How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to consider, a top cot bed is among the most important purchases. So we've put together this guide to help you locate the ideal bed for your baby.

This premium option fits perfectly to be used in Scandi style nurseries. It's a sturdy and durable option that will grow with your child, offering three mattress height positions as well as the ability to remove 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 throughout the preschool years or beyond. Naturally, those that convert into a bed do tend to be more expensive, but the investment can really pay off if you want a cot that will last for many years, not just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design making it a great choice for those who want an excellent cot that will stand up to the test of time. This model's minimalist design and warm color will look fantastic in an Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina considered to be a better choice than some cheaper cots which have a drawer built-in. It also comes with an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately this crib isn't cheap baby cots. It does require an Allen key to get it up and running.

The cot for the Elementary 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. The basic design and easy assembly were praised by our parents who tested it. The cot is small when folded and can be tucked and easily tucked away into a bag that's as big as a camp chair's carry case. It's a little lighter than the average cot, meaning it may not be ideal for camping in the car but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't want to move their cot around all the time.

We recommend the SnuzKot as another budget-friendly cot, especially when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad tester liked the fact it converted to a minimal-looking toddler bed and created an ambiance of cocoons by incorporating a fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot will not only meet UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation so that your baby cot online is not able to move out. Some cot beds will also have additional features, such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib that can help you organize your home as your baby is growing.

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

This stylish and simple cot is a great option when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings, so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It will fit most standard crib mattresses and is a great value buy for the price.

This is a fantastic option when you're in search of an expensive cot. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It'll keep your baby safe until they reach the age of three. It can be folded flat and has locks on the wheels, making it convenient to move it from room to room.

This cot comes with handy travel bag, and is one of the smallest cots offers that we test at 6kg. It's also extremely sturdy and has a strong frame that can handle noisy toddlers. Our test subjects found it a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. They also noted that the slats are spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers from getting caught between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the durability and function are worth the cost.

Design

It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It's crucial to select a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the ideal bed for design-lovers. Its modern, sleek take on the classic sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling that these cots are known for. It also offers space-saving storage and has a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be attached to the side. It was strong and sturdy. 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 and comes in an elegant panel design that will fit in with any nursery. It's designed to be used 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 one of the cot beds that we've tested with draw, a hanging rail and teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a good cribs choice for parents who want their cot to last for a long time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has a panelled design. It comes in a variety of colours to match your nursery decor. Our mum testers loved its nifty features, with the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also among the most simple cot beds to build, with all pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great option for those with limited space as it can be rolled up and collapsed. 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 until your child turns 10 years old. old.

Convertibility

If you're a new parent there are a myriad of baby must-haves 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 possible and evolve with your child so that they have a secure place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a toddler bed. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice that will last from birth until the age of.

It's a little more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested however its superior design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for to construct and set up. This is a minor fault however, as it was incredibly simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.

Another great characteristic of this cot is that it has four mattress base heights that are an improvement on the three standard options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child grows since they may require a higher or lower base level based on their age and abilities. It includes teething rails which are helpful and a plastic strip on the top to stop it from being bit.

The grey finish was the favorite of our dad test-driver. It's not cheap cot bed however it is a the best value for money as it will last through the toddler years and beyond. It also comes with an one-year guarantee which gives you confidence that it's durable and long-lasting. The only thing you'll need to buy an additional mattress, which isn't included.