9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best infant cribs cot bed is a essential item for any baby. So we've put together this guide to help you choose the perfect choice for your little one.

This premium option fits perfectly in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable option can grow with your baby with three mattress positions and the ability remove the sides 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's also a variety of options with different amounts of longevity and some convert into toddler beds to be used throughout the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, but they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its elegant design and simple design. It's a great choice for those who want an extremely high-quality crib that can stand the test of time. This model's minimalist design and warm-toned finish will look fantastic in a Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was an excellent alternative to cheaper cots with a drawer built-in. It also has 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 sold separately the bed isn't cheap cot bed, and it requires an Allen key to start it up.

A more budget-friendly alternative that will still provide your baby a good night's rest is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our testers with parents loved the simple design and easy assembly. The cot can be folded into a compact size and stored because it fits in a bag the size of the one used to store the camping chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car however it's suitable for apartment life or those who won't be moving their cot too much.

The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot we recommend particularly if you decide to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until approximately four years old and our dad tester loved the fact that it was able to transform into a minimal-looking toddler bed, and also created the feeling of a cocoon by incorporating a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design that has sides or safety bars and a solid base that your child can't be able to climb out. Some cot beds will also have additional features, such as teething rails and drawers under the bed that can help you keep things organised as your baby is growing.

The Boori cot is constructed of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about your purchase. It converts from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you peace of mind) and has an option for an extension kit that can take 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 put together with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It has three height settings for the mattress so that you can alter the height as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard mattress cots and is a good buy for the price.

This is a fantastic option if you are looking for a high-end cot. It comes with four mattress positions in cot mode and will last until your child is about three years old. It can be folded flat and has locks on the wheels, making it convenient to move it from room to room.

The Best cot for newborn is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a handy bag for travel. It's also extremely durable and has a strong frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. Our testers found it a little difficult to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. The slats were set apart to keep fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also more expensive than the other cots we looked at, but it is worth the cost for its longevity and practicality.

Design

When buying a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the specifications and safety features, but don't forget the style. Your baby's cot will be in use for a long time, so it's important to find one that you love and is also practical and functional.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the perfect bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh style isn't as bulky that these types of cots can provide. It has plenty of space-saving storage such as an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot, as well as teething rails on the sides. Our mother test subject found it sturdy and robust, with three positions of base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.

Alternatively you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has an elegant panel design that would suit any nursery. It's designed to last until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the cot beds that we tested to have draw with a hanging rail as well as teething rails. Additionally, its solid pine construction makes it a great option for parents who want their cot to stand the test of time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with panels. It is available in a variety of colours to match the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features including the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also among the most simple cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It's also a great option for those who have a limited space, as it can be folded down and flat-packed. It takes an ordinary cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from the time of birth until toddlerhood, with an extension kit allowing it to be used up until your child turns 10 years old. old.

Convertibility

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

While most cots can be transformed to toddler beds through the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted to an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, because it will last your child through the years from birth until childhood.

It's a bit pricey when compared to other cot beds that we tested, but it has an elegant look and feel that will be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could have been more clear, but our parent testers were impressed by how easy it was for them to build and put up. This is a minor flaw but it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another unique aspect of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three most popular options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child gets older, as they may need an upper or lower base level, based on their age and level. It also comes with teething rails and a strip that runs along the top to protect it from biting.

The grey finish was the favorite of our dad tester. It's not expensive, but it does offer excellent value for money since it will last your child through the age of toddler and beyond. Additionally, it comes with one-year warranties, so you have assurance that it will be sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.