How to Choose the Best Cot Bed
With so many baby must-haves to consider, the best cot bed is among the most important purchases. So we've put together this guide to help you find the ideal bed for your baby.
A high-quality bed that is perfect for nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. This sturdy and durable choice can expand with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.
Budget
When you think of 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 to be used throughout the age of preschool or beyond. Naturally, those that convert into a bed tend to be more expensive, but the investment can really pay off when you're looking for a cot that will last for many years, not just a few months.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its stunning aesthetics and easy-to assemble design makes it a fantastic choice for parents looking for a high-quality cot that will last for a lifetime. Our parent testers appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina considered to be a better choice than some cheaper cots with a drawer built in. It also has an anti-bite strip along 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.
cots 4 tots for the Elementary is a cheaper option that will give your baby a good night's rest. It's part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. Our parents loved the simple design and simple assembly. The cot is foldable into a compact size and stored as it fits into bags similar to the one used for the 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 too much.
The SnuzKot is a good affordable cot that we suggest, especially if you choose to opt for the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they reach around four years old. Our father tester liked that it could be converted into a minimalist toddler bed, and also create the feeling of a cocoon with its canopy made of fabric.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid base so that your baby is not able to get out. Some cots include extra features such as teething rails and under-bed drawers that can help you organize your life while your little one is growing.
Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and still looks amazing." Its traditional design will fit in with any home and is made of sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you can feel good about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for security. There is also an extension kit available that will take it up to a full-sized bed once your child's ready.
This stylish but simple cot is an excellent choice for those on a tight budget. It's simple to put together and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. cots and tots comes with three mattress options that allow you to alter the height of your baby as he grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattress and is a great purchase for the price.
This is an excellent choice if you are looking for an expensive cot. It comes with four mattress positions in the cot position and will last until your baby is three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it portable for moving it from one room to the next.
The cot is extremely lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a great bag for travel. It's also extremely durable, with a strong frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly a little difficult. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught between them. It's also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, but the quality and durability are worth the cost.
Design
When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to be engrossed in the specifications and safety features, but don't neglect the style. cots 4 tots that you choose a cot that is both functional and beautiful.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its modern, sleek take on the classic sleigh design does not have the bulky feel that these types of cots can provide. It has plenty of storage space-saving features and storage options, including a drawer that fits underneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. Our mom test subject found it sturdy and robust with three positions of base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.
The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that can be suitable for any nursery. It's made to last until they reach the age of six older. It converts into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also among the cot beds that we've tested with an opening as well as a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a good option for parents who want their cot to endure the test of time.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with a panelled design. It is available in a range of colors to match the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features and the storage drawer being especially useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also one of the easiest cot beds for parents to assemble, with all the pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great alternative for those with little space since it can be folded flat and rolled down. 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 allows it to be used until your child turns 10 years old. older.
Convertibility
There are a lot of baby essentials that you must consider when a new parent. One of the most important things to think about is a top-quality cot bed. You want it to last for as long as you can and evolve with your child so that they have a safe place to sleep.
Although most cots can be transformed into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit some cot beds are designed to go further than this. Our preferred choice is the Boori Eton Convertible Bed, which transforms into a toddler bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and also a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm x H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, since it is designed to last through childhood to.
It's more expensive than the other cot beds we tested, but its premium look and feel will fit in any nursery. Our parents who tested it were amazed by how easy it was to put together and construct but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This is not a major issue however, since it was still very simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.
Another impressive aspect of this cot is the fact that it has four mattress base heights which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child grows, as they may need a higher or lower base level based on their age and abilities. It includes teething rails that can be useful and a plastic strip at the top to prevent it from becoming a bit.
The grey finish was the preferred of our dad's testers. It's not cheap however it offers excellent value for money since it will see your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an assurance of one year so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.