How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is a must-have for every baby. We've put together this guide to help you locate the perfect choice for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect it perfectly Scandi style nurseries. This sturdy and durable option can expand with your baby, with three mattress positions and the ability remove the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are also a range of options that offer different amounts of longevity, with some converting into toddler beds that can be used into the age of preschool and beyond. Of course, the ones that convert into beds are generally more expensive but the extra investment could be worth it when you're looking for a cot that lasts for a long time instead of just a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design making it a great option for parents who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand the test of time. Our testers for parents loved the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look beautiful in a contemporary nursery. have a peek at this site has a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was a better option than some cheaper cots that come with an inbuilt drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites along the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. The cot bed isn't inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key to set up.
A more budget-friendly option that still gives your baby a comfortable night's sleep is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. The simple design and easy assembly were well-loved by our parent testers. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked and easily tucked away into a bag that's as big as the carry case for a camp chair. It's a little on the lightweight side, meaning it may not be suitable for car camping but it should be fine for living in an apartment or for those who don't want to move their cot around for too long.
We recommend the SnuzKot for another cot for under $100, particularly when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they reach four years old. Our dad tester liked that it could be transformed into a modern-looking toddler bed, and also create the feeling of a cocoon with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy will not only meet UK safety standards but also feel solid and secure. Choose a sturdy design that has sides or safety bars and an erect base that your child can't easily climb out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib, which can help you organize your home while your little one is growing.
The Boori cot is made from sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be confident in your purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides unlocked for security. There is 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 an excellent choice for those on a limited budget. It's easy to set up and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings that allow you to alter the height of your baby as he grows. It is compatible with most cots with a standard mattress and is a great buy for the price.
This is an excellent choice If you're looking for an extremely high-end cot. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It can last your baby until they are around three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it portable for moving it from one room to another.
This cot is light at just 6kg, and comes with a great bag to carry it around in. It's also extremely durable and has a strong frame that can handle boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it a little challenging to put together, however the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were set apart to keep fingers from getting trapped between them. It's also a little more expensive than the other cots that we looked at, but it is worth the price for its durability and utility.
Design
It's easy to overlook the style when buying a cot-bed. The cot you choose for your baby will be in use for a long period of time, so it's important to find one that you love and also is practical and useful.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the perfect bed for those who appreciate design with its sleek, modern version of the traditional sleigh design that does not have the bulky look that these beds can often feature. It has plenty of space-saving storage such as the drawer that is built into the cot, as well as teething rails on the side. Our mum tested it and found it sturdy and robust and has a three-position 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. It also has an elegant panel design that will look great in any nursery. It's designed to last until your child is six years old, before transforming first into a junior bed and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of only a handful of cot beds that we tested with the option of a drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.
Another option that has a stylish panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which is available in several colour options to coordinate with your nursery decor. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothes. Our mum testers were awed by the features. It's also among the easiest cot beds to build, with all pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great choice for those who have a limited space, as it can be collapsed and then flat-packed. It takes a standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood with an extension kit allowing it to be used up until your child is 10 years of age.
Convertibility
There are many baby essentials that you should consider as the new parent. But 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 provide them a safe and secure place to sleep.
While the majority of cots can be converted into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit, some cots are made to go a step further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, since it should see your child through the years from birth until childhood.
It's a bit pricey when compared to other cot beds we test, but it comes with an elegant design and feel that will be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could have been more precise, but our parent test subjects were impressed with the ease with which it was for them to build and install. This is not a major issue however, since it was still a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another great aspect of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress heights for the base that are an improvement on the three most popular options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows, as they may need a higher or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip that runs along the top to guard it from being bitten.
The cot is available in several different Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was especially attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap however it offers an excellent value for money, as it will see your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an one-year guarantee, so you have assurance that it's sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.