How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many baby must-haves to consider, the best crib bed is among the most important buys. This guide will assist you in choosing the right cot for your baby.
A top-quality option that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nurseries. It's a durable and sturdy option that grows with your child, offering three mattress height options and the ability to remove the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
When it comes to cots, there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There are also different options with different lifespans, some of which can be transformed into toddler beds that can be used into the preschool years or beyond. Naturally, those that convert into a bed tend to be more expensive, but the cost can be well-repaid when you're looking for a cot that lasts for a long time instead of just the duration of a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its stunning aesthetics and easy-to assemble design make it an ideal choice for those who want an upscale cot that can last for a lifetime. This model's minimalist design and warm finish is perfect for a Scandi nursery. The cot bed has an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina believed was an excellent alternative to cheaper cots with an integrated drawer. recommended cribs has an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. This cot bed is not cheap, and requires an Allen key for setup.
The Elementary cot is a cheaper option that will give your baby a peaceful night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our parent testers loved the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is foldable into a compact size and stored since it can fit into bags similar to the one used for a camping chair. It's not the best choice for camping in the car, but should be fine for apartment life or those who won't be moving their cot around too often.
The SnuzKot is a good affordable cot that we suggest, especially if you choose to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until they're about four years old, and our dad tester liked the fact that it was able to transform into a minimal-looking toddler bed and gave 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. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your child is unable to get out. Some cots have additional features such as teething rails, or under-bed storage drawers that will help you stay organized while your baby develops.
Parent tester Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still stunning." Its traditional style will suit most homes and is made of sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides unlocked for security. There is also an extension kit available that can transform it to a larger bed when your child is ready.
This simple but stylish cot is a great choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard cot mattresses and is a great value purchase for the price.
This is an excellent choice if you are looking for a high-end cot. It offers four mattress base positions in cot mode and will last until your child is about three years old. It folds flat and comes with locks on the wheels, making it convenient to move it from room to room.
This cot is very lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a handy bag for traveling. It's also extremely durable and has a strong frame that can handle the raging toddlers. Our test subjects found it a little difficult to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were placed far enough apart to prevent fingers from getting caught between them. It's also more expensive than some of the other cots we looked at but it's well worth the investment for its durability and utility.
Design
When buying a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the specifications and safety features, but don't neglect the style. The cot you choose for your baby will be used for a long time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you enjoy and also is practical and useful.
The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for those who love design. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh style does not have the bulky feel that these cots are known for. It's packed with storage space such as a drawer that fits underneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the sides. Our mother tester found it to be robust and durable, with a three-position base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
Alternatively you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has a stylish panel design that will look great in any nursery. It is designed to last until they are six years old. It transforms into a junior mattress, and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also one of the only cot beds we've tested with a draw, a hanging rail and teething rails, while its solid pine construction makes it an excellent option for parents who want their cot bed to stand the test of time.
Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of color options to fit your nursery decor. The storage drawer was particularly useful for clothing and bedding. Our mom testers were awed by the features. It's also the easiest cot beds to assemble. All the pieces are clearly labeled, and the instructions are simple to follow. It's also a great choice for those with a small space, as it can be folded and then flat-packed. It can be used with a standard cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from birth to toddlerhood, with an extension kit that permits it to be used until your child turns 10 years old. of age.
Convertibility
If you're a newly-wed, there are plenty of baby essentials to think about. One of the most important items to consider is a high-quality cot bed. You want it to last for as long as you can and evolve with your child, so they can have a safe place to sleep.
Some cots are designed to be more than a toddler bed. Our top choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Cot Bed, which transforms into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice that will last from birth to the age of.
It's not cheap when compared to other cot beds that we evaluated, but it offers an attractive look and feel that will suit any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed by how simple it was to build and set up but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This isn't a big issue but it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
This cot comes with four mattress base heights. This is an improvement over the three most common options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child grows, as they may need a higher or lower base level, based on their age and level. It also comes with teething rails as well as a plastic strip along the top to protect it from biting.
The cot is available in several different Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was especially attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not inexpensive however it offers an excellent value for money, as it will take your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It's also covered by an assurance of one year so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.