9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best cot for newborn Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a essential item for any baby. This guide will help you choose the right bed for your baby.

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

Budget

There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options that provide different amounts of longevity and some convert into toddler beds for use into the preschool years and beyond. Of course, the ones that convert into beds do tend to be more expensive but the extra investment could be worth it if you want an item that lasts for many years, not just a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its gorgeous aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it an ideal choice for those looking for an upscale sale cot that can last a lifetime. Our testers for parents loved the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which looks amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer that mum tester Katrina found to be a better option than some cheaper cots that have an integrated drawer, as well as an anti-bite strip of plastic along the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. The cot bed isn't expensive, and requires an Allen key to set up.

A more affordable option that still gives your baby a good night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parents were impressed by the simplicity of the design and easy assembly. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, as it fits into a bag the size of the one used for a camping chair. It's not ideal for camping in the car, but should be fine for apartment life or those who don't need to move their cot a lot.

The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot we recommend, especially if you choose to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they're around four years old, and our dad tester liked the fact that it was able to transform into a minimal-looking toddler bed, and also created a cocoon-like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy will not only meet UK safety standards, but will also feel sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy design that has safety bars or sides and solid foundations to ensure that your child is unable to easily get out. Some cot beds come with extra features, such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib that can help you keep things organised as your baby is growing.

Parent test subject Becki says her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and still looks amazing." Its classic design will suit most 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 for security. There is an extension kit available that can transform it to a full-sized bed once your child's ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great option for those on a limited budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress options which allows you to adjust the height as your baby grows. It will fit most standard cot mattresses and is a great buy for the money.

If you're looking to buy a high-end cot, this is a great choice. It comes with four mattress positions in the cot position and will last until your child is about three years old. It can be folded flat and has locking wheels, making it very mobile if you have to move it from room to room.

This cot comes with handy travel bag, and is among the lightest cots we tested at 6kg. It is also very durable and has strong frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. Our testers found it to be a little difficult to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. They noted that the slats are spaced far enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other cots we reviewed, but it is worth the cost for its longevity and practicality.

Design

It's easy to overlook the style when buying a cot-bed. Your baby's cot will be in use for a long time, so it's important to find one that you love and is also practical and functional.

The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the best cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh design does not have the bulky feel that these types of cots can provide. It has plenty of space-saving storage and storage options, including the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the sides. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your child.

Alternatively you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and comes with an elegant panel design that would suit any nursery. It's made to last until they reach the age of six older. It transforms into a junior mattress and it transforms into a stylish sofa bed. It's also one of the only cot beds we've tested with an opening with a hanging rail as well as teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a great option for parents who want their cot to endure the test of time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that comes with a panelled design. It is available in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers loved its nifty features including the storage drawer particularly useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also among the easiest cot beds for parents to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great choice for those who have limited space as it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used up to 10 years of age.

Convertibility

There are a lot of baby essentials you need to think about as you become a new parent. But one of the most important is a quality mini cot beds bed. You want something that will last for as long as you 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 toddler bed. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) as well as it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it our most durable pick, as it will last your child from birth to the time of their childhood.

It's more expensive than the other cot-beds we tested however, its high-end design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could have been more clear, but our parent testers were impressed by the ease with which it was for them to build and install. This isn't a big issue, though, considering it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another impressive feature of this cot is that it has four mattress base heights, which is an upgrade on the three most common 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 ability. It also comes with useful teething rails and a strip on the top to protect it from being bitten.

The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was especially keen on the grey finish. It is not cheap but it's a the best value for money as it will last your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with one-year warranty, so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll have to buy separately is a mattress, that's not included.