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How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The most comfortable cot bed is a essential item for any baby. We've created this guide to help find the best choice for your baby.

A high-quality bed that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nurseries. This sturdy and durable option can grow with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are also a range of options that provide different levels of durability and even convert into toddler beds to be used into the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, but they will last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design, making it an excellent choice for parents looking for a top quality cot that will stand the years. The sleek design and warm color will look great in the Scandi nursery. This cot bed has a drawer, which mum tester Katrina found to be a better option than some cheaper cots that come with an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic on the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. However, at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately this crib isn't cheap. It requires an Allen key to start it up.





A less expensive option that still gives 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 praised by our parents who tested it. The cot is foldable into a compact size and stored because it fits in a bag the size of the one used to store a camping chair. It's a bit light and therefore may not be ideal for camping in the car but it's a good choice for apartment living or for those who don't want to move their cot around for too long.

We suggest the SnuzKot as another budget-friendly cot, especially when it comes with a toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until approximately four years old and our dad tester liked the fact that it was able to transform into a minimalist toddler bed and created an ambiance of cocoons with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards but also feel solid and secure. Look for a robust design with safety bars or sides and a solid base that your child can't be able to climb out. Some cots have additional features, such as teething rails or under-bed storage drawers that will aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby develops.

Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and is still stunning." Its traditional style is suitable for all homes and it's made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure safety. There's also an extension kit available that can transform it to a full-sized 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 put together, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three height settings for the mattress so that you can adjust it as your baby grows. It will fit most standard crib mattresses and is a great value buy for the price.

If cots offers looking for a premium cot, this one is a great option. It comes with four mattress base positions in cot mode and will last until your child is 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.

This cot is very light at just 6kg, and comes with a great bag for travel. It's also extremely sturdy, with a strong frame that'll stand up to boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it a little challenging to put together, however the instructions were well-written and clear. They were impressed by the fact that the slats are spaced enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, however the durability and functionality make it worth the investment.

Design

When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to get caught up in the spec and safety features, but don't neglect the style. The cot you choose for your baby will be used for a long time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you enjoy and is also practical and functional.

The classic ickle bubba Bed is the perfect bed for those who love design with its sleek contemporary design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that does not have the bulky look that these beds can often come with. It also offers space-saving storage and has a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be connected to the side of the. Our mother test subject found it to be robust and durable and has a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.

Alternatively alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has a stylish panel design that would suit any nursery. It's designed to last until they reach the age of six older. It transforms into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also one of the only cot beds we tested to have a draw as well as a hanging rail and teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a great choice for parents who want their cot to last for a long time.

Another option with a sleek panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which is available in several color options to fit the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer is useful for bedding and clothes. Our mum testers were impressed by its features. It's also one of the easiest cot beds for parents to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It is also an excellent choice for those who have limited space as it can be folded flat and then collapsed. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies to toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are a variety of baby necessities that you must consider when you become a new parent. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you want something that will last for as long as you can and will grow with your child to give them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

While the majority of cots can be made into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit some cot beds are designed to go a step further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted into an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice, as it will last from birth to the time of their childhood.

It's a little more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tested, but its premium look and feel will fit in any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent testers were impressed by how easy it was for them to build and install. This isn't a major issue however, as it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot has four different base heights for the mattress. This is an upgrade from the three standard options. This allows you to adjust the cot as your child develops. They may need a lower or higher base level depending on their age and capabilities. It comes with teething rails which are helpful as well as a plastic strip on the top to stop it from being bit.

The grey finish was the favorite of our dad tester. It's not cheap, but it offers the best value for money since it will last your child through the age of toddler and beyond. Additionally, it comes with one-year warranties which gives you confidence that it will be sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll need to purchase separately is a mattress, that's not included.