How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to think about, choosing the ideal cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you locate the perfect bed for your little one.

A high-quality bed that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable choice can grow with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability to remove the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots there's something to suit every budget and every nursery. There are a myriad of options that have different lifespans some of which can be converted into toddler beds to be used in the preschool years or beyond. Naturally, those which convert into beds do tend to be more expensive, but the investment could be worth it if you want a cot that will last for a long time instead of just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for parents looking for a top quality cot that will stand the test of time. The minimalist design and warm color is perfect for the Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was a better option than some less expensive cots with an integrated drawer, as well as a plastic strip that prevents bites on the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth stuck between the bars. The cot bed isn't inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key to set up.

The cot for the Elementary is a more affordable option that will provide your baby a good night's sleep. It's part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. Our testers with parents liked the simple design and easy assembly. The cot is small when folded and can be put away easily, fitting into a carry bag that's about the size of a camp chair's carry case. It's not ideal for car camping however it's suitable for those living in apartments or 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 opt for the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until around four years old, and our dad tester loved the fact it converted to a minimalist toddler bed, and also created an ambiance of cocoons with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot will not only meet UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy design that has sides or safety bars and a solid base to ensure that your child is unable to easily climb out. Some cots have additional features, such as teething rails or drawers for under-bed storage that will aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby grows.

The Boori cot is constructed of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be sure of your purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you secww.cots4tots.co.uk/">cots offers can provide. It's packed with storage space-saving features such as the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the side. Our mum test subject found it to be sturdy and robust with three positions of base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.

The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It is designed to last your child until they reach six years old. old. It converts into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also among the only a handful of cot beds that we tested with an apex drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.

Another option with a smart panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. The storage drawer was especially useful for bedding and clothing. Our mum testers were awed by its features. It's also the easiest cot beds to assemble. The pieces are clearly labeled and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those with a small space, as it can be folded down and flat-packed. 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 up to 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are a variety of baby necessities you need to think about as you become a new parent. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed. You need something that will last for as long as it can and will change with your child to give them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

Although most cots can be converted to toddler beds through the purchase of a conversion kit, certain cots are designed to go a step further than this. 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 a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice, as it will last from birth until childhood.

It's more expensive than some of the other cot-beds we tried however its superior design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with how easy it was to construct and set up. This is a minor flaw but it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another great feature of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress base heights which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot beds for sale as your child grows. They may require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip along the top to guard it from biting.

The cheap cot beds is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was especially impressed by the grey finish. It's not cheap baby cots for sale but it's a great value as it will last your child until they reach the age of toddler and beyond. It's also covered by a 1-year warranty so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing that you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.