9 best cot beds for babies and toddlers that offer a long-term sleep solution

While The Lullaby Trust recommends your little one sleeps in your room for the first six months of life, those six months will fly by, and it won’t be long until you’re thinking about making your next big baby purchase – a cot or cot bed.

For many parents, a cot bed is the smarter and preferred choice over a standard cot – the key difference being longevity. A cot will typically last you until your child is around two years old (or until they start to show signs of wanting to launch themselves over the bars). Cot beds, on the other hand, are designed to transform into a toddler bed when your child is ready to move into their first bed.

Those cot beds that come without expansion packs or add-ons will typically last another couple of years, until your child is around four. In some cases, expansion packs can be purchased separately to ensure the bed lasts even longer, sometimes to the ages of 8 or 10.

Some will come with extra features, too, including drawers that slide underneath the base for storage, hanging rails for towels and clothes, and baby-safe teething rails to stop your little one chomping down on the wood. In some cases, you can also purchase a baby changing station base to place on the top of the cot, which makes an excellent space saver.

Much of your decision will rest on budget, the features you want from a cot bed, and how much space you have at home but, thankfully, there are a plethora of designs to choose from. We can’t promise your nights will always be peaceful, but we’ve rounded up the best cot beds for a safe and comfortable snooze.

How we tested the best cot beds

Our testers reviewed dozens of cot beds, focusing on key features such as quality, durability, functionality, longevity, design, and how