How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cots for newborns cot bed is a essential item for any baby. This guide has been created to help you choose the right bed for your baby.

A premium option that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nursery rooms. It's a sturdy and long-lasting option that grows with your child. It has three mattress height positions as well as the option of removing the sides for a sleek bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There is a cot for 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 through the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its elegant design and simple design making it a great choice for those who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. Our parent testers appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look stunning in a Scandi-style nursery. The cot bed also comes with a handy drawer, which mum tester Katrina found to be an improvement over cheaper cots that come with an inbuilt drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites on the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth stuck between the bars. This cot bed is not expensive, and requires an Allen key for setting up.

The cot for the Elementary is a more affordable option that can give your baby a comfortable night's rest. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. Our parents liked the simple design and quick, straightforward assembly. The cot can be folded down and stored easily as it fits into bags that are similar to the one used for the camping chair. It's not ideal for car camping however it's suitable for those living in apartments or who don't need to move their cot a lot.

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 grow with your child until they're about 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 with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is of good cribs quality is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it should also be sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides, and a solid foundation so that your baby cannot easily get out. Some cot beds come with extra features, such as teething rails and under-bed drawers, which can help you keep things organised as your baby is growing.

The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to provide peace of mind) and comes with an option to add an extension kit that can take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great option when you're on a tight budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It has three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height of your baby as he grows. It is compatible with most cots with a standard mattress and is a great purchase for the price.

This is a fantastic option If you're looking for an expensive cot. It can be used as a cot, and comes with four mattress positions. It will keep your baby safe until they are about three years old. It also can be folded flat and has locking wheels, making it very mobile if you have to move it from room to room.

The cot comes with a handy travel bag and is among the lightest cots we tested, weighing just 6kg. It's also extremely robust with a sturdy frame that will withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly to be a little difficult. They also noted that the slats are spaced far enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, but the durability and functionality make it a worthwhile investment.

Design

When buying a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the spec and safety features, but don't overlook the style. Your baby's cot will be used for a long period of time, so it's important to find one you like and is also functional and practical.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the ideal bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling that these types of cots to tots can provide. It has plenty of storage space, including the drawer that is built into the cot, as well as teething rails on the sides. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your child.

If you prefer you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and comes with a stylish panel design that would suit any nursery. It is designed to last until they reach the age of six old. It converts into a junior mattress, and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also one of only a handful of cot beds that we tested with a drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with panels. It comes in a range of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers loved its clever features including the drawer for storage being particularly useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also one of the most simple cot beds to build, with all pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great option for those with limited space as it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for children from birth through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used until 10 years of age.

Convertability

There are many baby essentials that you should consider as the new parent. One of the most important items to think about is a top-quality cot bed. You want it to last as long as you can and grow with your child so they can have a safe bed to sleep in.

Although most cots can be transformed to toddler beds through the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go a step further than this. Our top choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Bed, which transforms into a toddler bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and also a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability and will last from birth until childhood.

It's a bit pricey compared to some of the other cot beds that we evaluated, but it offers an elegant look and feel that will suit any nursery. Our parents were amazed by how easy it was to build and set up however they did mention that the instructions could be clearer. This isn't a big issue but it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another impressive characteristic of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base that are an improvement on the three most common options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child develops. They may require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and abilities. It includes teething rails that can be useful and a plastic strip on the top to keep it from becoming a bit.

This cot comes in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was especially attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap, but it offers the best value for money because it will last your child until they reach the toddler years and beyond. Additionally, it comes with one-year warranties which gives you peace of mind that it will be sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll have to purchase an additional mattress, which is not included.