How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed is an absolute must-have for every baby. This guide will assist you in choosing the right cot for your baby.

A premium option that is perfect for Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable option can grow with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability to take the sides off to create a stylish bench style toddler bed.

Budget

There's a cot that fits every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of options with different amounts of longevity and even convert into toddler beds for use throughout the preschool years and beyond. Of course, the ones that convert into a bed tend to be more expensive but the extra investment can really pay off in the event that you need a cot that lasts for many years, not just a few months.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its luxurious design and easy to assemble make it an ideal choice for those looking for an upscale cot that can last a lifetime. Mini Cot Bed and warm color is perfect for a Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with a drawer that mum tester Katrina thought was an excellent alternative to cheaper cots which have an integrated drawer. It also comes with an anti-bite strip along the top rails of the cot to prevent your child's teeth from getting caught. This cot bed is not cheap, and requires an Allen key to set up.

The cot for the Elementary is a less expensive option that will give your baby a good night's rest. It's part of the Anyday range by John Lewis. Our parent testers liked the simple design and quick, straightforward assembly. The cot is compact when folded and can be tucked easily, fitting into a bag that's about the size of the carry case of a camping chair. It's not the best choice for car camping but it's perfect for those living in apartments or who don't need to move their cot around too often.

We recommend the SnuzKot as an alternative to a cot that is budget-friendly, particularly when it comes with a toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they are around four years old. Our dad tester loved the possibility of converting it into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and created a cocoon like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only meet UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design with safety bars or sides, and a solid foundation so that your baby cannot easily get out. Some cots include extra features such as teething rails, or drawers for under-bed storage that can aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby grows.

Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and still looks amazing." Its traditional design will suit most homes and it's made from sustainably-sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, which means you can feel confident about the purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to give you security) and comes with an option for an extension kit to take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great option if you're on a budget. It's simple to put together, with clearly labelled parts and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress settings which allows you to adjust the height as your baby grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattress and is a great buy for the price.

If you're looking for a top cot, this one is a great option. It offers four mattress positions in the cot position and will last until your baby is about three years old. It also folds flat and comes with locking wheels, making it convenient to move it from room to room.

The cot is extremely lightweight at just 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It's also extremely durable and has a sturdy frame that can handle noisy toddlers. Our test subjects found it a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were placed far enough apart to keep fingers from getting trapped between them. It's also more expensive than other cots that we have reviewed but the durability and functionality make it a worthwhile investment.

Design

When you are buying a cot bed, it's easy to get caught up in the specifications and safety features, but don't neglect the design. Your baby's cot will be used for a long time, so it's important to find one you like and is also practical and functional.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the best cot bed for design lovers, with its sleek modern design that is a modern take on the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these types of beds often feature. It's packed with storage space-saving features such as an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot and teething rails on the sides. Our mother tester found it sturdy and robust with three positions of base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.

Alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money and has a smart panelled look that will look great in any nursery. It's made to last until they are six years old. It converts into a junior mattress and it transforms into a stylish sofa bed. It is also one of only a handful of cots that we tested with an apex drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with an elegant panel design. It is available in a variety of colors to complement your nursery's decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its unique features including the storage drawer particularly useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also the easiest cot bed to put together. The pieces are clearly labeled and the instructions are simple to follow. It's also a great option for those with a small space, as it can be folded down and then flat-packed. It uses a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for babies to toddlerhood. An extension kit allows it to be used until 10 years old.

Convertibility

There are a lot of baby essentials that you should consider as you become a new parent. One of the most important things to consider is a high-quality crib bed. You want it to last for as long as you can and evolve with your child so that they have a safe place to sleep.

While the majority of cots can be transformed into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit, certain cots are designed to go beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It can be converted to a toddler (L207cm, W147cm, H90cm) as well as it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, because it is designed to last through the years from birth until childhood.

It's a bit pricey when compared to other cot beds we evaluated, but it offers an elegant design and feel that will suit any nursery. Our parents who tested it were impressed by how simple it was to build and set up however they did mention that the instructions could be clearer. 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 standard options. This allows you to adjust the cot as your child develops. They may require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and abilities. It also comes with useful teething rails as well as a plastic strip that runs along the top to shield it from being bitten.

This cot comes in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was especially keen on the grey finish. It's not inexpensive but it's excellent value for money since it will take your child through to toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with a one-year warranty which gives you confidence that it will be sturdy and durable. The only thing you'll need to purchase an additional mattress, which isn't included.