How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed - find out here now, is a must-have for any baby. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you choose the perfect bed for your baby.

A high-quality bed that is perfect for Scandi-style nursery rooms. It's a sturdy and durable choice that can grow with your child, Affordable Cots offering three mattress height positions and the ability to remove the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There is a cot for every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that have different lifespans and some of them can be transformed into toddler beds that can be used in the age of preschool or beyond. Obviously, the ones that convert into beds tend to be more expensive, but the investment could be worth it if you want an item that lasts for a long time instead of just the duration of a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its stunning aesthetics and easy-to assemble design make it an ideal choice for those who want an excellent cot that will last for a long time. The sleek design and warm color will look great in the Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina considered to be a better choice than some cheaper cots with a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. The cot bed isn't cheap, and requires an Allen key to set up.

The Elementary cot is a more affordable option that will provide your baby a peaceful night's rest. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. Our parent testers were impressed by the simplicity of the design and easy assembly. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked easily, fitting into a carry bag that's as big as the carry case for a camp chair. It's a bit lighter than the average cot, meaning it may not be suitable for car camping however it's suitable for apartment living or for those who don't intend to move their cot around too much.

We suggest the SnuzKot as another cot for under $100, particularly when it comes with a toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad tester liked the fact it converted to 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 meet UK safety standards but also feel 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 cot beds will also come with extra features, such as teething rails and under-bed drawers which can help organize your life as your baby is growing.

The Boori cot sets is made from 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 unlocked for security. There's also an extension kit that will take it up to a larger bed when your child's ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattress and is a great buy for the price.

This is an excellent choice when you're in search of an extremely high-end cot. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It'll last your baby until they reach the age of three. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it a great option to move it from one room to another.

The cot comes with a handy travel bag, and is one of the smallest cots that we tested at 6kg. It's also extremely durable, with a strong frame that'll stand up to the raging toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however 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 we looked at however, it's worth the investment for its durability and functionality.

Design

It's easy to overlook the style when purchasing a cot-bed. The cot you choose for your baby will be in use for a long time so it's essential to find one you like and is also functional and practical.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the best cot beds cot for those who love design. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh design isn't as bulky that these cots are known for. It has plenty of space-saving storage and storage options, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. Our mother tester found it sturdy and robust and has three positions of base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.

If you prefer you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and comes with an elegant panel design that would suit any nursery. It is designed to last your child until they reach the age of six old. It converts into a junior mattress and it transforms into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of the cot beds that we tested that has an opening as well as a hanging rail and teething rails. Additionally, its solid pine construction makes it an excellent choice for parents who want their cot to stand the test of time.

Another option that has a stylish panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of colors to match the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothes. Our mum testers were awed by the features. It's also one of the easiest cot beds for parents to put together, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great alternative for those with limited space as it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It is made of 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 of age.

Convertability

When you're a new parent there are a lot of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you need something that will last for as long as it can and will grow with your child, giving them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

While the majority of cots can be transformed into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go a step further than this. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Bed, which converts into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm), as well as a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability that will last from birth through childhood.

It's a bit more expensive than the other cot-beds we tested, but its premium appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. The instructions could have been more precise, but our parent testers were awed by how easy it was for to construct and set up. This is a minor fault however, since it was still very simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.

Another unique characteristic of this cot is that it has four mattress base heights, which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This allows you to adjust it as your child gets older, because they might require a lower or higher base level depending on their age and level. It also comes with teething rails and a strip that runs along the top to shield it from biting.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad's testers. It's not cheap but it's excellent value for money since it will see your child through to toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with a 1-year warranty so you can be sure it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.