9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best cot for newborn Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. This guide will help find the best crib for newborn choice for your baby.

A premium option that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nurseries. It's a durable and sturdy choice that can grow with your child, with three mattress height options and the option of removing the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There is a cot for every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that provide different levels of durability and even convert into toddler beds to be used throughout the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be converted into a bed are more expensive, however they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its elegant design and simple design making it a great choice for those who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand the years. This model's minimalist design and warm color is perfect for the Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was superior to cheaper cots that have an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip across the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. However, at over PS599 with a mattress sold separately the cot isn't cheap and it requires 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 peaceful night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. The easy design and simple assembly were well-loved by our parents who tested it. The cot is small when folded and can be put away away easily too, fitting into a carry bag that's the size of the carry case of a camping chair. It's lighter than the average cot and therefore 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 intend to move their cot for too long.

We recommend 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 liked that it could be converted into a minimalist toddler bed, and created the feeling of a cocoon by putting up a 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 foundation, so that your child is unable to get out. Some cot beds will also come with extra features, such as teething rails and under-bed drawers, which can help you organize your home as your baby is growing.

The Boori cot is made from sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be transformed from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for security. There is also an extension kit which can convert it to a full-sized bed once your child's ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. It has three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height as your child grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattress and is a great purchase for the price.

This is an excellent choice If you're looking for a high-end cot. It has an impressive four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is around three years old. It is also foldable and has wheels that lock, making it easy for moving it from room to.

The cot is extremely light at just 6kg, and comes with a convenient bag for traveling. It is also very durable and has an extremely sturdy frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, however our testers found the assembly to be a bit difficult. The slats were placed far enough apart to keep fingers from getting stuck between them. It's also more expensive than some of the other cots that we looked at however, it's worth the investment for its durability and utility.

Design

When buying a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the specifications and safety features, but don't forget the design. It is essential to choose a cot that is both practical and attractive.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the best crib newborn bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the traditional sleigh style doesn't have that bulky feeling that these cots are known for. It's packed with storage space, including the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the sides. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base allows it to grow with your baby.

Alternatively alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money. It also has an elegant panel design that is perfect for any nursery. It is designed to last until they reach the age of six old. It converts into a junior mattress, and transforms into a chic sofa bed. It's also one of the cot beds that we tested that has an opening with a hanging rail as well as teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a great choice for parents who want their cot bed to endure the test of time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has panels. It is available in a range of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mum testers loved its clever features, with the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also among the easiest cot beds for parents to put together, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great alternative for those with limited space as it can be rolled up and collapsed. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used until 10 years old.

Convertability

There are a lot of baby essentials you need to think about as the new parent. One of the most important things to think about is a top-quality crib bed. You want it to last as long as you can and grow with your child so they can have a safe place to sleep.

Although most cots can be transformed into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit certain cots are designed to go further than this. Our top choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Bed, which converts into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, because it should see your child through the years from birth until childhood.

It's a bit pricey compared to some of the other cot beds we evaluated, but it offers an elegant design and feel that will fit in with any nursery. Our parents who tested it were impressed with how easy it was to build and set up however they did mention that the instructions could be more clear. This isn't a major issue, though, considering it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot comes with four base heights for mattresses. This is an upgrade from the three most popular options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows, since they may require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and level. It also comes with teething rails as well as a plastic strip on the top to guard it from being bitten.

This Mini Cot Bed comes in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was especially keen on the grey finish. It's not cheap, but it's a an excellent value, as it will last your child through the toddler years and beyond. Additionally, it comes with a one-year warranty, so you have peace of mind that it's sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll have to buy separately is a mattress, which isn't included.