Travel cots serve as portable and secure sleeping spaces designed for babies and toddlers when they’re away from home. They are lightweight, featuring collapsible sides and can be folded into a compact form with a carry handle, making them ideal for vacations, getaways, and overnight stays.
We’ve conducted a thorough analysis of the travel cot market and subjected various models to rigorous testing to identify the most suitable options for your family. Whether you require a safe choice for a newborn or a spacious cot for an older toddler, you’ll discover it here.
Additionally, some travel cots can double as playpens for babies. However, if you specifically seek a playpen, we recommend exploring our curated selection of the best playpens for babies and toddlers. For bedding ideas that prioritize comfort, explore our list, which has been vetted by real parents and their children. Also, if you’re planning to travel to warm destinations with your little ones, consider checking out our assortment of the top pram fans.
Why do I need a travel cot?
One of the primary advantages of travel cots lies in their portability. Traditional cots, often crafted from wood, present a significant challenge when it comes to disassembly and transportation, especially fitting them into a car or suitcase. In contrast, disassembling a travel cot typically takes just a few minutes, or even seconds, and some of the models featured on our list fold down small enough to easily fit into a suitcase or overhead locker alongside a stroller.
Travel cots offer a convenient sleeping solution on the go, eliminating the need to rely on available sleeping arrangements at your destination. For frequent travelers, they can become as familiar to little ones as their regular beds, helping to facilitate sleep in unfamiliar environments.
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What to look for when buying a travel cot
Portability: Travel cots feature lighter-weight components and are designed for easy carrying and storage. However, they are still cots, so don’t expect them to fold into an extremely compact package. They fold into various shapes, so look for the folding style that aligns with your requirements. Certain travel cots on our list fold into a long rectangular shape, more suitable for public transport, while others fold flat to fit into a car boot.
Weight: Travel cots exhibit significant variation in weight. We discovered some weighing under 7kg and others as heavy as 11kg. Consider how frequently you’ll use it and whether you’ll need to lift it up and down stairs or in and out of a car. For frequent use, a super lightweight travel cot might be the most suitable option. However, a heavier cot is likely to feel more stable and offer greater functionality.
Ease of assembly/disassembly: Once you get the hang of it, setting up and taking down a travel cot should be a quick process, often a matter of minutes or even seconds. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, as many require specific steps and part assembly in a particular order.
Age suitability: Age suitability varies among travel cots. Most can be used from birth — we’ve specified the manufacturer’s instructions. Travel cots with built-in bassinets offer a cozier, elevated sleeping environment for newborns, while some feature drop-down sides for use as bedside cribs. Some cots are suitable for only a few months, while others can accommodate children up to around 3.5 years old.
Mattress: ravel cot mattresses are typically thinner and firmer than regular cot mattresses. This design enables compact folding and easy storage. Consequently, travel cots are usually not recommended for permanent overnight sleep. However, remember that a firm mattress is essential for safe sleep for your baby, and it doesn’t mean your child won’t be comfortable. Most manufacturers advise against adding an extra mattress to a travel cot.
Extra functions: Some travel cots can double as handy playpens once babies can sit up. Additionally, some feature a changing station, which could be beneficial for frequent travelers with babies.
Here are the best travel cots for 2024
Bugaboo Stardust
priced at £168.75, stands out as the top choice for easy assembly among our selections. Suitable from: birth (with newborn insert) to 2 years| Travel cot weight: 6.7kg | Unfolded dimensions: L64cm x W98cm x H85cm| Folded dimensions: L 65cm x W14cm x H85cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes
With its pop-up style mechanism, the Bugaboo Stardust eliminates the hassle of tricky folds, taking just seconds to set up: simply pull the cot open from its flat position by engaging both sides. This feature ensures a hassle-free bedtime routine, even when you’re away from home.
Equally convenient is its quick folding capability, which also takes a mere few seconds. However, it’s important to note that this model folds down into a large, flat shape resembling a suitcase, making it better suited for fitting into a car boot or under a bed rather than for transporting on public transport.
Aside from its ease of assembly, the built-in mattress is a notable feature of this model. Not only is it comfortable, but it can also be adjusted to two height positions with the newborn insert, facilitating easier lifting of newborns and babies who are not yet sitting up unaided. This adjustable feature is particularly beneficial for individuals with back problems or those recovering from a C-section. Additionally, the mattress conveniently folds down inside the cot, eliminating the need for extra assembly steps.
While it’s one of the pricier options on our list, the Stardust offers great value for those who regularly use their travel cot with their baby. According to MFM home tester Rovenna, who used it with her 4-month-old, “The fact that it offers both a raised zip-in baby bassinet and a deep bed for toddlers — along with a comfortable and generously filled built-in mattress — is fantastic. It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to move from room to room and transport in its convenient carry bag.”
- Pros: Quick assembly, two mattress height positions
- Cons: Relatively large when folded
Venture Airpod Travel Cot, £109.99
Best for lightweight with a good mattress, the Venture Airpod travel cot offers a convenient solution for parents.
Suitable from: birth to 3 years | Travel cot weight: 6kg | Unfolded dimensions: L85cm x W55cm x H66cm| Folded dimensions: 60cm x 15cm x 50cm | Newborn bassinet: No
This travel cot distinguishes itself with its lightweight design, comfort, and ease of carrying. Available in various colors, it boasts mesh panels on all sides, providing parents with a clear view of their baby or toddler while ensuring adequate air circulation during nighttime.
Parents often find travel cot mattresses lacking in quality, but the Airpod travel cot defies this trend with its superior, more luxurious mattress. Despite the Cuggl Deluxe offering a similar design at a lower price point, we observed that the mattress in the Airpod travel cot exceeded expectations in terms of quality.
While this cot doesn’t feature a one-step pop-up assembly, it remains straightforward to set up and collapse. In fact, some of our home tester parents found it so intuitive that they didn’t require the instructions. “It was very easy to remove from the carry case and put the cot together,” remarked MFM home tester Sarah. “It was also easy to take apart and put back into the travel case. No fiddling or spare parts. The easiest baby item I have actually put together.”
Although the Airpod Travel Cot lacks a bassinet, which some parents may prefer for a newborn, it offers ample room and can double as a playpen. It ensures a comfortable night’s sleep for both babies and toddlers.
- Pros: Easy assembly and collapse, mesh design, quality mattress
- Cons: No newborn bassinet, not suitable for use as a playpen
BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light, £22o
Best for no upper weight limit, the BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light stands out among our selections. Suitable from: 0-3 years | Travel cot weight: 6kg (including travel bag) | Unfolded dimensions: L112cm x W64cm x 82cm | Folded dimensions: L49cm x W60cm x H14cm | Newborn bassinet: No
This lightweight and user-friendly travel cot impressed our parent tester for several reasons, which is to be expected from one of the pricier options on our list.
Known for its stylish baby products, the BabyBjörn brand delivers with a sleek design, premium fabrics, and outstanding functionality. Setting it up and folding it down is impressively easy — a significant advantage compared to more complex styles like the Joie Kubbie Sleep. Simply pull out each leg, click it into place on the top frame, then insert the mattress and secure it with poppers.
MFM Consumer and Reviews Editor, Christy, remarked, “It’s so easy to set up, which is really useful if you forget how between holidays, or are asking a grandparent to help. I had no worries about sleepily packing it up at the airport hotel before we took a flight.”
The mattress is notably thick, a luxurious feature given that the base rests on the floor. This design eliminates the need for a weight limit, making it ideal for parents with heavier-than-average toddlers.
Christy, who tested the cot with her tall 2-year-old, states, “I loved the fact that the BabyBjorn has no weight limit. With a heavy toddler who is not ready for a bed, it’s perfect. He slept very well, even though we tested it on a hard tiled floor.”
The clever shape, with the sides inclining towards the top, makes it more difficult for little ones to climb out of, and the mesh walls provide excellent visibility from any angle.
The cot folds up into a flat rectangle shape and comes with a carry bag. Christy adds, “We took it as hold luggage on our TUI flight and could even have fitted it inside our large family suitcase to avoid dropping it off at the ‘oversized luggage’ desk.”
- Pros: Lightweight, no upper weight limit, easy to set up, premium feel, extra thick mattress, includes a carry bag
- Cons: One of the more expensive options
Conclusion
The best travel cots of 2024 have been meticulously evaluated and put to the test, ensuring their durability and reliability for your little one’s comfort and safety. Through rigorous analysis and real-world testing, these travel cots have proven to withstand the demands of frequent use and varying environments, offering peace of mind to parents on the go. With their robust construction and thoughtful design features, these top contenders embody the epitome of durability, making them indispensable companions for your family’s travels and adventures.
