Best cot bed brands

After quizzing over 1,500 parents on cot beds, we're able to reveal which brands score top marks for customer satisfaction.

There's a good chance you're familiar with lots of the names included in our latest survey – John Lewis, Mamas & Papas and Silver Cross all make an appearance. But we've also uncovered a selection of lesser-known brands that parents have placed their trust in.

Keep scrolling to discover the best and worst cot bed brands, as voted for by parents with children aged up to 5 years. You'll also spot our expert advice on the cot bed features worth looking for.

Best and worst cot bed brands

A good cot bed can last from six months up to six years, by which time your child will be ready to move to a single bed. By checking in with the results of our cot bed survey, you can make sure you're buying from a brand that's impressed parents across the UK.

Our results table below summarises the results of our cot bed survey. Each brand is ranked by customer score, which highlights whether or not customers would recommend the brand.

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

As you can see from our table, our top cot bed brand boasts an impressive customer score of 81%. Over 250 parents said they had used or owned a cot bed from the brand, which sells pushchairs, car seats, feeding essentials and travel accessories.

Which cot beds are popular with parents?

As part of our latest cot bed survey, we quizzed parents on which cot beds they were using at home.

We've crunched the numbers and there's a clear winner. A hefty 25% of respondents told us they used a cot bed from the most popular brand.

As you can see, two cot bed brands race ahead of the pack in our survey comparing ownership rate.

Prices for the top brand's cot beds start at around £180 and rise beyond £600. One of its more popular cot beds has a woodgrain finish and comes with three cot base heights, suitable for children up to 'approximately four years'.

Not far behind our most popular brand was a rival that sells cots that have drawers included. Partner up with this brand and you can expect to spend anywhere between £40 and £160. In other words, it's worth considering if you're on a tight budget.

Cot bed features to look out for

When shopping for a new cot bed, pay attention to the features that matter the most. We've rounded up some important cot bed features below:

• Adjustable base height – this will let you experiment with the height of your cot as your baby grows.
• BS number – this will tell you whether ot not your new cot bed meets all-important Europran safety standards. Keep an eye out for a marking that reads 'BS EN 716-1:2008+A1:2013' – this shows the cot is a safe depth and the bars are the correct distance apart.
• Drop sides – a drop-side cot has three sides that stay in place and a fourth that raises and lowers. Lowering one side of the cot makes it easier to pick up your child, which will be a bonus for parents with back problems.
• Teething rail – available in a range of sizes, these fabric attachments will protect your little one's teeth if they decide to nibble on the edge of their cot.
• Additional storage – shop around for a cot with built-in storage compartments if you're limited on space.

To help you find the perfect cot bed for your little one, we've explained what separates different types of cot bed and how large they are. For more details, consult our in-depth guide on how to buy the best cot bed or cot.

Cot bed problems

If you've ever struggled to set up or use a cot bed, don't worry – you're definitely not alone. The results of our survey found that 4 in 10 parents have had problems with their cot beds.

Of those problems, the most common difficulty was changing from a cot to a bed, with 3 in 10 parents (30%) struggling. Other issues included damaged wood (27%), holes on the cot bed not lining up (23%) and missing parts (20%).

Another 20% of respondents told us their cot had a strong chemical smell.

To make sure your baby sleeps soundly, have a look at our expert guide on cot bed safety.