How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is an absolute must-have for every baby. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you locate the perfect bed for your little one.
A high-quality bed that is perfect for Scandi-style nurseries. It's a sturdy and long-lasting choice that can grow with your child, offering three mattress height positions and the ability to remove the sides for a sleek bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
When it comes to cots, there's something to suit every budget and every nursery. There are also a range of options that offer different levels of durability and even convert into toddler beds that can be used throughout the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design making it a great option for parents who want a top quality crib that can stand the test of time. The sleek design and warm color is perfect for the Scandi nursery. This cot bed has a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina thought was an improvement over cheaper cots that have an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic across the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. This cot bed is not expensive, and requires an Allen key for setup.
A more budget-friendly alternative that will still provide your baby a comfy night's rest is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. The simple design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parent testers. The cot is compact when folded and can be tucked and easily tucked away into a bag that's as big as the carry case of a camping chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car, but should be fine for those living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot around too often.
The SnuzKot is another good affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It can grow with your child until around four years old, and our dad testers loved the fact that it was able to transform into an unassuming toddler bed and created a cocoon-like feeling with its 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 with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your baby is not able to climb out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails or drawers under the bed which can aid you in staying organized as your baby develops.
The Boori cot is made from sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about your purchase. It can be transformed from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure security. There's also an extension kit that will take it up to a full-sized bed once your child is ready.
This elegant and simple cot is an excellent choice for those on a tight budget. It's simple to put together, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. cots and tots has three mattress height settings so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It will fit most standard cot mattresses and is a good purchase for the price.
This is an excellent choice If you're looking for an extremely high-end cot. It offers four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is around three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it easy to move it from one room to the next.
This cot comes with a handy travel bag and is one of the smallest cots that we tested at 6kg. It is also very durable with an extremely sturdy frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. Our test subjects found it a little difficult to put together, however the instructions were well-written and clear. They also noted that the slats are enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a little more expensive than the other cots that we looked at, but it is worth the cost for its durability and functionality.
Design
When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to get caught up in the specs and safety features, but don't overlook the design. The crib of your baby will be used for a long time therefore it's crucial to choose one that you love and is also functional and practical.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the ideal cot for those who love design. Its sleek, modern version of the traditional sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling that these types can have. It's got plenty of space-saving storage, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot and teething rails on the side. Our mum test subject found it to be sturdy and robust and has a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with an elegant panel design that will suit any nursery. It's designed to be used until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed and later to a chic sofa bed. It's also among the few cot beds we tested to have a draw with a hanging rail as well as teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it an excellent option for parents who want their cot bed to stand the test of time.
Another option that has a stylish panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of color options to fit your nursery decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its clever features and the storage drawer particularly useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also one of the easiest cot beds for parents to build, with all pieces being clearly labelled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great choice for those who have a limited space, as it can be folded and flat-packed. It can be used with an ordinary cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used up until your child is 10 years old.
Convertibility
When you're a new parent, there are plenty of baby must-haves to consider. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed. You want something that lasts for as long as it can and will grow with your child to give them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
While most cots can be transformed into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, certain cots are designed to go beyond this. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which converts into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This makes it our most durable pick, as it will last from birth until the age of.
It's more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested however, its high-end design and feel will look great in any nursery. Our parents were impressed by how simple it was to build and set up, although they did note that the instructions could be more clear. 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 mattresses. This is an upgrade from the three most popular options. This allows you to adjust it as your child gets older, because they might require an upper or lower base level, based on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip at the top to stop it from getting bitten.
The cot is available in several different Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was especially impressed by the grey finish. It is not cheap but it offers an excellent value, since it will last until they reach toddlerhood and beyond. Additionally, it comes with one-year warranties which gives you assurance that it's sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing that you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.