How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The most comfortable cot bed is a must-have for any baby. So we've put together this guide to help you locate the perfect bed for your little one.

A premium option that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nurseries. It's a durable and sturdy choice that can grow with your child. It has three mattress height positions and the ability to remove the sides 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 with different lifespans, some of which can be converted into toddler beds to be used throughout the preschool years or even beyond. Naturally, those that convert into beds do tend to be more expensive, but the investment can really pay off in the event that you need 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 gorgeous design and easy to assemble make it a great option for parents looking for a high-quality cot that will last for a long time. Our parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look stunning in a Scandi-style nursery. The cot bed also comes with a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina thought was superior to less expensive cots with an inbuilt drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites across the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. However, at over PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately this bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to start it up.

The cot for the Elementary is a less expensive option that can give your baby a peaceful night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. Our testers with parents loved the simple design and simple assembly. The cot can be folded into a compact size and stored because it fits in a bag the size of that used for a camping chair. It's on the lightweight side and therefore may not be suitable for camping in the car, but it should be fine for apartment living or for those who don't want to move their cot all the time.

We recommend the SnuzKot as another budget-friendly cot, especially when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they reach around four years old. Our dad tester loved that it could be converted into a minimalist toddler bed and create a cocoon like feeling by putting up a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is of good quality must not only meet strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design with sides or safety bars and an erect base to ensure that your child is unable to easily get out. Some cot beds will also include extra features such as teething rails and drawers under the bed, which can help you organize your home while your little one is growing.

Parent tester Becki says her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and still looks amazing." Its traditional style is suitable for all homes 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 to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to provide reassurance) and comes with an option of an extension kit that can take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.

This elegant and simple cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress height settings so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It will fit most standard crib mattresses and is a great purchase for the price.

This is a great choice If you're looking for an expensive cot. It can be used as a cot, and comes with four mattress positions. It can last your baby until they reach the age of three. It folds flat and comes with locking wheels, making it convenient to move it from room to room.

This cot comes with handy travel bag, and is among the lightest cots 4 tots we tested at 6kg. It's also very sturdy and has a strong frame that'll stand up to noisy toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, but our testers found the assembly to be a little challenging. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to keep fingers from getting trapped between them. It's also more expensive than other online cots we have reviewed, but the durability and functionality are worth the cost.

Design

It's easy to overlook the design when buying a cot-bed. It's important that you choose the cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

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 feel that these beds usually have. It's got plenty of storage space-saving features and storage options, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot and teething rails on the side. It was sturdy and durable. The three-position height of the base lets it expand with your baby.

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 be used until your child is six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed and later to a chic 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.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with a panelled design. It comes in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. The storage drawer was especially useful for clothing and bedding. Our mum testers were impressed by its features. It's also one of the most simple cot beds to put together, with all the pieces clearly labeled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It's also a great option for those who have a limited space, as it can be collapsed and flat-packed. It uses 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 old.

Convertibility

If you're a new parent there are a lot of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important is a quality cot bed. You need something that will last as long as possible and grow with your child, giving them a safe and secure place to sleep.

While most cots can be made to toddler beds through 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 can be converted into an infant bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm) and also a daybed and sofa (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it the longest-lasting selection on our list, because it will last your child through childhood to.

It's not cheap cot beds baby cots - simply click the next document, compared to some of the other cot beds we evaluated, but it offers a premium appearance and feel that would be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could be more simple, but our parents testers were impressed by how easy it was them to build and install. This is a minor fault however, since it was still a breeze and took just 30 minutes to complete.

The cot comes with four different base heights for mattresses. This is an improvement over the three standard options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child develops. They might require an upper or lower base level based on their age and abilities. It comes with teething rails that can be useful and a plastic strip at the top to keep it from getting bitten.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad's testers. It's not inexpensive, but it does offer excellent value for money since it will last your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It's also covered by one-year warranty, so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is a mattress which isn't included.