One Of The Most Untrue Advices We've Ever Heard About Best Cot Bed
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 purchases. We've put together this guide to help you choose the ideal bed for your baby.
A high-quality bed that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable option can grow with your baby, with three mattress positions, and the ability remove the sides to create a chic bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There's a cot to fit every nursery and budget. There are a variety of options that have different lifespans and some of them can be converted into toddler beds to be used into the preschool years or beyond. The ones that can be transformed into beds are more expensive, but they will last longer.
The Mamas & Papas Coxley won our overall prize. Its gorgeous design and easy to assemble make it a great option for those looking for a high-quality cot that will last for a long time. This model's minimalist design and warm finish will look great in an Scandi nursery. This cot bed comes with an adjustable drawer that mom tester Katrina thought was a better choice than some less expensive cots that 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. The cot bed isn't expensive, and requires an Allen key to set up.
A more budget-friendly alternative that will still provide your baby a comfortable night's rest is the Elementary cot from John Lewis' Anyday range. Our parent testers loved the simple design and easy assembly. Baby beds is compact when folded and can be tucked and easily tucked away into a bag that's about the size of the carry case of a camping chair. It's not ideal 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 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 are around four years old. Our dad tester liked that it could be transformed into a minimalist-looking toddler bed, and created a cocoon like feeling with its fabric canopy.
Safety
A good cot must not only meet strict UK safety standards, but it must also be sturdy and feel secure. Look for a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides, and a solid base so that your child is unable to get out. Some cots have additional features like teething rails or drawers under the bed that can aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby grows.
The Boori cot is constructed of sustainable Australian Araucaria wood and New Zealand Radiata, so you can be confident in the purchase. It can be converted to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open to provide peace of mind) and also has the option for an extension kit that can take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.
This elegant and simple cot is a great choice for those on a tight budget. It's easy to assemble and has clearly labeled components and clear instructions. It comes with three height settings for the mattress so that you can adjust it as your baby grows. It will fit most standard mattress cots and is a great value purchase for the money.
This is a fantastic option if you are looking for a high-end cot. It offers four mattress base positions when in cot mode and will last until your baby is around three years old. It can also be folded and has wheels that lock, making it a great option to move it from one room to the next.
The cot is extremely light at just 6kg, and comes with a handy bag to carry it around in. It's also extremely robust with a sturdy frame that will 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 challenging. The slats were set apart to keep fingers from getting trapped between them. It is also more expensive than other cots we have reviewed, however the quality and durability make it worth the investment.
Design
When buying a cot bed it's easy to get caught up in the specs and safety features, but don't forget the design. The cot you choose for your baby will be used for a long time therefore it's crucial to choose one that you love and is also practical and functional.
The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the perfect bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh design isn't as bulky that these types of cots can provide. It also offers storage space and features an extra drawer that slides under the cot, as well as teething rails that can be affixed to the side of the. It was strong and sturdy. The three-position height of the base allows it to grow with your baby.
The Modena cot-bed from Tutti Bambini is a great value and comes with a panelled design that will fit in with any nursery. It's designed to last until they reach six years old. old. It can be converted into a junior mattress and it transforms into a stylish sofa bed. It's also among the only a few cot beds that we tested with an apex drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.
The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option that has a panelled design. It comes in a variety of colors to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its unique features including the drawer for storage being particularly useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also one of the easiest cot beds for parents to assemble, with all the pieces being clearly labelled and with easy-to-follow instructions. 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. A kit for extension allows it to be used up to 10 years of age.
Convertibility
When you're a new parent, there are plenty of baby must-haves to consider. One of the most important things to consider is a high-quality cot bed. You want it to last for as long as you can and evolve with your child, so they can have a safe bed to sleep in.
Some cots are designed to be more than a bed for toddlers. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) and it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This is the longest-lasting option on our list, since it will last your child through the years from birth until childhood.
It's a bit pricey compared to some of the other cot beds we tested, but it has a premium look and feel that will suit any nursery. Our parent testers were really impressed with how easy it was to build and set up but they did say that the instructions could be more clear. This isn't a big issue however, since it was still a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another great feature of this cot is that it comes with four mattress base heights that are an improvement on the three most common options. This allows you to alter the height of the cot as your child grows. They may require a lower or higher base level based on their age and ability. It also comes with teething rails as well as a plastic strip that runs along the top to guard it from biting.
The grey finish was the most popular of our dad test-driver. It's not expensive but it's an excellent value for money, as it will take your child through to toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with a 1-year warranty to ensure that it will last. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the mattress.