A cot bed will be one of the bulkiest and probably most expensive pieces of baby equipment you will ever need to purchase before your little one arrives. With prices ranging from £70 for a basic cot up to £1,000 for a luxury model, there is a huge range of cot beds to choose from. Whilst money doesn’t always buy the best overall product, generally speaking, paying more will buy you a sturdier and better quality cot bed with more features. We particularly love the Boori nursery furniture range, a specialist manufacturer of cot beds and nursery furniture, known for its timeless style and quality craftsmanship. The company was founded in Australia in 1993 and its mission is to produce the highest quality furniture that will last well beyond babyhood, through to early childhood, and in some cases, well into adulthood.

Boori

Since its founding, Boori has become a leader in its field with the Boori Country Collection and Boori Urban Collection brands selling worldwide. Not surprisingly the Boori Country Collection is available at John Lewis, our well loved high street department store, well known for its quality and style.

We are particularly impressed with the Boori Sleigh Royale cot which is a truly beautiful piece of nursery furniture made from the finest Araucaria timber, sourced from professionally managed sustainable plantations in Queensland Australia. As well as a premium choice of timber, Boori uses exceptional craftsmanship techniques to create its quality pieces, such as dovetail joinery rather than the cheaper glue and staple option. Hi tech polyurethanes are used to create a richer, glossier and longer lasting finish and make the sides easy to clean.  The brilliant white paint and fine engraved detailing with elegant trims creates a perfectly stylish and classic look. So whilst this cot does come with a price tag, we believe that the quality, durability and product features you receive are worth it.

Key features

The cot is suitable from birth and has a replaceable “T-Rail” allows you to easily convert the cotbed into a toddler bed as your child grows (up to approximately 4 years of age), and then finally into a stylish and comfortable sofa or day bed. No additional components are required to convert. The cot is a very generous size (external dimensions H157 x W86 x D101cm) and as a sofa, the base of the Sleigh Royale will easily take the weight of 2 adults.

Boori Sleigh Royale cot has a unique “Safe-Track” drop side which complies with British Safety standards, and 2 base heights for the mattress, which makes it easy to access your child and minimise back strain.

The integrated drawer in the base of the Boori Sleigh Royale cot is a great storage solution.

The Boori Sleigh Royale Cot also comes with a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty.

A mattress will need to be purchased separately (L132 x W77cm) and should not be deeper than 12cm. The John Lewis Spring Large Cotbed Mattress is ideal.

Whilst a specialist Boori delivery team will come and deliver your cot and place in a room of your choice, the cot will require self assembly. Boori do offer an optional assembly service; for an additional £60, a representative will assemble all your Boori items, irrespective of how many furniture pieces you have purchased (although must be in the same order). We don’t feel the Boori Sleigh Royale is too challenging to assemble as the ends are fairly simple to construct and there is not an onerous number of pieces to get your head round.

Top tips when buying a cot

We have put together some key guidelines when buying a cot bed. The most important considerations should be tailored to your own budget.

1. Safety – this should always be paramount for your child. An important safety feature is that of a height adjustable base (see below). Also many cot beds have drop sides that are used when the cot bed is in its cot mode – make sure this meets British safety standards.

2. Price – tailor according to your budget, but typically a paying more will buy you a sturdier and better quality cot bed with more features.

3. Ease of conversion – this is important as you don’t want to encounter problems 2 years after purchase. Also consider whether additional components are required to convert.

4. Ease of assembly – some cot beds can be challenging to assemble, particularly when they come with lots of pieces for the headboard and footboard. Pre assembled ends are much easier to handle. Always consider how complicated the assembly is before purchasing, or alternatively whether an assembly service is offered.

5. Durability – hardwood cots are ultimately the most durable, particularly if you want your cot bed to be used for several children. We would advise against softwood as it is very easy to over tighten the bolts in softwood which will pull the holes and wood out of shape and ultimately weaken the frame.

6. Ease of using height-adjustable base – the base height of most cot beds can be adjusted as your baby grows. Most cot beds have three different heights available. Once your baby is old enough to sit up unaided – usually around 8 months old – make sure you use the lowest height setting. With a choice of several heights you can adjust the bed to suit your child, however old they are. The second height setting is usually used for the bed mode.

7. Size – most cot beds are a similar size, circa 146cm long and 77cm deep. There is usually more variation in cot height, but most are between 90cm and 105cm. Convertible cots are usually a bit bigger so they can be adjusted as your baby grows. Choose your size depending on your needs and whether you aim to use your cot as a sofa in the long run.

Buy Boori Sleigh Royale Cot/Cotbed, White – John Lewis