BabyDan Travel Cot Review

If you are looking for a standard travel cot then making a choice about which is the best model can be daunting. Many baby travel cots look virtually indistinguishable which can raise the question about whether pricier versions really are superior, and whether any have features that set them apart from the rest. The BabyDan travel cot is a consistent bestseller, but why are so many people choosing their travel cot over their competitor's products?

What are the product specifications?

The BabyDan travel cot is a deluxe and spacious model which is easy simple to put up and down, and can be used as a playpen as well as a bed. Full retail price is around £65, making it one of the more expensive products of this type.

Is the BabyDan travel cot easy to use?

Many people do not want their travel cot erected at all times, so ease of assembly is paramount. The BabyDan is particularly easy to put up - simply lift the sides and listen for the click so that you are sure that the sides are secured. Including securing the mattress, the entire process should only take a couple of minutes. As with most products, dismantling and storage takes a little longer but the process is not difficult and your speed will improve with practise.

Is the BabyDan portable?

A good travel cot, naturally, has to be suitable for travel! You will need a reasonable sized boot for transporting the BabyDan, but this is true of all travel cots of this type. When carrying it, the addition of the two wheels is very handy as the product is fairly heavy and the wheels also make it easy to move around the home without needing to dismantle the cot first.

Is the cot comfortable enough for my baby?

As well as practicality for the parents, another important consideration is your baby or toddler's comfort and the overall quality of this product is high. The padded bumpers are especially good for adventurous older babies and toddlers as they are less likely to hurt themselves. The mesh sides are also baby friendly and allow the child to see out , which is particularly reassuring when the product is being used as a playpen and they want the comfort of knowing a parent or carer is close by.

The mattress in the BabyDan travel cot is padded but appears quite basic. However, it should be emphasised that 'basic mattress' is a criticism that can be applied to almost all travel cots. It would be unnecessary and uneconomical to include a more substantial mattress with a product which is designed to be portable and which may not get prolonged use. If the cot is going to be used regularly (for afternoon naps for instance) then it may be worth investing in a better quality mattress though.

Why should I buy the BabyDan travel cot?

With so many travel cots being generic is design, why would you opt for the BabyDan travel cot over its cheaper rivals? It is spacious and versatile, being suited to both use as a cot and a playpen, but the same could be said of other models. What sets it apart though - and what makes it a bestseller - is the high standard of finish and how safe, sturdy and secure the end product feels. As one customer comments, " it is more expensive than others on the market, but after borrowing a friend's cheaper versions, this BabyDan is worth the extra money".

What customers say...

Here are some of the comments people have made about the BabyDan travel cot on Amazon. The majority of customers have rated this product as 5 stars.

"Really happy with this travel cot. I bought it as my 16 month old is already too tall to sleep in the standard sized travel cot we bought for her from Mothercare when she was born. This cot is easy to transport, simple to put up and take down and is really sturdy. Most importantly though it's much longer than a standard sized cot and will be perfect for my daughter until she's ready to sleep in a bed when we travel. I bought an additional mattress for it, which makes it a very comfortable bed."

"Assembly is really easy, my non-practical wife had it up in minutes and it folds away neatly with a four part cantilever base that wraps around the collapsed cot to hold it neatly in place in its carry bag. The base is sturdy enough to double as a playpen when necessary and the cot will take a standard cot mattress from Ikea (£19.99 - £99). It looks stylish and the colour is not gender specific so it should last a few babies yet."