How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many essentials for babies to think about, choosing the ideal cot bed is among the most important purchases. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you locate the perfect bed for your baby.

A high-quality bed that is perfect for Scandi-style nursery rooms. It's a durable and sturdy choice that can grow with your child, offering three mattress height options and the ability to remove the sides to create a chic 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, some of which can be transformed into toddler beds to be used into the preschool years or beyond. Obviously, the ones that convert into a bed do tend to be more expensive, but the investment can really pay off when you're looking for an item that lasts for many years, not just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for parents looking for an extremely high-quality cot that will stand the test of time. The sleek design and warm color is perfect for a Scandi nursery. The cot bed has an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina considered to be an excellent alternative to cheaper cots which have an integrated drawer. It also comes with an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. However, at PS599 with a mattress sold separately this crib isn't cheap. It requires an Allen key to make it functional.

A more affordable alternative that will still provide your Baby Cot Bed a comfy night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parent testers liked the simple design and easy assembly. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, because it fits in bags that are similar to the one used to store a camping chair. It's a bit lighter than the average cot and therefore may not be ideal for camping in the car, but it should be fine to live in apartments or for those who don't plan to move their cot all the time.

We suggest the SnuzKot as an alternative to a cot that is budget-friendly, particularly when it comes with a toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they reach around four years old. Our dad tester loved the possibility of converting it into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and created a cocoon like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but it should also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Look for a robust design with safety bars or sides, as well as solid foundations, so your baby can't easily get out. Some cot beds will also come with extra features, such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib which can help organize your home as your baby is growing.

Parent test subject Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its traditional design is suitable for all homes and it's made from sustainably-sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides unlocked for safety. There is also an extension kit available that will take it up to a full-sized bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is an excellent choice for those on a tight budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress options, so you can adjust the height as your child grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattress tots and cots is a great purchase for the price.

This is a fantastic option If you're looking for a high-end cot. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It can last until your child are about three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it easy for moving it from one room to the next.

The cot comes with a convenient travel bag and is among the smallest cots we've tested at 6kg. It's also extremely robust with strong frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly a little difficult. They also noted that the slats were spaced far enough apart to prevent fingers from getting caught between them. It is also more expensive than other cots offers that we have reviewed, but the quality and durability make it worth the investment.

Design

It's easy to overlook the style when you are buying a cot bed. It is essential to choose a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the perfect cot for design lovers. Its modern, sleek take on the traditional sleigh style isn't as bulky that these types can have. It also has plenty of space-saving storage and has an extra drawer that slides under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be affixed to the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your child.

Alternatively you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has a smart panelled look that would suit any nursery. It is designed to last until they are six years old. It transforms into a junior mattress, and it transforms into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of the only cot beds we tested that has an opening as well as a hanging rail and teething rails. Additionally, 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 panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothing. Our mom testers were impressed by the features. It's also one of the easiest cot beds to build, with all pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great option for those with limited space because it can be flat-packed and collapsed. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for babies to toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used until 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are a lot of baby essentials that you should consider as the new parent. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed. You want something that lasts for as long as it can and grow with your child to provide them a secure and Good cribs comfortable place to sleep.

While most cots can be converted to toddler beds through the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, since it is designed to last through the years from birth until childhood.

It's expensive compared to some of the other cot beds we've test, but it comes with a premium appearance and feel that would suit any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed by how simple it was to set up and build but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This is a minor fault however, as it was incredibly simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot has four different base heights for the mattress. This is an upgrade over the three most common options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child gets older, since they may require an upper or lower base level, based on their age and abilities. It comes with teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip at the top to prevent it from getting bitten.

This cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was particularly attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap however it is a an excellent value, because it will last your child until they reach the toddler years and beyond. It's also covered by an assurance of one year so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.