Find out what our parent testers thought of the Tutti Bambini Milan Cot Bed.
Tested by mum Claire Dilliway for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
The wood of the Tutti Bambini Milan Cot Bed is a lovely colour and the quality of the wood is good. The design is fine, it's a little blocky for my taste as I prefer smoother lines. The drawer at the bottom is useful for storing bedding. The cot was relatively easy to set up, usual flat pack challenges but the instructions were clear and the fixings straight-forward.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
This is a difficult question to answer for a cot as we obviously already use one so no great change to comment on...
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
A chew-guard on the top of the side bars.
Tested by dad Tom Hillier for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow parent?
This is a lovely product. I love that it is so sturdy and strong. It has a very solid and long-lasting feel to it. It is heavy which makes it feel very stable. The surface of the Tutti Bambini Milan Cot Bed is smooth and child-friendly. It is versatile so can be used as a cot, a seat and a bed which is amazing. It does feel like a product that will stay with you in the nursery for years. I love the look of this bed, it looks really stylish and modern. It looks like a quality product. In fact, it makes the other items in the room look really cheap. An attractively-looking product, built to last, versatile, easy to wipe down, and a lovely addition to any nursery. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.
How does this product make your life easier as a dad?
There is a drawer included which is useful and completes the set. The material is baby friendly and nice and smooth. It is really versatile as you can have it from small baby right through to toddler. Our mattress fitted really nice and snuggly into the Tutti Bambini Milan Cot Bed. Adjustable height positions for the bed make it really flexible for all age groups. I also like it as a seat which I think is a nice feature. It really means you can keep it well past them outgrowing the size of the cot if you have the space.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
The drawer isn't deep enough. It is such a great way of storing extra bedding and other useful items that you need it to have a bigger capacity. A shame as the Tutti Bambini Milan Cot Bed is good apart from that. I thought there was a sticker under the drawer, but realised it was the coating of the bed peeling off. I haven't noticed it happen on other bits of the bed.
Tested by mum Lizzie Jackson for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
It's beautiful! I love this cotbed so much, it's absolutely amazing quality and looks so good in my son's bedroom. The bed was easy to assemble and so well-made, the drawer has a lovely mechanism.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
My son never used to sleep well, now he asks to go to bed and climbs the stairs to go to his bedroom. He used to scream and scream when I closed the door on him at night, now he sits and happily plays.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
If there was a way of making the teeth protector look a bit less like you've forgotten to take the plastic off, that would be good.
Tested by dad Pete Kilshaw for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow parent?
It's very well-designed and very easy to put together. It's very sturdy and really feels 'quality'. It's beautiful to look at and very, very comfortable. Also the fact that it turns into a bed and then a sofa means that we can use it for years to come, making it tremendous value.
How does this product make your life easier as a dad?
Whereas before bedtime was a bit of a stress, with my son reluctant to go to bed at all, now he can't wait to get into his cot. Honestly, it's amazing. It's big enough for him to have toys surrounding him and comfortable enough that he's getting the best night sleep he's had since he was born. Without wanting to sound hyperbolic, it's changed our lives.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
I wouldn't change a thing. The design is fantastic. It's very simple to follow the instructions and put it together.
Tested by mum Moira Jackson for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
Love the oak, it's great quality. The design is very stylish and would suit any nursery. As it can be used as a cot and a bed and a sofa it can last a long time - so definitely worth the money. Will also stand the test of time with baby number two and probably three as well. The finish on the wood is so smooth and I'd feel safe that my child wouldn't get any nicks from it.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
I wouldn't have to buy another bed for a while, so although it's initially quite a bit expense, over time it will work out to save money. I love the design so much that I wouldn’t want to update it. My friend I was testing it for also said that her baby had slept through since he had the bed, and she's had a nightmare up until this point.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
I genuinely can't think of a way this product could be improved. I didn't build the bed as I was just testing it for a friend but she ensured me that it was easy to build with clear instructions.
Tested by mum Catherine Cator for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
I'm really fussy about the furniture I buy for my children - I'm happy to spend the money but rarely find products that are worth it. This one is good value for the quality and looks stunning. I'd happily buy this cot for my daughter, and will definitely recommend it to friends
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
I love the drawer. When I was looking for cot beds, many didn't have great drawers and this has a wonderfully smooth opening mechanism with enough space to store blankets etc. It gives it a much cleaner look as well as nothing gets caught underneath. There's enough room for toys and my daughter loves to sleep with a plethora of animals.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
Is there a choice of colours? I love the reclaimed oak, but also like a choice when I'm buying. Can't really find fault with it though.
Tested by mum Lucy Partridge for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
Probably. My friend loves it and says her son plays in it all the time. It's well built and the quality is good.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
It's big so you can use it as a bed which means you don't have to buy another one when the children get older. My son enjoyed bouncing around in it when we went to test it. He'd probably enjoy the room it would give him
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
It's a bit too big for my son at the moment, and his nursery is small so I wouldn't fill it with this cot yet. It's also too pricy for me - I would look for a cheaper version when it comes to it.
Tested by mum Milli Thompson for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
The Tutti Bambini Milan cot bed is a good solid piece of furniture, reasonably easy to put together. I would recommend to friends who want a versatile piece of furniture, but am dubious about the quality as a bit is peeling off the drawer at the bottom. Also it is made to look like wood so is disappointing that it is not.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
I liked the storage at the bottom, very useful for storing bed clothes, although would prefer more space. I liked that it can be changed from cot to bed to bench so you feel you're getting your monies’ worth. Less shopping to do!
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
I would make the bed out of wood instead of plastic.
Tested by mum Amy Harris for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
It's obviously been designed well and it's useful because you can use it from birth to 6 years old. The wood is really smooth, I'd feel safe that babies would not get hurt on it. Good idea to have a teething guard as my kids love to bite at everything.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
Because you don't have to worry about replacing the cot for a while. It's good quality so it will last if you want to use it for other kids too. Apparently, it's quite easy to build which is good.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
I don't really like the design, it's not for me. It's a bit too plain and doesn’t look very cute in the nursery. I'd look for something prettier. When I bought a cot bed it was a lot cheaper than this and it's absolutely great so I don't know why you'd want to spend this much money on one.
Tested by mum Susan Ho for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
I used this Milan system as a bed which I think looks great. It was easy to build and feels solid and good quality. I don't like the design as a low cot but the day bed does look simple and cute. I found the under bed storage hard to pull out unless you were positioned in the middle. It is easier to use if you only put very lightweight items in it. I like the height of the bed but you do compromise storage space for it.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
It's a well made and designed product. I like the low height as it means I don't worry my toddler will hurt himself if he rolls out.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
I think the under bed storage needs to be easier to use.