How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a must-have for every baby. We've put together this guide to help you find the perfect bed for your little one.

This high-end option works perfectly to be used in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable option can grow with your baby with three mattress positions and the ability to take the sides off 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 also different options that have 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 do tend to be more expensive but the extra cost can be well-repaid when you're looking for a cot that will last for a long time instead of just for a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for those who want an excellent cot that will stand the test of time. This model's minimalist design and warm-toned finish will look great in a Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was more suitable than cheaper cots with a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately the bed isn't cheap, and it requires an Allen key to make it functional.

A more budget-friendly option that still gives your baby a good night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The easy design and simple assembly were well-loved by our parent testers. The cot is small when folded and can be stored and easily tucked away into a bag that's about the size of a camp chair's carry case. It's not the best choice for camping in the car, but should be fine for people living in apartments or who won't be moving their cot a lot.

The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot that we recommend particularly if you decide to opt for the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It can grow with your child until about four years old, and our dad testers loved the fact it converted to a minimalist toddler bed and gave an ambiance of cocoons by incorporating a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design that includes safety bars or sides and solid foundations to ensure that your child is unable to easily climb out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails and drawers under the bed which can help organize your home while your baby is growing.

Parent tester Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and still looks amazing." Its traditional design will suit most homes and it's made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about your purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for security) and has an option for an extension kit that takes it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.

This stylish but simple cot is a great crib option for those on a limited budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three height settings for the mattress so that you can alter the height as your baby grows. It can be used with standard mattress cots and is a great value buy for the money.

This is an excellent choice if you are looking for an expensive cot. It has an impressive four mattress base positions when in the cot position and will last until your baby cots on sale is three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it portable for moving it from one room to another.

The cot is extremely light at only 6kg and comes with a handy bag to carry it around in. It's also extremely sturdy and has a strong frame that can handle the raging toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly to be a little challenging. They were impressed by the fact that the slats are sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, but the durability and function make it worth the investment.

Design

When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to get caught up in the spec and safety features, but don't neglect the style. It's important that you choose a cot bed that is both functional and beautiful.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the perfect cot bed for design lovers with its sleek contemporary design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these types of beds usually come with. It has plenty of storage space-saving features such as an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot, as well as teething rails on the side. Our mom tested it and found it to be sturdy and robust, with a three-position base height that allows the bed to expand 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 be used until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed, and later into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only a few cot beds that we tested with a drawer, 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. Our mom testers loved its clever features, with the storage drawer being especially useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also among the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great choice for those who have a limited space, since 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. An extension kit permits it to be used until 10 years old.

Convertibility

If you're a new parent there are a myriad of baby must-haves to consider. One of the most important items to think about is a top-quality cot bed. You want it to last for as long as possible and evolve with your child so they can have a safe place to sleep.

Although most cots can be converted into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cots 4 tots are made to go beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted to an infant cot bed (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting choice on our list, since it is designed to last through childhood to.

It's a bit pricey when compared to other cot beds we've evaluated, but it offers an elegant appearance and feel that would be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents testers were impressed by the ease with which it was for to construct and set up. This is not a major issue, however, as it was still a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot has four different base heights for the mattress. This is an improvement over the three standard options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They may need an upper or lower base level depending on their age and capabilities. It comes with teething rails that are useful and a plastic strip on the top to stop it from being bit.

The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors, and our dad tester was particularly keen on the grey finish. It's not cheap baby cots for Sale however it offers excellent value for money since it will take your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. Additionally, it comes with one-year warranties which gives you assurance that it will be sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.