How to Choose the best rated cribs Cot Bed

The most comfortable cot bed is a must-have for any baby. We've created this guide to assist you in choosing the right cot for your baby.

A top-quality option that fits beautifully in Scandi-style nursery rooms. This sturdy and durable choice will grow with your child with three mattress positions and the ability to take the sides off to create a chic bench style toddler bed.

Budget

When you think of cots, there's a cot to fit every budget and every nursery. There are a myriad of options that provide various levels of longevity, with some converting into toddler beds to be used into the preschool years and beyond. The ones that can be turned into beds are more expensive, but they'll last longer.

The Mamas & Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its luxurious aesthetic and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for those who want a top quality cot that will stand up to the years. Our parent testers 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 mum tester Katrina found to be an improvement over cheaper cots that come with a built-in drawer, and an anti-bite plastic strip on the top of the cot rails to protect your child from getting their teeth stuck between the bars. This cot bed isn't inexpensive, and it requires an Allen key to set up.

The cot for the Elementary is a cheaper option that will give your baby a peaceful night's rest. It's part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. The simple design and easy assembly were highly praised by our parents who tested it. The cot can be folded down and stored easily as it fits into bags similar to the one used for the camping chair. It's a little on the lightweight side 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 around all the time.

The SnuzKot is an additional affordable cot that we suggest particularly if you decide to go with the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will expand with your child until about four years old, and our dad testers loved the fact that it can be converted into an unassuming toddler bed and created the feeling of a cocoon with its fabric canopy.

Safety

A cot that is safe and sturdy will not only meet UK safety standards but also feel solid and secure. Choose a sturdy design with safety bars or sides and solid foundations to ensure that your child is unable to easily climb out. Some cot beds will also include extra features like teething rails, under-bed drawers and even a crib, which can help you keep things organised while your little one is growing.

Parent tester Becki says that her Boori cot "has lasted through 3 children and still looks amazing." Its traditional design will fit in with any home 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 to a toddler bed (leaving three sides open for reassurance) and also has the option of an extension kit to take it all the way to a double bed when your child is ready.

This simple but stylish cot is an excellent choice for those on a tight 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 of your baby as he grows. It is compatible with most standard mattress cots and is a great value buy for the price.

If you're looking for a top cot, this one is a good choice. It can be used as a infant cot bed and has four mattress positions. It can last your baby until they are about three years old. It folds up and has wheels that lock, making it a great option to move it from one room to the next.

This cot is light at only 6kg and comes with a handy bag to carry it around in. It's also extremely durable and has an extremely sturdy 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 clear and well-written. The slats were spaced sufficiently apart to keep fingers from getting caught between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other cots that we looked at, but it is worth the price for its longevity and practicality.

Design

It's easy to overlook the style when buying a cot-bed. It's important that you choose a cot bed that is both practical and attractive.

The icklebubba Snowdon Classic Cot bed is the best bed for design-lovers. Its sleek, modern version of the classic sleigh design isn't as bulky that these types can have. It also doesn't skimp on storage space, and comes with an open drawer that can be placed under the sale cot, plus teething rails that can be connected to the side. Our mother tester found it to be solid and sturdy with the ability to adjust the height of the base three times, which allows the bed to expand with your child.

Alternatively you can choose the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money. It also has an elegant panel design that would suit 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 into a chic sofa bed. It's also among the only cot beds we tested that has draw with a hanging rail as well as teething rails. Additionally, its solid pine construction makes it a good option for parents who want their cot bed to last for a long time.

The Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed is another option with an elegant panel design. It is available in a variety of colours to complement your nursery's decor. Our mom testers loved its clever features, with the storage drawer being especially useful for storing bedding and clothing. It's also one of the easiest cot beds to build, Cot Beds with all pieces clearly labeled and easy to follow instructions. It's also a great option for those who have a limited space, as it can be folded down and then flat-packed. It uses 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 until 10 years of age.

Convertibility

If you're a new parent there are a myriad 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 secure and comfortable place to sleep.

Although most cots can be made 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 choice. It converts into a toddler (L207cm, W147cm H90cm), a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and a sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice and will last your child from birth until the time of their childhood.

It's expensive when compared to other cot beds we evaluated, but it offers an elegant look and feel that will suit any nursery. The instructions could have been more simple, but our parents test subjects were impressed with how easy it was for them to build and put up. This isn't a big issue but it was still very straightforward and took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Another unique feature of this cot is that it has four mattress base heights, which is an upgrade on the three most common options. This allows you to adjust it as your child grows as they may need a higher or lower base level depending on their age and ability. It comes with teething rails that are useful and a plastic strip at the top to prevent it from becoming a bit.

The grey finish was the favorite of our dad's testers. It's not cheap but it's a the best rated cribs value for money as it will last your child through the toddler years and beyond. It's also covered by a 1-year warranty to ensure that it will last. The only thing you'll need to buy an additional mattress, which isn't included.