Product Reviews
LittleLife Arc 3 Travel Cot
 
Number of reviews: 3
Overall score: 
Buy now from the babyworld shop, price £87.97
really portable and fun travel cot tent!
Parent Panel review by katy
- review date 29 July 2007
I never thought a travel cot could pack up so small - most travel cots need a car to transport them about, but this I could hook over the handles on my buggy and take to a friends or even carry it on my bike!
I can't say that it was altogether easy putting it up. A bit like putting up a tent, but somehow harder because of how much the poles have to be bent / curve round. I think it would get easier with practice though, and you learn which is the best order to put the poles in (something which isn't specified in the instructions). My only gripe was that when I was trying to get the poles into the tent, they caught on the material and created some small holes/rips where the poles popped through.
The cot is basically a mini tent made of 3 poles, and a velcro on slim mattress for the floor. There is also a silver UV cover which is great for when you want to use it as a playtent or on holiday on the beach for example. My little one loves sitting and playing in it. It can be secured like a tent with pegs or used on the floor indoors.
The tent fully zips up so your child can't escape - zips only accessable from the outside. You can open it at the top or the side and it seems very stable for such a small light structure.
I think it's good value for money compared to other bulkier travel cots as it's so carryable, plus you can use it as a play tent too so it doubles up its uses.
| Best Feature: Ultra portable |
| Worst Feature: You have to be careful when putting the poles together |
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| About the reviewer: | | mum of one |
Member reviews
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"great dome tent and cot"
My little girl loves it as a travel cot and tent. It was the weight that made me buy in in the first place as a 'normal' travel cot is weight prohibitive for taking on aeroplanes.
It is not quite as quick to put up as a 'normal' travel cot initially, but with practice you do speed up.
As with all dome tents you do need to be careful when erecting it. If the poles seem to stick then find out why instead of just forcing it. The black-out cover/sunshade is also really useful when trying to get them to sleep during the day or if you are sharing a hotel room and the adults don't want to sit in a dark room or without the television on at 8pm.
But you need to be aware that;
On tiled floors the matress can be quite hard so where possible I put it on a folded duvet or blanket. If mosquitos are around and it is fully zipped up, it does get quite hot in the tent, so you need to be aware of it when getting the little on dressed for bed. Also as Kerry said, it's footprint is almost circular so it does take up more room than a 'normal' travel cot, however we have alsways managed without too much of a problem. I have also found that a fitted cot sheet fits OK over the main central matress so we have not found an issue of a child mummified in her sheet.
Overall we are really pleased with it. Our Daughter is still using it at 2.5 years and gets asks for it when we go away. I can certainly see it being used as a cot when she is 3 years and then continuing as a play tent. If I needed to buy a travel cot again then I would not hesitate in getting another, infact I don't think I would even look around for alternatives.
The main thing about it is that it isn't a standard travel cot and if the changes from the 'norm' suit you as a family then it is great.
Member review by Helen - mother of one
- review date 29 May 2009
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"think twice"
I was really disappointed with this travel cot. Yes it folds down into a very portable bag, which is it's best feature and it can be used as a play pen inside or out. BUT it takes up too much room when it's up. We often find that when staying at friends or in hotels you are not always blessed with lots of room. Trying to fit the cot beside the bed is a challenge, and it’s possible to trip over the feet when you do manage to fit it somewhere. The shape of the mattress means that you can’t tuck a bottom sheet in anywhere and if your little one moves around as much as mine in his sleep then you will find they will manage to get themselves in a bit of a tangle (he does use a sleep pod but I don’t want to put him directly on the mattress without a bottom sheet).
As for the multi use, it does come with a UV cover BUT I found it got so hot in there in the summer that it was uncomfortable even to be in there for a very short period of time.
So sadly even though it packs down a treat I really wouldn’t recommend this as a travel cot at all. You are much better to go for the conventional travel cot designs even if they do take up that little bit more room in the boot. Better that than taking up the room in the bedroom.
Member review by kerry - mum of one
- review date 26 October 2008
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