How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many baby essentials to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important buys. This guide has been created to help you choose the right bed for your baby.
This premium option fits perfectly in Scandi style nurseries. It's a sturdy and long-lasting option that grows with your child, with three mattress height positions and the option of removing the sides to create a chic 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 and some of them can be transformed into toddler beds that can be used in the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be converted into a bed are more expensive, however they will last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design. cot beds for sale 's a great option for parents who want a top quality cot that will stand the years. The sleek design and warm-toned finish will look great in the Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina considered to be more suitable than cheaper cots with an integrated drawer. It also comes with an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot to stop your child's teeth from getting caught. However, at over PS599 with a mattress sold separately this cot isn't cheap and it requires an Allen key to make it functional.
The cot for the Elementary is a more affordable option that will give your baby a peaceful night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. Our testers with parents liked the simple design and quick, straightforward assembly. The cot is compact when folded and can be stored easily, fitting into a carry bag that's the size of the carry case of a camping chair. cheap cot bed 's not the best choice for camping in the car, but should be fine for people living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot too much.
The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot that we recommend particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your baby until they are around four years old. Our dad tester loved that it could be converted into a minimalist-looking toddler bed and create a cocoon like feeling with its canopy made of fabric.
Safety
A cot that is of good quality should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and feel secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to move out. Some cot beds will also include extra features like teething rails and drawers under the bed which can help keep things organised while your little one is growing.
Parent tester Becki says that her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and is still beautiful." Its classic design will fit in with any home and is made from sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about your purchase. It can be transformed from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides unlocked for security. There's also an extension kit which can convert it to a full-sized bed once your child is ready.
This elegant and simple cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings so you can adjust it as your baby grows. It fits most standard cot mattresses and is a great buy for the price.
If you're looking for a premium cot, this is a great option. 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 folds flat and has lockable wheels, making it extremely mobile if you have to move it from room to room.
This cot is very lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a convenient bag to carry it around in. It's also extremely durable with an extremely sturdy frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. Our testers found it a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were clear and well-written. They were impressed by the fact that the slats were spaced far enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed, however the quality and durability are worth the cost.
Design
When purchasing a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the spec and safety features, but don't forget the style. It is essential to choose a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the best bed for those who appreciate design with its sleek, modern version of the traditional sleigh design that does not have the bulky look that these beds often come with. It's packed with storage space-saving features, including the drawer that is built into the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base allows it to expand with your baby.
The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's made to last until your child reaches six years old, before transforming first into a junior bed, and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also among the only a handful of cots that we tested with an apex 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. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothes. Our mum testers were impressed with its features. It is also one of the easiest cot beds to put together. The pieces are clearly labelled, and the instructions are simple to follow. It's also a great option for those who have a limited space, as it can be collapsed and then flat-packed. It takes the standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used up until your child is 10 years old.
Convertibility
If you're a newly-wed there are a lot of baby must-haves to consider. cot beds for sale of the most important is a quality cot bed. You want something that will last as long as possible and grow with your child to provide them a safe and secure place to sleep.
Although most cots can be converted into toddler beds by 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 choice. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm), the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our most durable pick, as it will last from birth until the time of their childhood.
It's not cheap in comparison to other cot beds we've test, but it comes with a premium appearance and feel that would be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent test subjects were impressed with the ease with which it was for them to build and put up. This isn't a big issue but it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot comes with four base heights for mattresses. This is an improvement over the three most common options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows as they may need a higher or lower base level based on their age and abilities. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip that runs along the top to guard it from biting.
The grey finish was the favorite of our dad's testers. It's not expensive, but it does offer an excellent value for money, as it will last your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. Plus, it's covered by an one-year guarantee and gives you peace of mind that it's sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll have to buy an additional mattress, that's not included.