9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many essentials for babies to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important buys. This guide will help find the best crib for newborn choice for your baby.

This top-quality option is perfect in Scandi style nursery. It's a sturdy and long-lasting choice that can grow with your child, offering three mattress height options and the option of removing the sides for a sleek bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot that fits every nursery and budget. There are also different options with different lifespans and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used in the preschool years or even beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, however they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design making it a great choice for parents looking for an extremely high-quality crib that can stand the test of time. This model's minimalist design and warm finish will look great in an Scandi nursery. This cot bed also has a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina felt was an improvement over cheaper cots that come with an integrated drawer, as well as an anti-bite strip of plastic on the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. This cot bed isn't expensive, and requires an Allen key to set up.

A more budget-friendly alternative that will still provide your baby a comfy night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The basic design and easy assembly were praised by our parents who tested it. The cot is foldable down and stored easily since it can fit into bags similar to the one used to store the camping chair. It's a little lighter than the average cot and therefore may not be ideal for car camping but it's a good choice for living in an apartment or for those who don't plan to move their cot all the time.

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 reach around four years old. Our dad tester liked that it could be converted into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and created an atmosphere 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 robust design that has sides or safety bars and an erect base that your child can't easily climb out. Some cots include extra features like teething rails or drawers for under-bed storage which can aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby grows.

The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be sure of your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you security) 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 stylish and simple cot is a great choice when you're on a tight budget. It's simple to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It comes with 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 to buy a high-end cot, this is a good choice. It offers four mattress positions in cot mode and will last until your baby is about three years old. It folds up and has wheels that lock, making it a great option for moving it from one room to another.

This cot comes with a handy travel bag and is one of the smallest cots we've test at 6kg. It's also very sturdy and has a strong frame that'll stand up to the raging toddlers. Our testers found it a little difficult to put together, but the instructions were clear and well-written. They noted that the slats are spaced enough apart to prevent fingers from getting caught between them. It's also more expensive than the other cots and tots that we looked at, but it is worth the investment for its durability and functionality.

Design

It's easy to overlook the design when purchasing a cot-bed. It is essential to choose the cot bed that is both functional and beautiful.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is the best bed for those who love design with its sleek, modern design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these beds can often have. It's got plenty of storage space, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your cheap baby cots for sale.

If you prefer you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has a smart panelled look that will look great in any nursery. It is designed to last your child until they reach six years old. older. It can be converted into a junior mattress and transforms into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only a handful of cot beds that we have tested with the option of a drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with an elegant panel design. It comes in a variety of colours to match your nursery decor. Our mum testers loved its nifty features, with the drawer for storage being particularly useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also among the easiest cot beds to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and with easy-to-follow instructions. It's also a great option for those with limited space as it can be collapsed and then flat-packed. It can be used with a standard cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from the time of birth until toddlerhood, with an extension kit that permits it to be used until your child is 10 years of age.

Convertibility

There are a lot of baby essentials you need to think about as the new parent. One of the most important items to think about is a top-quality crib bed. You want it to last as long as you can and evolve with your child, ensuring they can have a safe bed to sleep in.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a toddler bed. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Cot Bed, which transforms into an infant 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, as it will last your child through from birth to childhood.

It's a bit more expensive than the other cot beds we tested, but its premium design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents testers were impressed by how easy it was them to build and put up. This isn't a big issue however, as it was incredibly simple and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

This cot has four different mattress base heights. This is an improvement over the three most popular options. This lets you adjust the cot as your child grows. They may require an upper or lower base level, based on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails which are helpful as well as a plastic strip on the top to prevent it from becoming a bit.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad test-driver. It's not inexpensive but it's an excellent value for money, as it will see your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with one-year warranty, so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.