How to Choose the Best Cot Bed

The best cot bed is a must-have for any baby. This guide will help find the best crib newborn choice for your baby.

This premium option fits perfectly to be used in Scandi style nurseries. This sturdy and durable option will grow with your child, with three mattress positions and the ability to remove the sides to create a chic bench style toddler bed.

Budget

When you think of cots, there's something for every budget and every nursery. There are a myriad of options that provide various levels of longevity and some convert into toddler beds for use into the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, but they last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall award. Its stunning aesthetics and simple to assemble design make it a great option for parents looking for an excellent cot that will last a lifetime. Our parents appreciated the sleek design and warm oak finish of this model, which looks beautiful in a contemporary nursery. The cot bed also comes with a handy drawer, which mom tester Katrina thought was an improvement over cheaper cots that come with an integrated drawer, as well as a plastic strip that prevents bites on the top of the cot rails to guard your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. This cot bed is not inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key for setup.

A less expensive option that will still give your baby a comfy night's sleep is the cot that's Elementary from John Lewis' Anyday range. The simple design and easy assembly were praised by our parent testers. The cot is foldable into a compact size and stored because it fits in bags similar to that used for the camping chair. It's a bit light, meaning it may not be ideal for camping in the car but it should be fine for living in an apartment or for those who don't intend to move their cot for too long.

We recommend the SnuzKot as another cot for under $100, particularly if it comes with the toddler kit (sold separately) and mattress extender. It will grow with your baby until they reach around four years old. Our father tester liked that it could be converted into a minimalist toddler bed and create the feeling of a cocoon with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design that has safety bars or sides and a solid base that your child can't easily get out. Some cots include extra features such as teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib, which can help you keep things organised 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 will suit most homes and is made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you'll feel comfortable about your purchase. It can be converted from a cot to a toddler bed (leaving three sides up for peace of mind) and has an option to add an extension kit to take it all the way up to a double bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to put together with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It has three height settings for the mattress so that you can adjust it as your baby grows. It fits most standard cot mattress and is a great buy for the price.

If you're looking to buy a high-end cot, this is a good choice. It comes with four mattress base positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is around three years old. It folds flat and comes with locks on the wheels, making it extremely portable if you need to move it from room to room.

This cot comes with a handy travel bag and is among the smallest affordable cots we've tested at 6kg. It's also extremely durable, with an extremely sturdy frame that can withstand boisterous toddlers. Our testers found it to be a bit tricky to put together, but the instructions were clear and well-written. The slats were set apart to avoid fingers getting stuck between them. It's also more expensive than other affordable 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. Your baby's cot will be in use for a long time, so it's essential to find one you like as well as is practical and functional.

The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is the ideal bed for those who appreciate design, with its sleek modern version of the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feel that these beds often feature. It also doesn't skimp on space-saving storage and has an extra drawer that slides under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be attached to the side of the. 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 and comes in an elegant panel design that will suit any nursery. It's designed to last your child until they reach the age of six older. It transforms into a junior mattress, and then into an elegant sofa bed. It's also among the few cot beds we tested to have an opening as well as a hanging rail and teething rails. Its solid pine construction makes it a good choice for parents who want their cot to stand the test of time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with an elegant panel design. It comes in a variety of colors to complement your nursery's decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features including the storage drawer particularly useful for storing bedding and clothes. It's also the easiest cot beds to put together. The pieces are clearly labelled, and the directions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those who have limited space because it can be rolled up and collapsed. It is made of a standard cot-mattress (140cm by 70cm), and is suitable for children from birth through toddlerhood. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years of age.

Convertibility

There are many baby essentials that you should consider as the 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 secure place to sleep.

Although most cots 4 tots can be converted into toddler beds with the purchase of a conversion kit some cot beds are designed to go a step further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and sofa (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm). This makes it our top choice for durability that will last your child from birth to the time of their childhood.

It's expensive in comparison to other cot beds we evaluated, but it offers an attractive appearance and feel that would suit any nursery. Our parent testers were really amazed by how easy it was to build and set up however they did mention that the instructions could be more clear. This is not a major issue, however, as it was still very simple and took less than thirty minutes to complete.

Another unique feature of this cot is that it has four mattress heights for the base, which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This gives you the ability to adjust it as your child grows because they might require a higher or lower base level depending on their age and level. It includes teething rails which are helpful as well as a plastic strip on the top ranked cribs to keep it from becoming a bit.

The grey finish was the most popular of our dad test-driver. It's not inexpensive, but it does offer an excellent value for money, as it will take your child through to the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an assurance of one year so you can be confident that it will last. The only thing you'll have to buy separately is a mattress that's not included.