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On test

Travel Cots

About this test
Points to consider
Awards - which products won
Full test results

Cosatto 40 Winks Travel Cot
Ł69.99
7.5/10

LittleLife Arc 3 Travel Cot
Ł79.95
8/10

Jane 2 Position Travel Cot
Ł79.99
8/10



Mamas & Papas Sleep Travel Cot Ł70 7.5/10	Samsonite Pop up Bubble Ł69.95 8/10	Oomo Roomo Travel Cot Ł69.95 9/10

About this test

Whether you're a globe-trotting family of four, camping fanatics or home birds who enjoy a few trips to the grandparents now and again, a travel cot is likely to be way up high on your new baby checklist. Fortunately there are stacks of different designs on the market so there's a perfect travel cot to suit the personal needs of every family.

This month's panel have spent a month testing six of the latest models, from traditional, 'wheel along in the bag' cots to the pop-up, 'fold down to the size of a dinner plate' variety. They agreed that size and portability are essential factors to consider and found that 'the cots really do vary in terms of how easy they are to use and construct'.

They also advise to check the weight before you buy: 'just because it says travel on the label doesn't mean it will be easy to move around - some are so bulky, they work better as a permanent playpen fixture at home!'

We tested for

Ease of Use
Quality
Style
Portability
Comfort
Value for money

Points to consider

Do I actually need one? : It's worth remembering that most hotels and apartments will offer cots or cribs for your little one so if you're thinking of purchasing a travel cot for one or two holidays each year, you may not even need one. On the flip side, travel cots do have their uses at home too and our panel found that most of the larger cots doubled up as a playpen and nap station for their little ones during the day.

Size/portability Travel cots really vary on size so it's important to think about where you'll be using it most. If it's for weekends away and involves you transporting it from house to car boot and boot to accommodation, you can probably afford to go with a traditional style like the Jane 2 Position or Mamas and Papas Sleep.

These are bulkier than their new (and often more stylish) counterparts, but they tend to come with bassinettes and cot top changing stations that can be invaluable for families travelling with very young babies.

For holidays abroad or anything that involves a lot of carrying, the more compact, lightweight travel cots like the Samsonite Pop up Bubble and LittleLife Arc 3 are much more portable and therefore, easier to transport. Yes, they are smaller with less features but for big journeys 'they are a godsend and offer a comfortable, cocoon-like sleep haven for babies from around 0-18 months'.

Ease of Use It doesn't take a rocket scientist to construct a travel cot but you'd be surprised how many people complain about difficult clips, awkward poles or cheap materials that weaken after just a few uses. Our panel also found some of the cots 'tricky to collapse and get back into the carry bag', though they agreed that most of these problems could be overcome by reading the instructions properly!

Generally, it's worth spending that little bit extra for quality, especially if you're going to be using it every weekend and require longevity. Top scorers on quality/ease of use include the Jane 2 Position cot, Mamas & Papas Sleep and Samsonite Pop up Bubble.

Extras If you plan to use it until your child is old enough to sleep in a bed, you might want to think about some additional features. Common extras include bassinettes, toy bars, playpen usage and cot top changing stations so it's worth shopping around to see which model offers the best deal. The Cosatto 40 winks cot comes with all of this, plus removable mattress, lockable wheels and travel bag - 'a bargain at Ł69.99', according to one tester.

The new generation of lightweight travel cots also have their extras and can double up as a fun play den for your child when they become more mobile. The Samsonite Bubble also comes with a mosquito net whilst the LittleLife Arc 3 has a sunshade making them ideal for beach use or to create a darker sleeping environment for your tot come nighttime.

Awards - which products won

The Oomo Roomo won the Best Buy award with our panel citing it as 'a light, great quality cot that doubles up as a safe, comfortable playpen'. Best Value was awarded to the Samsonite Pop up Bubble for its 'easy construction and excellent portability'.

Where to next?