9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the best cot newborn Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a must-have for any baby. We've put together this guide to help you locate the perfect choice for your baby.

This high-end option works perfectly in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable choice can expand with your baby with three mattress positions and the ability to take the sides off to create a stylish bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot that fits every nursery and budget. There are also a range of options that provide different amounts of longevity, with some converting into toddler beds to be used through the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, but they will last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design making it a great choice for those who want an excellent crib that can stand the years. Our parent testers appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look beautiful in a contemporary nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer, which mum tester Katrina thought was an improvement over cheaper cots that have an inbuilt drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites across the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck between the bars. But at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately, this cot isn't cheap and it does require an Allen key to start it up.

The cot for the Elementary is a cheaper option that can give your baby a good night's rest. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. Our parent testers liked the simple design and simple assembly. The cot can be folded up and stored easily, since it can fit into a bag the size of that used for a camping chair. It's not ideal for car camping but it's perfect for those living in apartments or who don't need to move their cot a lot.

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 child until about four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to an unassuming toddler bed tots and cots gave a cocoon-like feeling by incorporating a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy must not only meet strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides, and a solid foundation so that your child is unable to climb out. Some cots come with extra features like teething rails and under-bed drawers, which can help you keep things organised while your Baby Cot is growing.

The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be sure of the purchase. It can be transformed from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure security. There's also an extension kit that can transform it to a full-sized bed when your child is ready.

This elegant and simple cot is an excellent choice for those with a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings that allow you to alter the height as your child grows. It is compatible with most standard cot mattresses and is a great purchase for the price.

This is a fantastic option If you're looking for a high-end cot. It offers four mattress base positions when in cot mode and will last until your baby is about three years old. It folds flat and has locks on the wheels, making it very convenient to move it from room to room.

The cot is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It's also extremely durable, with a strong frame that'll stand up to noisy toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly a bit difficult. They also noted that the slats are enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, however the durability and function make it worth the investment.

Design

When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to be engrossed in the specs and safety features, but don't neglect the design. Your baby's cot will be in use for a long time therefore it's crucial to choose one that you love and also is practical and useful.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is the best crib newborn bed for those who appreciate design, with its sleek modern design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these types of beds usually feature. It's got plenty of storage space and storage options, including the drawer that is built into the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. Our mom tested it and found it to be sturdy and robust 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 by Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that can suit any nursery. It's designed to last until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also among the few cot beds we tested that has a draw as well as a hanging rail and teething rails. Additionally, its solid pine construction makes it an excellent option for parents who want their cot to last for a long time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has a panelled design. It comes in a variety of colors to complement your nursery's decor. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothes. Our mom testers were awed by the features. It's also among the easiest cot beds for parents to put together, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It is also an excellent option for those with limited space as it can be folded flat and collapsed. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years old.

Convertibility

When you're a new parent there are a lot of baby must-haves to consider. One of the most important items to think about is a top-quality crib bed. You want it to last for as long as you can and grow with your child, ensuring that they have a secure place to sleep.

While most cots can be made to toddler beds through 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 into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) as well as it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, because it is designed to last through from birth to childhood.

It's more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested, but its premium appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. The instructions could be more simple, but our parents testers were awed by the ease with which it was for them to build and set up. This is not a major issue however, as it was incredibly simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

The cot comes with four different base heights for the mattress. This is an upgrade from the three standard options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child gets older, since they may require an upper or lower base level, based on their age and abilities. It also comes with useful teething rails and a plastic strip that runs along the top to protect it from biting.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad tester. It's not cheap however it offers excellent value for money since it will see your child through toddlerhood tots and cots beyond. It's also covered by one-year warranty, so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll have to purchase separately is a mattress, that's not included.