Choosing the Best Travel Cot

Travel cots are transportable cots that are designed to be conveniently folded away into a carry bag to be taken with you. There are a couple of different types, both with their pros and cons.

Do I need a travel cot?

There are several advantages to having a travel cot. If you are a parent then it means that you are free to go wherever you want and your baby or toddler will always have somewhere comfortable and familiar to sleep. It is also convenient if you ever have visiting babies or toddlers at your home. Grandparents will often buy a travel cot instead as a regular cot, because they can be stored away when not needed.

The biggest downside of getting a travel cot is that not every family will get a lot of use out of one, and the amount of times it is needed may barely justify the cost. This, of course, is an issue with many products for babies and toddlers as things get outgrown quickly, but you can get better value for money by looking for models which serve more than one purpose. Larger travel cots can normally double as a playpen and some pop up versions can be used as a UV tent or a play tent.

Pop up travel cots versus traditional versions

There are two significantly different types of travel cot. Traditional travel cots are normally made from metal frames covered with fabric and mesh sides, and they can be used as a playpen as well as a sleeping area. They are usually suitable from birth and will last right through toddlerhood, giving you plenty of time to get your money's worth. The negatives of this sort of product are that they can take up space even when folded down and stored in the carry bag, and they are very heavy. If the primary purpose of the cot is to travel then large models may be impractical and you might struggle to get them on a plane, or even in the boot of small cars. They are best suited for use as occasional sleeping areas at home.

Pop up travel cots are lightweight and simpler to put up and down. They are compact so they are practical for taking on holiday with you, or taking with you when you visit friends and family. But they are typically smaller than traditional cots and may be suited to a more limited age range. Many pop up travel cots cannot be used once your child is mobile because the cot is small and light enough to be knocked over or moved around by them. However, if you want the convenience and practicality of a pop up model then there are some which buck the trend such as the NScessity Travel Centre. This is suitable for children up to 3 year old and gives factor 25+ protection from the sun.

Practical features to consider

It goes without saying that pop up travel cots are far easier to assemble (in most instances, you need to do little more than remove them from their bag), but there is variation in how simple traditional models are to put up too. Look for one with an easy fold mechanism and try to check customer reviews, which will normally give you some clue as to whether most people find them easy to put up and down. If you are not going to be using the cot regularly or if it is likely to be lent to family or friends for overnight stays then it can be beneficial to look for one with instructions printed on the cot, to give you peace of mind that your child will always be sleeping in a properly assembled cot, even if the manual has been mislaid.

Another point to look for with traditional travel cots is whether they have wheels. A couple of wheels will make the cot much easier to manoeuvre, especially when you consider that most products of this type weigh in excess of 10kg. For safety, the wheels should be lockable for secure static use.

Finally, it is a good idea to check how easy to clean a product is, even if the cot is not likely to get much use - messy accidents can happen! Look for wipe clean surfaces and cot sides and mattress covers which can be removed and machine washed.

Find out our best travel cot recommendations.