from room to room.

The cot is extremely light at just 6kg, and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It's also extremely sturdy, with a strong frame that can withstand the raging toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, but our testers found the assembly a little difficult. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting trapped between them. It is also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed but the durability and function are worth the cost.

Design

When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to get caught up in the specs and safety features, but don't neglect the style. The crib of your baby will be used for a long time therefore it's crucial to choose one that you enjoy and is also practical and functional.

The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for those who love design. Its modern, sleek take on the classic sleigh style does not have the bulky feel that these cots are known for. It also doesn't skimp on storage space and features an extra drawer that slides under the cot, and teething rails that can be affixed to the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base allows it to grow with your child.

The Modena sale cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with a panelled design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's designed to last your child until they are six years old. It converts into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It is also one of only a handful of cots that we've tested with an apex drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with a panelled design. It comes in a variety of colors to complement your nursery's decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its clever features and the drawer for storage being particularly useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also among the easiest cot beds for parents to put together, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It is also an excellent choice for those who have limited space because it can be folded flat and rolled down. It takes an ordinary cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit allowing it to be used up until your child is 10 years old.

Convertability

If you're a new parent there are a lot of baby must-haves to consider. But one of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you need something that will last for as long as it can and will grow with your child, giving them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.

While most cots can be transformed into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted to an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) as well as the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, since 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 superior look and feel will fit in any nursery. The instructions could be more precise, but our parent testers were awed by how easy it was to construct and set up. This is not a major issue however, since it was incredibly simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.

This cot comes with four base heights for the mattress. This is an improvement over the three most popular options. This allows you to adjust it as your child gets older, as they may need an upper or lower base level depending on their age and abilities. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip that runs along the top to protect it from being bitten.

The cot bed sales is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was particularly attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap, however it is a the best rated cribs value for money as it will last into the toddler years and beyond. It also comes with a one-year warranty, so you have peace of mind that it will be sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing you'll have to buy separately is a mattress which isn't included.