How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to think about, choosing the ideal cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. This guide will help you choose the right bed for your baby.

This top-quality option is perfect in Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable choice can expand with your baby with three mattress positions, and the ability to remove the sides to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots, there's something for every budget and every nursery. There are a myriad of options that have different lifespans and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used in the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, however they'll last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its elegant design and simple design, making it an excellent choice for those who want an extremely high-quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. Our parents loved the minimalist design and warm oak finish of this model, which will look amazing in a modern-style Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was an excellent alternative to cheaper cots which have a drawer built-in. It also has an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot to stop your child's teeth from getting stuck. However, at PS599 with a mattress sold separately this cot isn't cheap baby cots for sale and it requires an Allen key to get it up and running.

The cot for the Elementary is a more affordable option that will give your baby a peaceful night's sleep. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. The basic design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parents who tested it. The cot can be folded down and stored easily because it fits in bags similar to that used for a camping chair. It's not the best choice for car camping, but should be fine for apartment life or those who won't be moving their cot too much.

The SnuzKot is another good budget-friendly cot we recommend particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your child until around four years old, and our dad tester liked the fact that it can be converted into an unassuming toddler bed and created the feeling of a cocoon with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A good cot should not only meet the strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to get out. Some cot beds will also include extra features, such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib which can help organize your life while your little one is growing.

Parent tester Becki says her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and still looks amazing." Its traditional style will fit in with any home and is made from sustainable sources of Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about the purchase. It can be transformed from a cot beds for sale into a toddler bed by leaving three sides unlocked for security. There's also an extension kit that can transform it to a full-sized bed once your child's ready.

This simple, stylish cot is a great crib choice when you're on a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It has three height settings for the mattress so that you can adjust it as your baby grows. It can be used with standard crib mattresses and is a great value buy for the money.

If you're looking for a premium cot, this one is a great choice. It can be used as a cot and features four mattress positions. It'll last your baby until they are around 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 lightest cots we tested, weighing just 6kg. It's also extremely robust with an extremely sturdy frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, however our testers found the assembly to be a little difficult. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to prevent fingers from getting trapped between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other cots we looked at but it's well worth the cost for its durability and utility.

Design

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

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh design isn't as bulky that these cots are known for. It's packed with space-saving storage and storage options, including a drawer that fits underneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the side. Our mother tester found it to be robust and durable with the ability to adjust the height of the base three times, which allows the bed to grow with your child.

If you prefer alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money. It also has a smart panelled look that would suit any nursery. It's designed to last 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 among the only cot beds we've tested with draw, a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it an excellent option for parents who want their cot to endure the test of time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has a panelled design. It is available in a range of colors to match your nursery decor. The storage drawer is useful for bedding and clothing. Our mom testers were awed by its features. It's also among the easiest cot beds to put together, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and easy to understand instructions. It's also a great choice for those who have little space since it can be flat-packed and rolled down. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used up to 10 years of age.

Convertibility

There are many baby essentials you need to think about as the new parent. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed. You want something that will last for as long as you can and will change with your child, giving them a safe and secure place to sleep.

While most cots can be transformed into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go further than this. Our top pick is the Boori Eton Convertible Plus Cot Bed, which transforms into a toddler bed (L207cm x W147cm x H90cm), as well as a sofa and daybed (L234cm x W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability, as it will last from birth through the age of.

It's a bit pricey compared to some of the other cot beds we've test, but it comes with an attractive look and feel that will suit any nursery. The instructions could have been more precise, but our parent testers were impressed by the ease with which it was for to construct and set up. This isn't a big issue however, as it was incredibly simple and took just 30 minutes to complete.

This cot comes with four base heights for mattresses. This is an improvement over the three most popular options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child grows, since they may require an upper or lower base level, based on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails and a plastic strip on the top to guard it from being bitten.

The grey finish was the preferred of our dad test-driver. It's not cheap baby cots for sale however it offers an excellent value for money, as 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 have to buy an additional mattress, which is not included.