Travel cots

Travel cots are essential kit for any parents on the move, whether spending a day at a friend’s or granny’s house or going abroad. Having a travel cot means your baby can sleep or rest in a familiar environment away from home.

There are four main types of travel cot to look out for:

• Travel cot in a bag
• Travel cot playpen
• Bassinette travel cot
• Folding cot

What most people understand as a travel cot is a sturdy fabric cot on a frame, which folds down into an oblong shape and packs away into a zip-up travel bag with carry handles. This type of travel cot fits easily into the boot of a car or with the luggage when travelling. Depending on style and make, a travel cot might weigh from 8 to 12kg.

Features to look for

• The quality of the mattress that comes with the cot
• Are fabric covers removable for washing? Or will they wipe clean?
• Is at least one side made from mesh, to enable you and your baby to see in and out?
• Is there a roll-down blind to cover the mesh when you want to make the cot darker for sleep?
• How easy is it to erect and fold down? Ask the retailer to give you a demonstration before buying
• Are the erecting and folding instructions printed on the cot fabric? Useful if it’s a complicated procedure

Some travel cots are now designed to double up as playpens, but they have to be extra sturdy to fulfil this second role. A travel cot playpen sometimes comes with a toy tidy or detachable toy flaps included in the price.

This is a travel cot which has the added feature of a special insert (bassinette) which allows a newborn baby to sleep much nearer the top of the cot. The bassinette is usually only suitable for use up to 3 months age or around 6kg baby weight. After that you use the travel cot in the usual way.

If you’ll only need a travel cot now and again, a folding cot may be a cheaper option. This is a fabric cot on a frame which folds flat for storage and is very quick and easy to put up and take down. It doesn’t always come with a travel bag although some manufacturers sell them as an optional extra. It may not be as portable as other types of travel cot although it will usually fit into the boot of a car.

Updated May 2001

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