Unless you’re happy to share your bed with your baby, travelling with a tiny tot is nearly impossible without a travel cot. But if you buy the wrong one, it can be a nightmare to put up and pack away, as well as feeling flimsy or uncomfortable. From no-frills basics to all-singing, all-dancing models, there's something here to ensure your littlun has a good night’s sleep away from home. 1. Classic Travel Cot: £80, Mothercare Unlike many, this is simple to assemble and collapse and has two wheels on one end so you can reposition it easily. Suit- able from birth to two years, it doubles up as a play pen and we like the easy-clean, padded, star-pattern rails. 2. Joie Secure Click Commuter Change and Snooze: £80, Kiddicare This is more like a portable nursery than a mere travel cot. Accessories include a changing unit, newborn bassinet, toy bar with soft toys, and a bouncer that can also be used on the floor. The mattress is super-soft and it also doubles as a playpen.
3. Graco Countour Electrica: £101, Kiddicare If you’re worried your baby won’t sleep in unfamiliar surroundings, this has a battery-powered mattress that vibrates, as well as an inbuilt nightlight and music player. There’s even a remov- able changing table insert, two mattress levels and toy bar. 4. BabyBjorn Travel Co Light: £175, John Lewis This unusual-looking cot costs a lot, but you’re not just paying for style. It’s got a particularly soft mattress, angled sides so it can tuck into smaller spaces, and is washable – great if your baby ends up being unwell. It’s also very light to carry around. 5. Red Kite Sleep Tight: £29, amazon This is a great price for a sturdy cot that you can put together and collapse in seconds. Available in several different colours, it fits into most car boots and the mattress is included, although you may like to add a padded mattress enhancer on top. 6. Classic Travel Cot: £55, amazon The well-padded frame on this one is great for preventing sore heads and limbs in energetic sleepers and is also sturdy enough to double up as a playpen.
The mattress included is on the thin side, so you might want to buy a foam one to put on top (from £26). 7. Chicco Lullago: £100, John Lewis If the thought of putting your newborn into a standard size travel cot fills you with dread, you’ll love this compact crib that is suitable for babies up to six months. It’s machine washable, weighs just 7kg, and is super-stable, thanks to the anti-slip feet. 8. Littlelife Arc 2: £18, amazon Babies are not always happy campers, but this tent-friendly cot will soon get them used to an outdoorsy lifestyle. It opens at the side with a zip, just like their own mini tent, goes up in no time and packs away into a 2.5kg easy-to-carry rucksack. 9. BabyStart Travel Cot: £30, Argos Most travel cots in this price bracket are rubbish, but this is both practical and robust, folding into a neat carry bag. It’s comfortable enough, although you might want an extra mattress. A brilliant option for grandparents to keep at home.
10. Graco Nimble Nook: £90, amazon This is brand new on the market and stands out for being lightweight and fitting through doorways without the need to unfold it. There are all sorts of handy features including a two- speed vibration and toy bar with soft toys. Well worth the extra dosh, if you have it. The Mothercare Classic Travel Cot is hard to fault when it comes to practicality and value for money. For something more comprehensive, the Joie SecureClick has it all. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testingDarlington Sleigh Cot Bed, $799, Mothercare This beautifully designed crib won over our mummy judges with its reasonable price tag and the fact that it could be turned into a toddler bed with storage space. Cot Bed Luxury Pocket Sprung Mattress, $486, Mothercare
Not only does the mattress have pocketed springs to support your baby’s back, head and neck, the hi-tech silver ions in the COOLMAX freshFX fabric also help prevent bacterial growth. Moses basket, $269, Cambrass at Motherswork This traditional Moses basket is a must-have for any nursery. Its firm base and cushy mattress keep baby safe and snug, while an adjustable hood keeps the sun out. Baby pillow and bolster set, $19.90, Tollyjoy This baby basic is great for any crib. Each set features two bolsters that can be used as bumpers in the cot or as a cuddling device when needed. Original Co-Sleeper Bed, $429, Babybay at First Few Years Providing a safer way to co-sleep, this lets you have baby close by, while allowing you a good night’s sleep as well. Our mummy judges also loved the fact that this beech wood buy can be turned into a high chair, travel cot or playpen with a few additional accessories. Airwrap Deluxe, from $119.90, The Little Linen Company at SMT Distributors
Its natural and breathable fabric and clever design set this apart from conventional cot bumpers with strings. And as it’s designed to be squashed down, tots can’t use it to climb out. Sleep Bag, $79.90, Inventa at SMT Distributors Made of super cool and light material, this is perfect for Singapore’s tropical climate. You can use the built-in zip to moderate the temperature as baby naps—the 100 percent natural bamboo lining makes it highly breathable as well. Knitted baby blanket, $39.90, Piccolo Bambino at Robinsons This blanket scored highly with our mummy judges for its vintage appeal and super soft knit. “Just like my nanna used to make,” said one judge. Rock your baby to sleep in this dreamy buy from Mothercare. The tall and slim frame fits neatly next to your bed, so you can rock baby to sleep while you settle in for a spot of relaxation. Bear and Friends Cot Pockets, Mothercare Keep nappies, toys and creams close at hand with this cute-as-a-button cot pocket from Mothercare.