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. So we've put together this guide to help you find the perfect bed for your little one.
A top-quality option that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nurseries. It's a sturdy and long-lasting choice that can grow with your child. It has three mattress height positions as well as the option of removing the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot to fit 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 to be used into the preschool years or beyond. Naturally, those that convert into a bed do tend to be more expensive, but the cost can be well-repaid if you want a cot that will last for years rather than just a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its stunning design and easy to assemble makes it a fantastic choice for those who want a high-quality cot that will last for a long time. The minimalist design and warm color will look fantastic in a Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was an excellent alternative to less expensive cots that have an integrated drawer. It also has an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot to stop your child's teeth from getting caught. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately, this cot isn't cheap and it requires an Allen key to start it up.
A less expensive alternative that will still provide your baby a comfortable night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The basic design and easy assembly were well-loved by our testers' parents. The cot is small when folded and can be put away away easily too, fitting into a carry bag that's about the size of the carry case for a camp chair. It's on the lightweight side and therefore may not be ideal for car camping but it should be fine to live in apartments or for those who don't intend to move their cot too much.
We recommend the SnuzKot as an alternative to a cot that is budget-friendly, particularly if it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad tester liked the fact it converted to a minimalist toddler bed and created the feeling of a cocoon by incorporating a fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it should also be sturdy and feel secure. Find a sturdy design with sides or safety bars and an erect base to ensure that your child is unable to be able to climb out. Some cots come with extra features, such as teething rails or under-bed storage drawers that can aid you in staying organized as your baby grows.
Parent test participant Becki says that her Boori cot "has been through three children and is still stunning." Its traditional design will suit most homes and is made of sustainably-sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you can feel good about the purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for security) and comes with an option to add an extension kit that takes it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a good choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height of your baby as he grows. It will fit most standard mattress cots and is a good purchase for the money.
If you're looking for a premium cot, this is a great option. It has an impressive four mattress base positions in cot mode, and will last until your baby is around three years old. It also can be folded flat and has lockable wheels, making it extremely mobile if you have to move it from room to room.
This cot is very light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for traveling. It is also very durable and has an extremely sturdy frame that can stand up to the demands of boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, but our testers found the assembly to be a little challenging. They also noted that the slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed, however the durability and function make it a worthwhile investment.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It is essential to choose a cot that is both practical and attractive.
The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its modern, sleek take on the classic sleigh design isn't as bulky that these types can have. It's packed with storage space-saving features and storage options, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the sides. Our mom test subject found it to be solid and sturdy, with a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand 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 later into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only a handful of cot beds that we have tested with an apex drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.
Another option that has a stylish panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed , which is available in several colour options to coordinate with your nursery decor. Our mom testers loved its nifty features and the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also one of the most simple cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great alternative for those with limited space as it can be folded flat and rolled down. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years old.
Convertibility
There are a lot of baby essentials that you should consider as you become a new parent. But one of the most important is a good quality cot bed. You want something that will last as long as possible and will grow with your child, giving them a safe and secure place to sleep.
Although most cots can be made into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cots are made to go beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted to a toddler (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm), a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, because it is designed to last through the years from birth until childhood.
It's more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tried however, its high-end appearance and feel can be found in any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent test subjects were impressed with how easy it was them to build and put up. This isn't a major issue however, as it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another impressive characteristic of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress heights for the base which is an upgrade on the three most popular options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child gets older, as they may need an upper or lower base level based on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails as well as a plastic strip along the top to shield it from being bitten.
This cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was impressed by the grey finish. It's not cheap, but it offers great value since it will last your child through the age of toddler and beyond. Additionally, it comes with an one-year guarantee which gives you confidence that it will be sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing you'll need to purchase an additional mattress, that's not included.