How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is a must-have for every baby. This guide has been created to help you choose the right bed for your baby.
This high-end option works perfectly it perfectly Scandi style nursery. It's a sturdy and durable choice that can grow with your child, offering three mattress height options and the ability to remove the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
When it comes to cots there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There are a variety of options that have different lifespans some of which can be transformed into toddler beds to be used throughout the preschool years or even beyond. The ones that can be turned into a bed are more expensive, but they last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its luxurious aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it a great option for those looking for an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. Our parent testers liked the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look beautiful in a contemporary nursery. This cot bed comes with a handy drawer that mum tester Katrina felt was a better option than some cheaper cots that come with an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip on the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. However, at over PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately the bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to make it functional.
A more budget-friendly alternative that will still provide your baby a comfortable night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The easy design and simple assembly were highly praised by our parent testers. The cot is small when folded and can be put away and easily tucked away into a carry bag that's about the size of a camp chair's carry case. It's a little light, meaning it may not be ideal for camping in the car, but it should be fine for apartment living or for those who don't plan to move their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot we recommend particularly if you decide to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad testers loved the fact that it can be converted into a minimal-looking toddler bed and gave a cocoon-like feeling by incorporating a fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot must not only meet strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your child is unable to get out. Some cots include extra features such as teething rails and under-bed drawers that can help you organize your life as your baby is growing.
The Boori cot is constructed of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be confident in your purchase. It converts from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up for peace of mind) and also has the option for an extension kit to take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This simple, stylish cot is a good choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to set up and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. recommended cribs has three height settings for the mattress so that you can adjust it as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard mattress cots and is a good purchase for the price.
This is a great choice if you are looking for a high-end cot. It can be used as a cot, and comes with four mattress positions. It will keep your baby safe until they are around three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it a great option to move it from one room to another.
This cot is very light at only 6kg and comes with a handy bag for travel. It is also very robust, with an extremely sturdy frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. Our testers found it to be a little challenging to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to keep fingers from getting trapped between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other cots we looked at, but it is worth the cost for its durability and functionality.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when buying a cot-bed. It's crucial to select a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.
The classic ickle bubba Bed is the perfect bed for those who love design with its sleek, modern take on a traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these types of beds often have. It's got plenty of space-saving storage such as the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the sides. Our mom test subject found it to be robust and durable with a three-position base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
Alternately, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has an elegant panel design that will look great in any nursery. It's made to last until your child reaches six years old, converting first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only a few cot beds that we have tested with an apex drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.
Another option with a sleek panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of color options to fit your nursery decor. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothes. Our mom testers were impressed with its features. It's also one of the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great option for those who have a limited space, as it can be folded down and flat-packed. It can be used with an ordinary cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that permits it to be used up until your child turns 10 years old. old.
Convertibility
If you're a new parent, there are plenty of baby must-haves to consider. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed. You need something that will last as long as possible and grow with your child to give them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than just a toddler bed. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) as well as it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability, as it will last from birth through the age of.
It's more expensive than the other cot-beds we tried, but its premium design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for to construct and install. This isn't a big issue but it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot has four different base heights for mattresses. This is an improvement over the three most popular options. This allows you to adjust it as your child gets older, since they may require a higher or lower base level depending on their age and level. It also comes with teething rails and a strip along the top to guard it from being bitten.
The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors, and our dad tester was particularly attracted by the grey-colored finish. It is not cheap but it offers the best value for money as it will last your child until they reach the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with one-year warranty, so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.