9 . What Your Parents Teach You About Best Cot Bed

How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to consider, the best cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. This guide has been created to help find the best infant cribs choice for your baby.

This top-quality option is perfect to be used in Scandi style nursery. It's a sturdy and durable option that will grow with your child. It has three mattress height positions and the option of removing the sides for a sleek bench-style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are also a range of options that offer different levels of durability, with some converting into toddler beds that can be used throughout the preschool years and beyond. Of course, the ones that convert into beds tend to be more expensive, but the investment can really pay off when you're looking for a cot that lasts for years rather than just a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design, making it an excellent choice for parents looking for a top quality crib that can stand the years. The sleek design and warm finish will look great in a Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina thought was a better choice than some cheaper cots which have a drawer built in. It also comes with an anti-bite strip that runs along the top rails of the cot to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. But at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately the bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to start it up.

A more budget-friendly option that will still give your baby a comfortable night's rest is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our testers with parents were impressed by the simplicity of the design and simple assembly. The cot is foldable down and stored easily because it fits in bags that are similar to that used for a camping chair. It's a bit lighter than the average cot, meaning it may not be ideal for camping in the car however it's suitable for living in an apartment or for those who don't plan to move their cot around all the time.

The SnuzKot is another good affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until they're approximately four years old and our dad tester liked the fact that it was able to transform into a minimal-looking toddler bed and gave an ambiance of cocoons with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is of good quality is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and secure. Find a sturdy design that has safety bars or sides and solid foundations that your child can't easily climb out. Some cots include extra features like teething rails or under-bed storage drawers that can aid you in staying organized as your baby grows.

The Boori cot is made of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can feel confident about your purchase. It can be converted from a cot into a toddler bed by leaving three sides open to ensure safety. There is an extension kit available which can convert it to a larger bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a good choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress height settings, so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It can be used with standard crib mattresses and is a great purchase for the price.

This is a fantastic option If you're looking for an expensive cot. It can be used as a cot, and comes with four mattress positions. It will last until your child reach the age of three. It also folds flat and has lockable wheels, making it extremely portable if you need to move it from room to room.

The cot comes with a convenient travel bag and is one of the lightest cots to tots we test at 6kg. It's also extremely durable, with a strong frame that'll stand up to boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well-written and clear, however our testers found the assembly to be a little difficult. They also noted that the slats were spaced far enough apart to prevent fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other online cots we looked at, but it is worth the investment for its durability and functionality.

Design

When purchasing a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the specs and safety features, but don't neglect the style. The crib of your baby will be in use for a long period of time, therefore it's crucial to choose one that you love and is also functional and practical.

The classic ickle bubba Bed is the best crib cot bed for design lovers with its sleek contemporary take on a traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these beds often have. It's got plenty of space-saving storage such as the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the sides. It was sturdy and robust. The three-position height of the base lets it grow with your baby.

The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value for money and comes in a panelled design that can fit in with any nursery. It's made to be used until your child is six years old, converting first into a junior bed, and then 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 good choice for parents who want their cot bed to last for a long time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has an elegant panel design. It comes in a variety of colours to match the decor of your nursery. The storage drawer was particularly useful for bedding and clothes. Our mom testers were impressed with the features. It is also one of the easiest cot bed to put together. All the pieces are clearly labeled, and the instructions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those who have limited space as it can be rolled up and then collapsed. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth through toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used until 10 years of age.

Convertibility

If you're a new parent there are a myriad of essential items for babies to consider. One of the most important is a quality cot bed - you want something that will last as long as possible and grow with your child to provide them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.

Some cots are designed to be more than just a bed for toddlers. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted to an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, H70cm). This makes it our most durable pick that will last from birth until the time of their childhood.

It's more expensive than some of the other cot beds we tested however its superior design and feel will look great in any nursery. The instructions could be more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with how easy it was them to build and install. This is not a major issue however, since it was incredibly simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.

Another unique feature of this cot is that it comes with four mattress heights for the base that are an improvement on the three most popular options. This allows you to adjust it as your child grows, since they may require an upper or lower base level based on their age and abilities. It also comes with useful teething rails and a plastic strip along the top to shield it from biting.

The cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes and our dad tester was especially attracted by the grey-colored finish. It's not cheap but it's a an excellent value, because it will last your child until they reach the age of toddler and beyond. It's also covered by a 1-year warranty so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll need to purchase separately is a mattress which isn't included.