Choosing a Real Wood Cot Bed
A real wood crib is an investment for your baby A good quality piece should last until your child starts school (insert crying emoticon here). The Scandi-style bed comes with three mattress positions, and can be converted into a toddler's bed with the appropriate extension kit.
Our panel took about an hour to put together and the sides are low enough to make washing a breeze. Our testers loved this sleek traditional design.
Material
A solid wood cot bed is a timeless piece furniture for children that will be loved for many years to come. It will also be able to stand up to the bumps and bruises that are inevitable in family life. Choosing the right one is difficult because of the numerous options and styles available.
The most durable wood cot beds are constructed from sturdy robust materials like mahogany or pine. To guard them from water damage, they must be painted, sanded, or stained with child-safe paint. The mattress should be placed comfortably, and marked with the name of the manufacturer and the size. The safety of your child is of the utmost importance, so be sure that the cot you choose is in line with the most recent British and European safety standards. It should also be approved by a respected international laboratory.
If you're looking for an old-fashioned sleigh style or something more contemporary There's an cot bed that is perfect for your taste and budget. Silver Cross Nostalgia offers premium quality, functional and a timeless design. It is designed to last up until your child is old enough to move into an actual bed. A kit is available that permits it to be converted into a junior-sized bed.
The Mamas & Papas Franklin cot-bed is a different alternative. It offers many extra features to keep your baby comfy and content. It has a useful drawer underneath to keep nappies and blankets as well as teething rails. It also has an adjustable base height with three positions. It's also easy to put together and lasts for a long time - it can be converted into a toddler bed with the purchase of an extension kit.
If you're on a strict budget, there is also the Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed that is available in off-white or stylish green and is priced at PS372. It can be used with an ordinary mattress for a cot and comes with an adjustable height base that allows you to lower it as your baby grows. It can also be used from birth until age four and the bars can be removed for the toddler bed.
Design
A cot made of real wood is an investment that can last for years and provide a safe space for your child to grow and sleep. They are durable and adaptable and can be adapted to meet your child's evolving needs with a variety of mattress heights. They are also a stylish option for any nursery, fitting into the furniture.
Before you buy a wooden cot bed, it's important to consider the style and decor you want to create. solid wood cotbed are more modern, while others have a more traditional design. Some are made from solid wood, while others are made from composite materials such as MDF. Solid-wood cot beds are more expensive, however they are sturdier and more durable than MDF models.
The most durable wooden cots will last for a long time, and some can even be transformed into a toddler bed. Stokke Home Bed is a great example. It can be converted from a crib into an adult bed, and then an elegant couch. The Stokke Home Bed is available with additional accessories like an outdoor tent that allows your child to play and a changing table for a convenient diaper station.
Another excellent alternative is another option is Mamas & Papas Sleigh Cot, which is built from FSC pine and finished in neutral white or soft beige. It's a great choice for a neutral-themed nursery and it's easy to put together - our panel took just an hour to get it up and running. The cot doesn't have a mattress included, so you'll need to buy one separately.
If you're looking for a budget-friendly cot that doesn't compromise on quality, you'll be able to choose the Elementary cot bed from John Lewis' Anyday range. It's simple to put together and comes with three mattress heights, so it can be used by your infant from birth until four years old. It is also designed to last the test of time and has an extremely sturdy structure.
For a top-quality purchase that will last from newborn to toddler, look into the Little Interiors 1950s inspired cot from Danish brand Done by Deer. It's an original piece that can be made into a toddler bed with a low-level or even a playhouse with the removal of the bars on the cot. It was simple to put together and our testers liked its sturdy and solid feel.
Safety
As parents, you want your baby to be secure throughout the day, particularly when asleep. A cot that is safe and secure will ensure your baby is well-rested and comfortable. It should also be free from dangers, such as entrapment or suffocation. When you are searching for the perfect cot, be sure to look for these safety features:
Make sure that the cot is solid and sturdy, with no gaps between the bars. Make sure that the bars don't exceed 95 millimetres apart. The larger gaps can trap your baby's arms or head. Make sure that the cot has enough depth to keep your child from climbing out.
It should be placed away from power and heaters points, since they can cause overheating. Make sure the cot is free of soft toys, stuffed animals and other objects that could cause your baby to become suffocated. It is also important to keep your cot away form blinds and curtains that have cords. They could be a strangulation hazard for your child.
Experts in the field test and certify that most new cots, cot beds and cribs are safe. However, there are some issues that arise when a product goes on the market, so it's important to be wary of second-hand or heirloom beds that are older than what is recommended. Cots manufactured prior to 1973 may be painted with toxic lead paint, and old stickers on the sides could peel off and cause a choking hazard for babies. If you're considering purchasing a second-hand crib, make sure the mattress is new and meets British safety standards BS EN716.
If you're looking for a multifunctional cot that will take you through your toddler years and beyond, this model from Stokke is worth having a look. It is stylish, durable and solid with three different height levels that will grow with your child, before it can be converted into a bed. Our MFM test subjects said that the instructions were "clear and simple to follow". It doesn't come with the mattress, but it can be adapted to an existing 120cm x 60cm mattress. A teething rail kit, and storage drawers can be purchased to complement the crib.
Eco-friendly
Solid wood is an environmentally-friendly choice for cot beds because it's a strong and durable material. You'll find furniture that lasts for a long period of time and can endure the scrapes and bumps that come with everyday family life. Solid wood cots are usually constructed by hand, so you can be sure that you're getting an item of top quality that is carefully crafted.
Solid-wood cots are also notable for their capacity to be transformed into other furniture for the nursery. This is particularly true of the Boori Evolution furniture range, which can be transformed into a toddler's bed or even a sofa bed so that your child will have it until he is seven or six years old. This is an excellent option to save money, and you won't need to buy a brand new crib for your child once they outgrow their cot.
The Mamas & Papas Franklin solid-wood cot bed is among our top picks. It has a lot of features that make it a good option for any baby. It has teething rails, a drawer, and two different mattress height settings. It's also extremely simple to put together and our test subjects found it to be the most simple of all of the cot beds that we tested.
Scandi Classic Cot Bed by Ickle Bubba is another solid-wood cot that's perfect for any nursery. It's a stunning piece with rounded corners that look great in any room. It's suitable for infants to three-year-olds. It can be used as a cot toddler bed, or a junior bed and it can be customized with a variety of accessories to fit your preferences.
Of course when it comes to cot beds, safety is the top priority and all cots have to comply with the strict UK safety standards. You can find details of the safety standards that a specific cot has to follow by reviewing the key specs on the website of the manufacturer. Consult your physician to help you decide which type of cot is best for your child.