Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed review: a traditional cot bed designed to last beyond babyhood

The Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed combines a traditional sleigh-style design with practical features like built-in storage and a cot-to-bed setup designed to last beyond the baby stage. Parent tester Izzy used it every night with her daughter over five weeks to see whether it worked just as well at 3am as it did in the nursery.

By Tammy Jacks | Last updated May 25, 2026

Our writers test and research products independently. When you buy through a link on our site we may earn a commission, but we’ll only ever publish an honest review. Find out more.

Mumsnet Badge Ickle Bubba Snowdon classic cot bed

Price on writing: £350 £330 | Buy now from Amazon

Our rating:

What we like
  • Solid, sturdy build

  • Converts into a toddler bed

  • Three adjustable mattress heights

  • Useful underbed storage drawer

  • Protective teething rails

  • Easy-to-follow assembly instructions

What we don't like
  • Takes up quite a lot of space

  • Heavy to move and assemble

  • Only available in white

Key specs

Dimensions: 91 x 76 x 154cm | Materials: New Zealand pine, MDF and LVL engineered wood | Age suitability: Birth to approximately 4 years | Mattress size required: 140 x 70cm (sold separately) | Adjustable heights: 3 mattress base positions | Extras: Underbed storage drawer, teething rails, toddler bed conversion

Our verdict

The Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is built to last well beyond the baby stage. With its traditional sleigh-style shape, built-in storage drawer and ability to convert from a cot into a toddler bed, this cot bed clearly aimed at parents who want something practical, sturdy and likely to survive more than one sleep regression.

Parent tester, Izzy used the cot every night for five weeks with her daughter from 3.5 months old and felt it struck a good balance between style and everyday practicality. She particularly liked the longevity, storage and solid feel of the cot, telling us, One of its biggest highlights is its longevity as it can be used from birth up to age four. The built-in storage is also a real bonus - it was great to be able to hide away a lot of the extra baby kit that we had lying about.”

Day to day, features like the three adjustable mattress heights, protective teething rails and underbed drawer all helped make it feel geared towards real family life rather than being all style and no substance.

One of the main things Izzy flagged, though, was the size. Because the cot bed is full-sized from birth, it takes up noticeably more room than a smaller bedside co-sleeper or standard crib. Izzy also highlighted the cot’s size as something parents should think about carefully before buying, particularly as The Lullaby Trust recommends babies sleep in the same room as parents for the first six months. She explains, “If you’re intending to use this cot from birth, it does take up more space than a traditional cot, so definitely check whether you can fit this in your bedroom before purchasing.”

Price is the other thing to consider. The Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is more of an investment purchase, especially at a time when your bank account already seems to be disappearing into nappies, wipes and tiny baby clothes. But Izzy felt the durability, storage and long-term usability helped justify the higher upfront cost if you have the space and budget for it.

What we tested
Performance
5
Quality & durability
5
Ease of use
5
Value for money
4
Safety & stability
5
Assembly
5
Comfort
5
Adjustability
5

Who is the Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed best for?

  • Parents looking for a cot bed that will last beyond the baby stage

  • Families who want extra nursery storage built into the cot

  • Parents who like a more traditional nursery style

  • Those with enough bedroom space for a full-sized cot bed from birth

  • Parents wanting adjustable mattress heights for easier newborn transfers

  • Families looking for a sturdy cot bed that can convert into a toddler bed later on

Top view angle of Ickle Bubba Snowdon cot bed

The Snowdon Classic Cot Bed has three mattress heights, making newborn lifts easier

How we tested the Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed

Izzy used the Snowdon Classic Cot Bed every night for five weeks with her daughter, who was 3.5 months old at the start of testing and 4.5 months old by the end.

During that time, the cot was properly put through its paces, including surviving the dreaded four-month sleep regression, which meant lots of overnight wakeups, pick-ups and transfers back into the cot. This gave Izzy a good sense of how practical, sturdy and comfortable the cot felt during real day-to-day family life, not just on the occasional night.

Once testing was complete, Izzy scored the Snowdon Classic Cot Bed across several key areas including performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, storage, adjustability and design. Overall, it received a score of 90/100, which equates to five stars. While value for money scored slightly lower because of the higher price point, the cot performed particularly strongly for build quality, comfort and adjustability.

What’s in the box?

  • Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed frame parts

  • Underbed storage drawer

  • Assembly instructions

  • Allen key for assembly

The cot arrives flat-packed in a large, heavy box, so Izzy recommends having two people available to move and assemble it safely. No additional tools were needed during setup.

How easy is it to assemble?

Izzy found the Snowdon Classic Cot Bed surprisingly straightforward to put together, particularly because the instructions were clearly laid out and all the parts were labelled properly, always a relief when flat-pack furniture is involved.

She says the whole process felt much easier with two people, mainly because some of the panels are quite large and awkward to hold in place while assembling. The cot arrives flat-packed in a heavy box, so it’s definitely not a one-person “I’ll just quickly build this while the baby naps” sort of job.

The included Allen key was the only tool needed for assembly, and once built, Izzy felt the cot was sturdy and solid overall.

One practical thing worth bearing in mind is the size. The cot measures H: 91cm x W: 76cm x D: 154cm and requires a 140 x 70cm mattress, which can be bought separately from Ickle Bubba.

How does the Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed look?

This is a traditional sleigh-style cot with a more classic nursery feel, rather than anything modern or minimal. It’s made from a mix of durable engineered wood (MDF and LVL) and solid New Zealand pine, finished with baby-safe paints, so it feels solid and well put together rather than lightweight or flimsy. Izzy liked that it “looks like good quality as soon as it’s built,” with the curved frame and panel detailing giving it a more timeless feel rather than anything too trend-led.

It’s only available in white, which keeps things simple and makes it easy to slot into most nursery colour schemes without having to overthink it. The matching underbed drawer also sits neatly underneath, which helps keep the overall look tidy and avoids the usual “baby clutter explosion” situation. It sits easily in a classic nursery without needing much effort to make it work visually.

Ickle Bubba Snowdon accessories

The Snowdon nursery range includes a three-drawer changing unit and a sleigh-style wardrobe

Does the Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed come with accessories?

Yes, the Snowdon range includes matching nursery furniture, such as the three-drawer changing unit and the Snowdon Sleigh Style Wardrobe, so you can build a coordinated look if you want the full set.

It’s worth noting these are part of the wider range rather than included with the cot bed itself, but they do help create a consistent nursery setup if you’re going for that matching furniture style.

Does the cot feel sturdy and safe for sleep?

Yes - this was one of the things Izzy felt most confident about during testing. She described the Snowdon Classic Cot Bed as feeling “very sturdy and excellent quality” once assembled, with the larger cot bed design helping it feel particularly stable and secure overnight.

Because it’s bigger than a traditional newborn crib or co-sleeper, Izzy initially worried that moving her daughter into a different sleep setup might disrupt her sleep. In reality, though, she says they “didn’t observe any difference,” and she felt reassured that her daughter was both safe and comfortable sleeping in it every night.

The open slatted sides also help with visibility and airflow, while the three adjustable mattress heights allow parents to lower the base gradually as babies become more mobile. Izzy also really liked the addition of the protective teething rails, even though her daughter hasn’t started teething yet. She explains, “This feature was something that we didn’t even know we would need, so it’s reassuring to know that these will protect her gums (and the cot!), when the time comes.”

For extra reassurance, Ickle Bubba states that all of its cots are manufactured, tested and approved in line with current British and European safety standards.

Is it adjustable?

Yes - adjustability is one of the Snowdon Classic Cot Bed's strongest features, particularly if you’re hoping to get several years of use out of one piece of nursery furniture. Izzy says, “The cot bed has three mattress heights which you can adjust as your baby grows. The highest level makes it easy for parents to lift their newborn out of the cot, and you can lower it as your baby grows and is able to sit and stand - this is a great feature of the bed.”

During testing, Izzy used both the highest and middle mattress settings with her daughter and found changing between them very straightforward. She explains, “It was very easy to adjust the height - just slot the base into the corresponding hole for the level you require.”

The adjustability doesn’t stop once the baby stage is over either. As Izzy points out, “When your child is old enough to be in a bed, you can remove the sides to convert the cot into your child’s first bed.” This cot-to-bed design is one of the main reasons the Snowdon can be used from birth up to around four years old.

The built-in underbed drawer also adds a bit of practical flexibility day to day. Izzy says, “We really liked having this additional storage and used it for our daughter’s bedding and toys.” While the Snowdon doesn’t have the extended longevity of models like the SnuzKot Skandi Cot Bed, which can be converted for use up to around 10 years old with an extension kit, it still offers plenty of long-term value thanks to its cot-to-toddler-bed design and lower price point.

Ickle Bubba Snowdon cot bed with mattress

Izzy tested the Ickle Bubba Fibre Cot Bed Mattress with the Snowdon Cot Bed and found her daughter settled comfortably from the start.

What type of mattress is suitable for this cot bed?

The Snowdon Classic Cot Bed requires a standard 140 x 70cm cot bed mattress, which can either be bought separately or bundled directly through Ickle Bubba.

Izzy tested the cot with Ickle Bubba’s Fibre Cot Mattress and felt it worked well day to day. She says, “We had the Fibre Cot Mattress from Ickle Bubba which is breathable, hypoallergenic and has a removable, washable cover - a feature that we found very handy.”

The mattress itself felt firm and supportive, while still seeming comfortable for overnight sleep and naps. Izzy also liked having the washable cover, particularly for the inevitable middle-of-the-night leaks and spit-up incidents that come with baby sleep.

How comfortable is it?

Izzy felt her daughter settled into the Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed comfortably from the start, even though it was larger than the cot she’d previously been sleeping in.

She says her daughter seemed happy and settled sleeping in the cot throughout testing, including during a fairly chaotic patch of four-month sleep regression wakeups and constant transfers back into bed overnight.

Izzy also liked that the Fibre Mattress felt breathable and supportive without feeling too hard, while the removable washable cover proved genuinely useful during everyday baby life. The cot itself feels roomy without being overly enclosed, and the open slatted sides help keep the sleep space feeling airy and comfortable.

ickle bubba snowdon cot bed in bed mode

The Snowdon Classic Cot Bed converts into a toddler bed by removing the slatted sides and replacing them with the lower bed panels included in the box.

How easily does it convert into a toddler bed?

Very easily. A big appeal of the Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is that it’s one less big baby item you’ll hopefully need to replace a few years later. Izzy found the conversion process “quick and straightforward” overall. She explains, “You remove the two railing sides and replace them with two bed side pieces.”

She did point out one practical thing to remember though, “You’ll need to store these somewhere until your child is old enough to use the cot bed which feels very simple in theory until every cupboard in your house somehow becomes full of baby things overnight!”

Once converted, the Snowdon becomes a low toddler bed suitable for children up to around four years old, helping extend its lifespan well beyond the newborn stage.

Is the Ickle Bubba Snowdon Classic Cot Bed good value for money?

Yes, considering its solid, sturdy build and long-term use, the value really comes from how long it lasts rather than the upfront price. At the heart of it is longevity, it’s designed to take your child from newborn through to around four years old, converting from a full cot into a toddler bed. Izzy says she definitely plans to keep using it right through until then, which is really where the value lies.

In terms of pricing, it does sit towards the higher end compared with other cot beds with similar features like adjustable heights, storage and removable sides. For comparison, Izzy previously used a smaller John Lewis Elementary Cot which felt more compact and simpler in design, with fewer height adjustments and no built-in storage. On the other hand, the Snowdon Classic Cot Bed is noticeably larger and more feature-heavy, which also explains the longer assembly time. While it’s definitely an investment upfront, the trade-off is a more long-term one.

About the author

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving - a parenting title focused on children’s health and development.

She has contributed to a wide range of lifestyle publications (including magazines, journals and newspapers) and has edited books for fitness influencers and health professionals. As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children’s development, wellbeing and safety. Over the years, she has reviewed countless toys and developmental aids, as well as essential baby products for everyday family life, from baby monitors and sleep aids to feeding equipment like highchairs and nursery must-haves, alongside baby travel gear such as baby carriers, child bike seats and lightweight strollers.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.