How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby essentials to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. We’ve put together this guide to help you find the perfect choice for your baby.

A premium option that will look great in nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. It’s a sturdy and durable choice that can grow with your child, with three mattress height positions and the option of removing the sides for a sleek bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There’s a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There’s also a variety of options that offer different amounts of longevity and even convert into toddler beds for use into the age of preschool and beyond. Obviously, the ones that convert into a bed do tend to be more expensive, but the investment could be worth it in the event that you need an item that lasts for many years, not just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its elegant design and simple design, making it an excellent choice for those who want an excellent crib that can stand the years. This model’s minimalist design and warm-toned finish will look great in an Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was a better choice than some cheaper cots which have a drawer built-in. It also has an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the small cot beds to stop your child’s teeth from getting stuck. The cot bed isn’t cheap cot beds, 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 sleep. It’s part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. The basic design and easy assembly were well-loved by our parent testers. The cot can be folded down 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 people living in apartments or who don’t need to move their cot around too often.

The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot that we recommend, especially if you choose to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they’re about four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to an unassuming toddler bed, and also 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 solid and secure. Look for a sturdy design with safety bars or sides, and a solid base so that your baby is not able to climb out. Some cots include extra features like teething rails or drawers under the bed that can aid you in staying organized as your baby develops.

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

This stylish but simple cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It’s easy to put together with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three mattress settings, so you can adjust the height of your baby as he grows. It can be used with standard mattress cots and is a great purchase for the price.

This is a great choice if you are looking for an expensive cot. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It’ll last your baby until they are about three years old. It can be folded flat and has locks on the wheels, making it mobile if you have to move it from room to room.

This cot comes with handy travel bag, and is among the smallest cots we’ve test at 6kg. It’s also extremely sturdy and has a sturdy frame that can withstand the raging toddlers. Our testers found it a little difficult to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. They noted that the slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers from getting caught between them. It’s also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the quality and durability make it worth the investment.

Design

It’s easy to overlook the style when you are buying a cot bed. Your baby’s cot will be in use for a long time therefore it’s crucial to choose one you like and also is functional and practical.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for those who love design. Its sleek, modern take on the traditional sleigh style does not have the bulky feel that these types can have. It’s packed with space-saving storage such as a drawer that fits underneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the sides. Our mum test subject found it sturdy and robust and has the ability to adjust the height of the base three times, which allows the bed to grow with your child.

The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with a panelled design that can suit any nursery. It is designed to last your child until they reach the age of six older. It converts into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It is also one of only a handful of cot beds that we tested with the option of a drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with panels. It is available in a range of colors to complement your nursery’s decor. Our mom testers loved its clever features and the storage drawer particularly useful to store bedding and clothes. It’s also among the easiest cot beds for parents to put together, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It’s also a great option for those who have a limited space, as it can be folded down and then flat-packed. It can be used with the 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 older.

Convertability

If you’re a new parent there are a lot of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important things to consider is a high-quality cot bed. You want it to last as long as you can and evolve with your child, ensuring that they have a safe place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for children. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm), a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, since it will last your child through from birth to childhood.

It’s a bit more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested, but its premium design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could have been more clear, but our parent test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for them to build and put up. This isn’t a major issue however, as it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

The cot sets comes with four different base heights for the mattress. This is an improvement over the three standard options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows since they may require a higher or lower base level based on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip on the top to keep it from getting bitten.

The grey finish was the favorite of our dad’s testers. It’s not expensive however it offers excellent value for money since it will see your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. It’s also covered by one-year warranty, so you can be sure it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.