How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many essentials for babies to consider, the best cot bed is one of the most important purchases. This guide will assist you in choosing the right cot for your baby.
This top-quality option is perfect it perfectly 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 that fits every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that have different lifespans and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used throughout the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, however they'll last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its elegant design and simple design. It's a great option for parents who want an excellent 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 comes with a handy drawer, which mum tester Katrina thought was an improvement over cheaper cots that come with an integrated drawer, as well as 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. This cot bed is not expensive, and requires an Allen key for setting up.
The Elementary cot is a less expensive option that can give your baby a good night's rest. It's part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. Our parent testers liked the simple design and simple assembly. The cot can be folded up and stored easily, since it can fit into bags similar to the one used to store the camping chair. It's light which means it might not be ideal for car camping but it's a good choice for apartment living or for those who don't intend to move their cot all the time.
online cots suggest the SnuzKot as another cot for under $100, particularly if it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they are around four years old. Our dad tester loved that it could be transformed into a modern-looking toddler bed and create an atmosphere of cocoons with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Find a sturdy style with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your child is unable to climb out. Some cots come with extra features like teething rails or drawers under the bed which can aid you in staying organized as your baby grows.
Parent test participant Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its traditional design will suit most homes and is made of sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about your purchase. It can be transformed from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for security. There's also an extension kit that will take it up to a larger bed when your child's ready.
This simple, stylish cot is a good choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to set up, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It has three mattress settings that allow you to alter the height of your baby as he grows. It is compatible with most standard mattress cots and is a good buy for the money.
This is a great choice if you are looking for an extremely high-end cot. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It will last your baby until they are around three years old. It can be folded flat and has locks on the wheels, making it mobile if you have to move it from room to room.
The cot is extremely lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for traveling. It is also very durable, with a sturdy frame that will stand up to the demands of boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were set apart to keep fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other cots we reviewed but it's well worth the investment for its durability and utility.
Design
It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It's important that you choose a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the best cot for those who love design. Its sleek, modern take on the traditional sleigh style isn't as bulky that these types of cots can provide. It also doesn't skimp on storage space, and comes with a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, and 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.
The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes in an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's made to last until your child is six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also among the only a handful of cot beds that we've tested with an apex drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with panels. It comes in a variety of colours to match the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer is useful for clothing and bedding. Our mom testers were impressed by the features. It's also among the easiest cot beds for parents to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great choice for those with a small space, since it can be collapsed and flat-packed. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years old.
Convertibility
If you're a new parent, there are plenty of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important things to consider is a high-quality cot bed. You want it to last for as long as you can and grow with your child so that they have a safe bed to sleep in.
Some cots are designed to be more than a bed for children. Our top choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Bed, which transforms into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability, as it will last your child from birth through childhood.
It's not cheap when compared to other cot beds that we tested, but it has an attractive look and feel that will suit any nursery. The instructions could have been more clear, but our parent test subjects were impressed with the ease with which it was for them to build and put up. This is a minor fault however, since it was incredibly simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.
Another great feature of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base that are an improvement on the three most popular options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child grows since they may require an upper or lower base level, based on their age and ability. It includes teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip at the top to stop it from being bit.
This cot comes in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was especially attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap but it offers an excellent value, since it will last your child through the toddler years and beyond. It also comes with a one-year warranty and gives you confidence that it's durable and long-lasting. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.