As a mum of two little boys aged one and three, finding the best travel cots has become an important part of my life. We use a travel cot for our youngest child when visiting grandparents and friends and use another as a safe travel playpen for his older brother on holidays. Their benefit over a regular cot is travel cots are portable and lightweight. As a parenting writer, I’ve had the opportunity to try out many different types. They’re not all created equal. There’s even a side exit aimed at keeping older toddlers entertained when they’re using it as a play area. I’m not sure how much you’d use some of these features such as the changing table but it’s a nice option if you need it. (I’d personally prefer to use a mat on the floor).

Maxi-Cosi Swift Travel Cot Fitted Sheets for the Toddler Maxi-Cosi Swift Travel Cot Fitted Sheets for the Toddler

Available online for a fraction of the price of our overall winner, the Munchkin Brica Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet is the perfect fit for those on a budget. It’s also a very different product, intended for occasional use only during the newborn stage. Brica recommends stopping using the bassinet when your baby reaches three months, 15 pounds, or can push up on their hands and knees—whichever comes first. Nevertheless, we found it almost unbelievably easy to set up, with assembly taking one minute and disassembly taking less than 30 seconds.A safe and comfortable travel crib is an essential accessory for parents who want to travel with their little ones without restriction. Sleepovers with friends and family, local road trips, and even international adventures—the world is your oyster with the right one. Some can be used as a permanent sleeping place for your baby or toddler, while others adapt throughout the first stages of their life from bassinet to cot or playpen. Things to consider include how long you want to use the crib, what you want it for (and, therefore, whether lightness or size is the greater priority), and how much you’re willing to spend. The mattress needs to be firm, flat and protected by a waterproof cover,” Kate adds. “Make sure the travel cot has a rigid frame and base and that it meets all the relevant safety standards. Travel cots shouldn’t be placed against a radiator, in direct sunlight or within reach of blind cords and other hazards”.

Maxi-Cosi Home Equipment - Stylish baby home products | Maxi-Cosi Maxi-Cosi Home Equipment - Stylish baby home products | Maxi-Cosi

This multi-functional travel cot is ideal if you have a newborn or young infant and want to set up a semi-permanent space for them. It’s fairly large in comparison to some of the other travel cots we tested, but it’s easy and straightforward to assemble and took just a few minutes. Dream On Me Nest Portable Play Yard With Carry Bag And Shoulder Strap: Although four separate testers tried, we could not successfully assemble this crib, which we found to be frustrating and useless. AeroMoov Instant Travel Cot Playard: This crib was easy to set up, although the zipper for the bassinet section broke. It wasn't particularly structurally secure, either, and when folded, it was heavy and awkward to carry. Travel cots are designed to be used with their original mattress and adding a second mattress or changing it could affect the stability of the cot or create a gap between the mesh sides and the base of the cot. You should always follow the advice that comes with the travel cot you are using”. Are travel cots safe? When your little one moves to its own nursery, you want to be sure they are safe and comfortable. Keep them always close with our Connected Home range, which includes a baby monitor, a humidifier, a soothing light & sound device and a under-crib light. All easily and securely operated with just one app; the Maxi-Cosi Connected Home app!

to 4.7 stars: These travel cribs are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.

Maxi-Cosi Swift – 3-in-1 Travel Cot Maxi-Cosi Swift – 3-in-1 Travel Cot

Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Harmony Baby Bed: This baby bed is super lightweight and essentially assembles itself upon being taken out of the box. However, it has a minimal use period—only until the baby starts to roll over. How We Tested For the maximum blend of space and compactness, choose the KidCo PeaPod Plus Travel Bed. As the larger version of the standard PeaPod already mentioned on this list, it’s for children aged 6 months to 5 years, yet still weighs in at just 3.65 pounds. When not used, it folds flat into a compact circle that can be easily slung over the shoulder or carried in hand. We loved that it’s small enough for easy air travel or to realistically keep in the trunk of your car for “just-in-case” situations. Going away as a new family can not only be a new experience for you, but also for your little one. You want your child to be as comfortable as possible wherever you go! And every child needs a good night's sleep and/or a good nap during the day; often their mood depends on it! Travel cots for babies and toddlers will help you keep your child comfortable and well rested. A special newborn travel cot can be the perfect option to get your little one some well-deserved rest Travel cot mattresses are often thinner and harder than a regular cot mattress,” says Kate Holmes of safe sleep experts The Lullaby Trust, “but this is completely normal and you shouldn’t place folded blankets or a quilt under your baby to try to make them more comfortable. This can cause your baby to overheat.The manufacturer’s description claims that the crib takes one second to fold or unfold; however, our tester timed assembly at three minutes and disassembly at less than two. We did find it incredibly easy to set up, earning the crib a near-perfect score for this element of the testing process. At 15.4 pounds, it isn’t the lightest cot on this list and probably not the most convenient choice for air travel. However, we loved that its full size and sturdy construction meant it could double as your permanent crib. Maxi-Cosi Swift grows with your baby from birth through to 3.5 years of age. So instead of buying three separate portable products (a bassinet, a toddler cot and a play pen), the Swift is all three, stylishly rolled into-one.