The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed
How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. This guide has been created to assist you in choosing the right cot for your Baby Cot Bed.
A top-quality option that will look great in Scandi-style nursery rooms. It's a durable and sturdy option that grows with your child, with three mattress height options and the ability to remove the sides for a sleek bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
When you think of cots, there's something for every budget and every nursery. There's also a variety of options with various levels of longevity and some convert into toddler beds to be used through the age of preschool and beyond. Naturally, those which convert into beds tend to be more expensive, but the cost can be well-repaid in the event that you need an item that lasts for a long time instead of just a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design, making it an excellent choice for parents looking for a top quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. The sleek design and warm finish will look fantastic in the Scandi nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer that mum tester Katrina found to be a better option than some cheaper cots that have an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic along the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck between the bars. This cot bed isn't expensive, and requires an Allen key for setup.
The Elementary cot is a cheaper option that can give your baby a good night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our parent testers liked the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is foldable into a compact size and stored since it can fit into bags that are similar to that used for a camping chair. It's not ideal for car camping but it's perfect for apartment life or those who don't need to move their cot a lot.
The SnuzKot is an additional affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It can grow with your child until they're around four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact that it was able to transform into a minimal-looking toddler bed and created a cocoon-like feeling by incorporating 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. Choose a sturdy design with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation so that your Baby Cot cannot easily move out. Some cot beds include extra features like teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib that can help you organize your home as your baby is growing.
Parent test participant Becki says that her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and is still beautiful." Its traditional design will fit in with any home and it's made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you can feel good about your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to provide peace of mind) and also has the option for an extension kit that takes it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's simple to put together and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings that allow you to alter the height as your baby grows. It will fit most standard mattress cots and is a good buy for the money.
This is an excellent choice when you're in search of a high-end cot. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It will keep your baby safe until they reach the age of three. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it portable to move it from one room to the next.
The cot comes with a handy travel bag and is among the smallest cots that we tested at 6kg. It is also very durable, with a sturdy frame that will withstand boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it to be a little challenging to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. They were impressed by the fact that the slats were spaced enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It is also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed, but the quality and durability make it a worthwhile investment.
Design
It's easy to overlook the style when purchasing a cot-bed. The cot you choose for your baby will be used for a long time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you love and also is practical and useful.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh style does not have the bulky feel that these cots are known for. It also doesn't skimp on storage space, and comes with an extra drawer that slides 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 allows it to grow with your child.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes in an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's designed to last until your child is six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only cot beds we tested that has an opening with a hanging rail as well as teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it a good option for parents who want their cot to stand the test of time.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with panels. It comes in a variety of colours to complement your nursery's decor. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothes. Our mom testers were impressed with its features. It's also among the easiest sale cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It is also an excellent choice for those who have little space since 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 of age.
Convertability
If you're a newly-wed there are a myriad of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important is a quality cot bed. You want something that will last for as long as you can and grow with your child to provide them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.
While most cots can be transformed into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go further than this. Our top choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Bed, which transforms into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm), as well as a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, since it should see your child through from birth to childhood.
It's not cheap in comparison to other cot beds that we evaluated, but it offers a premium look and feel that will suit any nursery. Our parents were impressed with how easy it was to put together and construct however they did mention that the instructions could be clearer. This is not a major issue however, since it was still a breeze and took less than thirty minutes to complete.
Another great feature of this cot is that it comes with four mattress base heights which is an upgrade on the three most common options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child grows. They may need an upper or lower base level based on their age and ability. It also comes with useful teething rails as well as a plastic strip along the top to guard it from biting.
The grey finish was the preferred of our dad test-driver. It's not cheap cot beds but it's a an excellent value, since it will last until they reach toddlerhood and beyond. It's also covered by a 1-year warranty so you can be sure it will last. The only thing that you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.