How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many essentials for babies to think about, choosing the ideal cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. We've put together this guide to help you choose the ideal bed for your little one.
This high-end option works perfectly it perfectly Scandi style nurseries. This sturdy and durable choice will grow with your child with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.
Budget
There is a cot for every nursery and budget. There are a variety of choices that come with different durations and some of them can be transformed into toddler beds that can be used into the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for those who want an extremely high-quality crib that can stand the test of time. The sleek design and warm color will look fantastic in a Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina thought was an improvement over cheaper cots that have 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 between the bars. This cot bed is not inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key for setup.
A more affordable option that still gives your baby a comfortable night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our testers with parents liked the simple design and quick, straightforward assembly. The cot is foldable down and stored easily since it can fit into a bag the size of the one used to store the camping chair. It's lighter than the average cot, meaning it may not be ideal for camping in the car however it's suitable to live in apartments or for those who don't plan to move their cot for too long.
The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot we recommend particularly if you decide to opt for the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until approximately four years old and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to a minimalist toddler bed and gave an ambiance of cocoons with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot will not only meet UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design that includes safety bars or sides and a solid base to ensure that your child is unable to be able to climb out. Some cot beds include extra features like teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib which can help organize your home while your baby is growing.
The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be sure of your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you security) 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 choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to set up and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height as your child grows. It fits most standard cot mattresses and is an excellent purchase for the price.
If you're looking for a premium cot, this is a great choice. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It can keep your baby safe until they are about three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it portable to move it from one room to the next.
The cot is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It's also extremely sturdy, with a strong frame that can handle boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly to be a little difficult. The slats were set 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 price for its durability and functionality.
cot beds for sale
When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to get caught up in the specs and safety features, but don't neglect the style. The crib of your baby will be used for a long time so it's important to find one you like as well as is functional and practical.
The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for those who love design. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh design doesn't have that bulky feeling that these types of cots can provide. It's got plenty of storage space-saving features, including the drawer that is built into the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. Our mum test subject found it sturdy and robust and has three positions of base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that will suit any nursery. It's made to last until your child reaches six years old, converting first into a junior bed, and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also among the only cot beds we tested to have draw, a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a good option for parents who want their cot bed to stand the test of time.
Another option that has a stylish panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its unique features and the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also one of the easiest cot beds for parents to build, with all pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It is also an excellent option for those with limited space as it can be flat-packed and collapsed. It takes the standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood with an extension kit that permits it to be used until your child is 10 years old. old.
Convertibility
There are many baby essentials you need to think about as you become a new parent. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you need something that will last for as long as you can and grow with your child to give them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
While most cots can be converted into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit certain cots are designed to go a step further than this. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Bed, which transforms into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and also a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice and will last from birth until childhood.
It's a bit more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tried however its superior appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. cheap cot bed were really impressed by how simple it was to put together and construct, although they did note that the instructions could be clearer. This isn't a big issue but it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another great characteristic of this cot is that it has four mattress base heights which is an upgrade on the three most common options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child grows. They may need a lower or higher base level depending on their age and abilities. It includes teething rails that can be useful and a plastic strip on the top to prevent it from becoming a bit.
The grey finish was the most popular of our dad test-driver. It's not inexpensive, but it does offer an excellent value for money, as it will last your child through toddlerhood and beyond. It's also covered by one-year warranty, so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll have to buy separately is a mattress, which isn't included.