How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many essentials for babies to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you choose the perfect bed for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect it perfectly Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable option will grow with your child, with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a chic bench style toddler bed.
Budget
When you think of cots, there's something for every budget and every nursery. There are a variety of choices that come with different durations, some of which can be converted into toddler beds to be used throughout the preschool years or even beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design, making it an excellent choice for those who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand the test of time. The minimalist design and warm finish is perfect for a Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a drawer, which mom tester Katrina thought was superior to cheaper cots that come with a built-in drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic along 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 setting up.
cot beds for sale that will still give your baby a comfy night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The easy design and simple assembly were well-loved by our testers' parents. The cot can be folded up and stored easily, as it fits into bags similar to that used for the 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 a lot.
The SnuzKot is a good affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until approximately four years old and our dad testers loved the fact that it can be converted into an unassuming toddler bed, and also created a cocoon-like feeling by incorporating a fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and secure. Choose 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 come with extra features such as teething rails, or drawers for under-bed storage that will help you stay organized while your baby grows.
The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be sure of the purchase. It converts from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to provide peace of mind) and has an option of an extension kit that can take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This stylish and simple cot is a great option if you're on a budget. It's easy to assemble and has clearly labeled components 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.
If you're looking for a top cot, this is a good choice. It offers four mattress base positions when in cot mode, and will last until your child is around three years old. It also can be folded flat and has locking wheels, making it extremely convenient to move it from room to room.
This cot comes with handy travel bag and is among the lightest cots we tested, weighing just 6kg. It's also extremely durable with an extremely sturdy frame that can stand up to the demands of boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, but our testers found the assembly to be a little challenging. 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 some of the other cots that we looked at but it's well worth the investment for its longevity and practicality.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. The cot you choose for your baby will be used for a long time so it's important to find one you like 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 doesn't have the bulky feel that these beds often come with. It has plenty of storage space such as a drawer that fits underneath the cot, as well as teething rails on the sides. Our mum test subject found it to be robust and durable with a three-position base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's made 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 one of the few cot beds we tested that has an opening, a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a good option for parents who want their cot to endure the test of time.
Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of color options to fit the decor of your nursery. Our mum testers loved its unique features and the drawer for storage being particularly useful for storing bedding and clothing. It is also one of the most simple cot beds to assemble. The pieces are clearly labeled, and the directions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those with a small space, since it can be folded down and flat-packed. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for babies to toddlerhood. crib sets permits it to be used up to 10 years of age.
Convertability
If you're a newly-wed, there are plenty of essential items for babies to consider. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed - you want something that will last for as long as you can and will grow with your child to provide them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
While most cots can be converted 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 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 childhood to.
It's a little more expensive than the other cot-beds we tried however, its high-end look and feel will fit in any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed with how easy it was to put together and construct however they did mention that the instructions could be clearer. This is not a major issue however, since it was incredibly simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot comes with four base heights for mattresses. This is an upgrade over the three most popular options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They may require an upper or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip along the top to guard it from being bitten.
The grey finish was the preferred of our dad's testers. It's not cheap, but it's a the best value for money since it will last your child until they reach the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with one-year warranties which gives you confidence that it's durable and long-lasting. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is a mattress, that's not included.