How to Choose the best baby cots Cot Bed

With so many baby must-haves to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important items to purchase. So we've put together this guide to help you choose the ideal bed for your baby.

This premium option fits perfectly to be used in Scandi style nurseries. 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 stylish bench style toddler bed.

Budget

When it comes to cots there's something to suit every budget and every nursery. There are also a range of options that offer different levels of durability, with some converting into toddler beds that can be used throughout the age of preschool and beyond. The ones that can be converted into beds are more expensive, however they'll last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great option for parents who want an excellent best crib for newborn that can stand the years. The sleek design and warm color is perfect for a Scandi nursery. The cot bed also comes with a handy drawer, which mum tester Katrina thought was superior to cheaper cots that have an inbuilt drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip along the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth caught in the bars. The cot bed isn't inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key to set up.

The Elementary cot is a less expensive option that will give your baby a peaceful night's rest. It's part of the Anyday collection by John Lewis. The simple design and easy assembly were highly praised by our testers' parents. The cot is foldable up and stored easily, as it fits into a bag the size of the one used for a camping chair. It's a bit light, meaning it may not be suitable for camping in the car but it's a good cribs choice to live in apartments or for those who don't intend to move their cot all the time.

The SnuzKot is another good affordable cot that we suggest, especially if you choose to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until they reach four years old. Our father tester liked the possibility of converting it into a minimalist toddler bed, and also create a cocoon like feeling with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is well-designed will not only be in compliance with UK safety standards, but also feel sturdy and secure. Choose a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides and a solid foundation, so that your child is unable to get out. Some cot beds come with extra features like teething rails and under-bed drawers that can help you organize your home as your baby is growing.

Parent test participant Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and is still beautiful." Its classic 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 peace of mind) and comes with an option to add an extension kit that can take 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 is easy to assemble with clearly marked parts and clear instructions. It has three mattress height settings so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It can be used with standard mattress cots and is a great buy for the money.

This is an excellent choice if you are looking for an extremely high-end cot. It offers four mattress positions in cot mode, and will last until your child is around three years old. It folds up and has wheels that lock, making it portable to move it from one room to another.

This cot is light at only 6kg and comes with a convenient bag for travel. It is also very robust and has strong frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. Our testers found it a little challenging to put together, however the instructions were well-written and clear. The slats were set apart to avoid fingers getting caught between them. It's also a bit more expensive than the other cots we looked at however, it's worth the price for its longevity and practicality.

Design

When buying a cot bed it's easy to be engrossed in the specifications and safety features, but don't forget the design. It's important that you choose a cot that is both practical and attractive.

The icklebubba Classic Cot bed is the ideal cot for design lovers. Its sleek, modern take on the classic sleigh design doesn't have that bulky feeling that these cots are known for. It has plenty of storage space, including an under-bed drawer that can be tucked away beneath the cot as well as rails for teething on the sides. Our mum tester found it to be solid and sturdy, with a three-position base height that allows the bed to grow with your child.

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. older. It can be converted into a junior mattress and then into an elegant sofa bed. It is also one of only a handful of cots that we have tested with an apex drawer and a rail for teething and a hanging rail.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with an elegant panel design. It is available in a variety of colours to match your nursery decor. Our mom testers were impressed by its nifty features including the storage drawer being especially useful to store bedding and clothes. It's also the easiest cot bed to put together. The components are clearly labelled, and the directions are easy to follow. It's also a great choice for those with limited space as it can be folded down and flat-packed. It's a standard cot sets mattress (140cm by 70cm) and is suitable for children from birth to toddlerhood. An extension kit permits it to be used up to 10 years of age.

Convertibility

If you're a newly-wed, there are plenty of baby essentials to think about. But one of the most important is a quality cot bed - you want something that will last as long as possible and grow with your child to provide them a safe and secure place to sleep.

While most cots can be made into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go beyond this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top choice. It can be converted 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 makes it our most durable choice that will last your child from birth to childhood.

It's expensive when compared to other cot beds we tested, but it has a premium design and feel that will fit in with any nursery. Our parents were impressed with how easy it was to set up and build however they did mention that the instructions could be more clear. This isn't a major issue but 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 base heights that are an improvement on the three most common options. This allows you to adjust the cot as your child grows. They may need a lower or higher base level depending on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails that are useful and a plastic strip at the top ranked cribs to prevent it from becoming a bit.

This cot comes in a variety of Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was particularly keen on the grey finish. It's not expensive but it's great value for money as it will see your child through the age of toddler and beyond. It also comes with an assurance of one year so you can be sure it will last. The only thing you'll have to purchase separately is a mattress, which is not included.