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How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a must-have for any baby. We've put together this guide to help you choose the perfect choice for your little one.

This high-end option works perfectly it perfectly Scandi style nursery. This sturdy and durable option can expand with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability to take the sides off to create a chic bench style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots, there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There's also a variety of options with different levels of durability, with some converting into toddler beds to be used throughout the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be turned into a bed are more expensive, but they will last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner due to its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design, making it an excellent choice for those who want an excellent cot that will stand up to the test of time. The sleek design and warm-toned finish is perfect for an Scandi nursery. The cot bed also has a drawer, which mum tester Katrina found to be superior to less expensive cots with an inbuilt drawer, and a plastic strip that prevents bites on the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth stuck in the bars. However, at PS599 with a mattress that is sold separately this bed isn't cheap, and it does require an Allen key to get it up and running.

A less expensive option that still gives your baby a comfortable night's rest is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. The simple design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parent testers. The cot is foldable down and stored easily as it fits into a bag the size of that used for the camping chair. It's light which means it might not be suitable for camping in the car but it's a good choice for apartment living or for those who don't want to move their cot all the time.

The SnuzKot is another good affordable cot sale that we suggest, especially if you choose to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your baby cot online until they reach around four years old. Our dad tester loved that it could be transformed into a minimalist-looking toddler bed and create the feeling of a cocoon by putting up a fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but also be sturdy and comfortable to the touch. Look for a sturdy design with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation, so that your baby is not able to get out. Some cot beds have additional features like teething rails and under-bed drawers, which can help you organize your life as your baby is growing.

Parent test participant Becki says her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and is still beautiful." Its traditional design is suitable for all homes and it's made from sustainably-sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about the purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for reassurance) and has an option of an extension kit that takes it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This stylish but simple cot is a great choice for those with a tight budget. It's easy to set up and comes with clearly labeled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings, so you can adjust the height of your baby cot online as he grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattresses and is an excellent purchase for the price.

This is a great choice when you're in search of a high-end cot. It has an impressive four mattress base positions in the cot position and will last until your baby is three years old. It folds flat and has locks on the wheels, making it extremely portable if you need to move it from room to room.

This cot is light at just 6kg, and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It's also extremely durable and has a sturdy frame that will withstand boisterous toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, however our testers found the assembly to be a little difficult. The slats were placed far enough apart to avoid fingers getting caught between them. It is also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed, however the quality and durability make it a worthwhile investment.

Design

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

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the ideal bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh design does not have the bulky feel that these types of cots can provide. It also doesn't skimp on storage space, and comes with a pull-out drawer that fits under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be affixed to the side of the. Our mother test subject found it to be sturdy and robust, with the ability to adjust the height of the base three times, which allows the bed to grow with your child.

The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with an elegant panel design that will be suitable for any nursery. It's made to last until your child reaches six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed, and later to a chic sofa bed. It's also one of the cot beds that we've tested with an opening as well as a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a good option for parents who want their cot bed to last for a long time.

Another option with a smart 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 was especially useful for bedding and clothing. Our mom testers were awed by its features. It is also one of the easiest cot bed to assemble. The pieces are clearly labelled, and the directions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those with a small space as it can be collapsed and cheap cots then flat-packed. It's a standard cot mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies through toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used until 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are a lot of baby essentials that you must consider when a new parent. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed. You want something that will last for as long as it can and will change with your child to provide them a secure and comfortable place to sleep.

While most cots can be made to toddler beds through the purchase of a conversion kit, certain cots are designed to go beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted into an infant (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, 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, but its premium look and feel will fit in any nursery. The instructions could have been more precise, but our parent test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for to construct and set up. This is a minor flaw, though, considering it was still a simple task and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another great aspect of this cot is that it comes with four mattress heights for the base which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This allows you to adjust it as your child grows since they may require a lower or higher base level depending on their age and abilities. It also comes with teething rails as well as a plastic strip that runs along the top to shield it from biting.

This cot is available in a variety of Scandi-inspired colors and our dad tester was particularly keen on the grey finish. It is not cheap but it's a the best value for money as it will last your child until they reach toddlerhood and beyond. It's also covered by an assurance of one year so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll have to buy an additional mattress, which isn't included.