The right cot bed should fit your room, use the correct mattress size and provide a safe sleeping space from birth through the toddler years. A cot bed can normally be used from birth to around four years and often converts into a junior bed. The exact age range depends on the model and the child’s development, according to Which’s cot bed buying guidance.
A cot bed is different from a standard cot because its design allows the sleeping space to remain useful after the cot stage. However, the term does not guarantee the same number of conversion stages on every product. Some models become a toddler bed, some also become a sofa or junior bed, and some products sold by retailers are cots with drawers rather than convertible cot beds.
The comparison below uses models with published prices and product details. Prices and ratings were checked on 9 September 2026 and may change; mattress dimensions refer to the size stated for the product.
| Model | Price | Mattress | Storage or conversion | Other published details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lewis Tutti Bambini Casa 3-in-1 | £339 | 120 × 60 cm pocket-sprung mattress included | Toddler bed and sofa; three mattress positions | From birth; 5.0/5 from 2 reviews |
| Babymore Luno Cot Bed With Drawer | From £329 | £40 mattress add-on available on the product page | Under-bed drawer; toddler-bed models in the range | Oak finish |
| Obaby Maya Cot Bed | £340 | Separate 140 × 70 cm mattress required | Toddler-bed conversion; included safety rail | Three height positions; from birth to four years |
The table compares cot beds rather than treating every low-priced cot as an equivalent product. IKEA’s SNIGLAR, SMÅGÖRA and GONATT are included separately below because the IKEA results identify them as cots or cots with drawers, not as confirmed convertible cot beds.
A baby cot bed is designed to serve first as a cot and later, where the model allows it, as a toddler or junior bed. Its adjustable mattress base and removable or changeable sides can extend its useful life beyond the baby stage. When comparing models, focus on the sleeping stages, included equipment and mattress size rather than appearance alone.
For a newborn, the cot configuration is the relevant stage. As the child grows, the base can usually be lowered and the sides changed or removed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A toddler-bed conversion is not the same as a full-size adult bed, so a cot bed should not be confused with an adult-sized “cot bed” product.
Which? says a cot bed should meet BS EN 716 in cot configuration and BS 8509 in bed configuration. The gap between slats should be at least 2.5 cm and no more than 6.5 cm, while the distance from the top of the mattress to the top of the cot should be at least 50 cm.
A common cot-bed mattress size is 70 × 140 cm. Smaller cots commonly use 60 × 120 cm mattresses. The mattress must match the bed’s specified dimensions so that no hazardous gap is left around it. The size affects both the initial mattress purchase and the availability of replacement bedding.
The Casa is the documented mattress-bundle option in this comparison. It costs £339 and includes a 120 × 60 cm pocket-sprung mattress. The cot has three mattress positions and converts into a toddler bed and sofa. The John Lewis product page gives it an average customer rating of 5.0/5 from two reviews.
It is intended from birth, and its three configurations explain the “3 in 1” description. Its 120 × 60 cm mattress is smaller than the common 70 × 140 cm cot-bed format, so it belongs to a different size category from the Obaby Maya. This is important when planning future mattress or bedding purchases: a smaller cot is not automatically interchangeable with a full-size cot bed.
The Casa is the clearest choice in this comparison for someone searching specifically for a cot bed with mattress included. The purchase includes the pocket-sprung mattress rather than requiring the buyer to add one separately, although the product’s conversion stages still need to be followed as supplied.
The Obaby Maya costs £340 and is intended from birth to four years. It has three height positions, an included safety rail and a toddler-bed conversion. It requires a separate 140 × 70 cm mattress and is stated by Obaby to meet BS EN 716 and BS 8509. See the Obaby Maya product page for the stated specification.
The Maya suits buyers who want a full-size cot bed and prefer to select the mattress separately. Its frame price should be compared with complete mattress bundles rather than with furniture prices alone. Choosing the mattress separately also means checking that its dimensions correspond exactly with the cot bed’s 140 × 70 cm specification.
The Babymore Luno is the storage-focused model in the comparison. The oak cot bed with drawer costs from £329. The same product page lists a version without the drawer at £239 on sale and allows a mattress to be added for £40.
Babymore describes its cot beds as usable from birth to around four years, with adjustable base positions and models that convert to toddler beds. The Luno therefore suits a buyer who wants under-bed storage as part of the cot-bed purchase. Its drawer is useful for keeping folded clothes, sheets or blankets close to the cot without taking up another section of floor space.
The Luno also shows why a product described as a cot bed with drawer is not necessarily a cot bed with mattress included. The drawer version and mattress option are listed separately, so the total purchase has to be considered as furniture plus the chosen mattress.
Obaby lists the Grace Cot Bed – White at £144, reduced from £180. That makes it the lowest-priced verified cot bed in this comparison. Obaby’s cot-bed category starts at £144; its Evie Cot Bed – White is also reduced, from £250 to £200.
The Grace is therefore relevant to shoppers looking for a cot bed sale or a lower-cost cot bed frame. The published category information establishes the prices, but does not provide the same model-level mattress and conversion detail as the Maya page. It should consequently be assessed from its own product specification before purchase.
A drawer is useful when it solves a genuine storage problem and can be opened without obstructing the room. The Babymore Luno provides a cot-bed drawer, while the IKEA GONATT combines a drawer with a 70 × 140 cm cot.
Under-cot storage is particularly useful in a small nursery because it can hold bedding or clothes without adding a separate chest of drawers. Measure the space in front of the cot as well as the cot’s footprint: a drawer that cannot open fully will be less useful in daily life. The storage compartment should remain separate from the sleeping area.
The drawer does not replace the normal safety requirements. Keep the cot free from loose items, follow the assembly instructions and use a correctly fitted mattress. Storage beneath the bed is suitable for items such as folded clothes or bedding, not for loose objects inside the sleeping area.
IKEA’s UK range includes several low-cost cots and cots with drawers, but the listed products should not all be described as convertible cot beds. The published prices and customer ratings are:
| IKEA model | Type and size | Price | Customer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNIGLAR Cot | Cot, 60 × 120 cm | £59 | 4.4/5 from 671 reviews |
| GULLIVER Cot | Cot, 60 × 120 cm | £99 | 4.5/5 from 351 reviews |
| SMÅGÖRA Cot | Cot, 70 × 140 cm | £149 | 4.6/5 from 159 reviews |
| GONATT Cot with drawer | Cot with drawer, 70 × 140 cm | £279 | 4.2/5 from 90 reviews |
| MYLLRA Cot with drawer | Cot with drawer, 70 × 140 cm | £379 | 4.6/5 from 129 reviews |
The SNIGLAR is the cheapest IKEA option in the checked range, but it is a 60 × 120 cm cot rather than a confirmed cot that turns into a bed. The GONATT and MYLLRA add drawers, while SMÅGÖRA uses the larger 70 × 140 cm mattress size. This makes IKEA useful for shoppers comparing cots, storage and mattress sizes, but not a direct source of a confirmed IKEA convertible cot bed in this comparison.
NHS guidance recommends a firm, flat and waterproof mattress. It advises against pillows, cot bumpers, toys and loose bedding around babies. Babies should sleep on their backs in a cot in the same room as a parent for the first six months. Read the NHS safe-sleep guidance for the complete advice.
The mattress position matters as the child develops. Which? advises lowering the cot mattress base once the child can sit without support. If the child attempts to climb out, it is time to consider moving to the bed configuration rather than relying only on the advertised age range.
IKEA’s controlled cot-mattress range runs from £25 to £89. The PELLEPLUTT foam mattress measures 60 × 120 × 6 cm and costs £25, while the JÄTTETRÖTT pocket-sprung mattress measures 70 × 140 × 11 cm, costs £89 and has a 4.3/5 rating from 19 reviews.
Which? advises against buying a second-hand cot mattress. Its tests found that mattresses can lose more than 25% of their firmness after several years of use, making a new, correctly sized mattress the safer choice. This is especially relevant when buying a used cot bed: the frame may be reusable, but the mattress should be assessed separately.
The lowest-priced verified cot bed here is the Obaby Grace at £144 on sale. Babymore lists cot beds from £159 to £399, including the Caro Urban Cot Bed from £159 on sale. John Lewis lists cot beds from £199 to £399 in the checked results, including the Little Acorns Classic Cotbed at £199.
IKEA’s £59 SNIGLAR is cheaper, but it is listed as a cot rather than a full cot bed. Obaby and Babymore provide the lower verified cot-bed prices in this selection, while John Lewis offers a wider group of brands and price points. Compare like with like: cot bed with cot bed, mattress bundle with mattress bundle, and drawer model with drawer model.
For shoppers specifically looking for a cot bed with mattress and drawer, the Babymore Luno is the closest documented option here because it has the drawer and a mattress add-on. The Casa covers the mattress-included requirement but has no drawer listed in the product details. These are different buying priorities and should not be treated as the same bundle.
A cot bed is normally suitable from birth to around four years. Many models can then convert to a junior bed. Lower the mattress base once the child can sit without support, and consider bed mode if the child tries to climb out.
Obaby Grace is the lowest-priced verified cot bed here at £144 on sale. Babymore lists cot beds from £159, while John Lewis lists selected cot beds from £199. IKEA’s £59 SNIGLAR is a cheaper cot, not a confirmed cot bed.
Yes. Cot beds are designed to cover the baby and toddler stages, and many are specified from birth to around four years. Change to bed mode when the child attempts to climb out or when the cot no longer provides a safe barrier.
It can be worthwhile if you want one piece of furniture to serve as a cot and later a toddler bed. The value depends on the included equipment and the conversion stages. The Obaby Maya costs £340 and requires a separate 140 × 70 cm mattress, while the John Lewis Casa costs £339 and includes its 120 × 60 cm mattress. A cot bed with a drawer can also reduce the need for separate nursery storage, but only if the drawer fits the room and the mattress purchase is included in the budget.
