9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the best cots for newborns Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. So we've put together this guide to help you locate the perfect choice for your baby.

A premium option that fits beautifully in nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. This sturdy and durable choice can grow with your baby with three mattress positions, and the ability to take the sides off to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There's also a variety of options that provide different amounts of longevity and even convert into toddler beds to be used into the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, however they will last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its luxurious aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it an ideal choice for those looking for a high-quality cot that will last a lifetime. The sleek design and warm-toned finish will look great in a Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina believed was an excellent alternative to cheaper cots which have an integrated drawer. It also has an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot, to prevent your child's teeth from getting stuck. But at PS599 with a mattress sold separately, this cot isn't cheap cots and it requires an Allen key to start it up.

A less expensive option that will still give your baby a good night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parents loved the simple design and quick, straightforward assembly. The cot is compact when folded and can be stored away easily too, fitting into a bag that's the size of a camp chair's carry case. It's a little light and therefore may not be suitable for car camping however it's suitable for living in an apartment or for those who don't want to move their cot sets too much.

We recommend the SnuzKot for another budget-friendly cot, especially when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they are around four years old. Our dad tester loved that it could be transformed into a modern-looking toddler bed and create an atmosphere of cocoons with its canopy made of fabric.

Safety

A good cot is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Choose a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your child is unable to climb out. Some cots come with extra features, such as teething rails or under-bed storage drawers which can aid you in staying organized as your baby grows.

Parent test subject Becki says her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and is still stunning." Its classic design is suitable for all homes and it's made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you can feel good about the purchase. It can be transformed from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure security. There's also an extension kit available which can convert it to a larger bed when your child is ready.

This elegant and simple cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's simple to put together and has clearly labeled components and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings, so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It is compatible with most standard crib mattresses and is a good purchase for the money.

If you're looking for a top cot, this one is a great choice. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It can keep your baby safe until they reach the age of three. It folds flat and comes with lockable wheels, making it portable if you need to move it from room to room.

The cot comes with a handy travel bag and is one of the smallest cots we've tested, weighing just 6kg. It's also extremely durable, with a strong frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly a little challenging. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to keep fingers from getting stuck between them. It is also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the durability and functionality make it a worthwhile investment.

Design

It's easy to overlook the style when you are buying a cot bed. It's crucial to select a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

The classic ickle bubba Bed is the ideal bed for those who love design with its sleek, modern version of the traditional sleigh design that does not have the bulky look that these beds usually feature. It's got plenty of space-saving storage and storage options, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot and teething rails on the side. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base lets it expand with your baby.

Alternately alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has an elegant panel design that will look great in any nursery. It's designed to be used until your child is six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed, and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of only a few cot beds that we have tested with the option of a drawer as well as a teething rail and a hanging rail.

Another option that has a stylish panel design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, that is available in a variety of color options to fit the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers loved its unique features and the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothes. It is also one of the most simple cot beds to assemble. All the pieces are clearly labelled, and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those with a small space, since it can be collapsed and then flat-packed. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years of age.

Convertibility

There are a lot of baby essentials that you must consider when you become a new parent. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed - you want something that lasts for as long as it can and grow with your child, giving them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for children. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and the daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability, as it will last your child from birth to childhood.

It's not cheap when compared to other cot beds that we evaluated, but it offers an elegant look and feel that will fit in with any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed with how easy it was to set up and best Crib Newborn build however they did mention 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.

The cot comes with four different mattress base heights. This is an upgrade over the three standard options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child gets older, because they might require an upper or lower base level based on their age and level. It includes teething rails that are useful and a plastic strip on the top to stop it from being bit.

The cot is available in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was keen on the grey finish. It's not inexpensive however it offers an excellent value for money, as it will last your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an one-year guarantee and gives you peace of mind that it will be sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.