9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important buys. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you find the perfect choice for your little one.

A high-quality bed that fits beautifully in nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. It's a sturdy and long-lasting option that grows with your child. It has three mattress height positions and the ability to remove 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 that have different lifespans some of which can be converted into toddler beds to be used into the preschool years or even beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner, with its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for those who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand the test of time. Our parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which would look amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. The Cot Bed (your input here) also has a handy drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was superior to less expensive cots with an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite strip of plastic along the top of the rails of the cot to prevent your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. This mini cot beds bed isn't cheap, and requires an Allen key for setting up.

The Elementary cot is a less expensive option that will provide your baby a peaceful night's rest. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. Our parent testers loved the simple design and infant cot bed simple assembly. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, since it can fit into bags similar to that used for the camping chair. It's not ideal for car camping however it's suitable for those living in apartments or who don't need to move their cot too much.

We suggest the SnuzKot as another cot for under $100, particularly when it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will expand with your child until they're around four years old, and our dad testers loved the fact that it can be converted into a minimalist toddler bed, and also created the feeling of a cocoon with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards but also feel solid and secure. Find a sturdy style with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation so that your baby is not able to move out. Some cots include extra features like teething rails or drawers under the bed that will aid you in staying organized as your baby develops.

Parent tester Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its traditional style will suit most 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 to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up to provide peace of mind) and has an option of an extension kit to take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This stylish but simple cot is a great option for those on a limited 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 Cot Bed grows. It can be used with standard mattress cots and is a great value purchase for the price.

If you're looking to buy a high-end cot, this is a good choice. It can be used as a cot, and comes with four mattress positions. It'll last until your child are about three years old. It can be folded flat and has lockable wheels, making it convenient to move it from room to room.

The cot comes with a handy travel bag, and is among the smallest cots that we test at 6kg. It's also extremely durable and has a sturdy frame that can withstand noisy toddlers. Our testers found it to be a bit tricky to put together, however the instructions were clear and well-written. They also noted that the slats were spaced 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

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

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the best cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh design does not have the bulky feel that these cots are known for. It also offers storage space and features a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be attached to the side of the. Our mum test subject found it to be sturdy and robust and has the ability to adjust the height of the base three times, which allows the bed to grow with your child.

The Modena cot-bed by Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with an elegant panel design that will suit any nursery. It's made to last 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 few cot beds we tested to have an opening, a hanging rail and teething rails. Additionally, its solid pine construction makes it a great option for parents who want their cot to stand the test of time.

Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which is available in several color options to fit the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer is useful for bedding and clothes. Our mom testers were impressed with its features. It's also among the most simple cot beds to build, with all pieces clearly labeled and easy to understand instructions. It is also an excellent alternative for those with little space since it can be flat-packed and then collapsed. It takes an ordinary cot mattress (140cm x 70cm) and is suitable from the time of birth until toddlerhood, with an extension kit that allows it to be used until your child is 10 years old.

Convertibility

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

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for toddlers. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) as well as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm), and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice and will last your child from birth to the time of their childhood.

It's expensive when compared to other cot beds we evaluated, but it offers an elegant appearance and feel that would be a perfect fit for any nursery. The instructions could have been more precise, but our parent testers were impressed by how easy it was them to build and put up. This is not a major issue however, since it was incredibly simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.

The cot comes with four different base heights for the mattress. This is an upgrade from the three most recommended cribs common options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child grows, since they may require a lower or higher base level depending on their age and level. It also comes with useful teething rails as well as a plastic strip that runs along the top to protect it from being bitten.

The grey finish was the favorite of our dad test-driver. It's not cheap but it's great value for money as it will see your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with one-year warranties which gives you peace of mind that it's durable and durable. The only thing you'll need to buy separately is the mattress.