The best travel cot for babies and toddlers

Silver winner for Best Travel Product Over £30 in the M&B Awards 2023
Designed to provide little ones with a place to rest and play no matter where you are, the Airpod is assembled in just three easy steps with no tools required meaning it's ready to go in less than a minute. The Airpod weighs just 6kg and can be folded into a bag no larger than a big shopping bag. Despite how lightweight it is, testers agree that the cot was good quality and felt sturdy and secure.  One mum tester says, "I was impressed with the materials used and quality feel of the cot once it was up. Felt steady and secure when lifting child in and out of the bed. Child was able to nap well, good ventilation through the sides."

Another of our mum testers likes how lightweight and how small the travel cot folds. She describes it as; "Super portable and barely took space in the car boot. This meant we were able to pack all our other luggage without worrying about space." She also liked that it wasn't too heavy, which made it easy to lug around upstairs when they staying in hotels without lifts.

All of our testers agreed that a bassinet option would have been great with this travel cot, especially parents of younger babies.  One of our testers whose baby is five months says, "It simply wasn't useful overnight with his wake-ups having to bend. I could barely reach him and resorted to giving up using it and ended up having to co sleep in our bed. This defeats the point of a travel cot." We think that for parents of young babies aged 6 months and under, this travel cot probably isn't what you're looking for. But for everyone else, this is a great portable travel option, and our testers were able to get the cot set up easily and quickly with the simple instructions.

Read our full review of the Venture UK Airpod Travel Cot.

Bronze winner for Best Travel Product Over £30 in the M&B Awards 2023

Suitable from birth to approximately three years old, the FoldLite was hailed by parents for its lightweight frame, but it has also won a prestigious Mother&Baby Awards 2023 Bronze award. The cot collapses to just 26cm wide. Our Mum tester Sarah says, "When folded down for travel it's small and neat and doesn't take up too much valuable boot space when you're already contending with buggies and suitcases." Testers loved the Home Fold feature to help fold away quickly and clear space within seconds. The cot unfolds and just clicks together, only two of the sides need to click together due to the way it is folded which makes putting the cot up and down much easier and quicker.

One of our mum testers Archana didn't get along with the cot as well when it came to dismantling it fully though. She says, "Folding into the slide away is easy - and really handy for day to day use - that’s what I liked most about it - however folding away fully and putting in the bag is quite clunky and a chore."

The FoldLite has a mesh lining and two wheels for easy manoeuvrability, making it a useful portable cot for travelling with. It's easy to pop up, says Sarah whose grandparents popped it up without any instructions. She enjoys using it around the house and says, "The Foldlite travel cot has been most useful to us for quick and easy use around the house with a mobile baby. It genuinely is two clicks to put up or down and the house fold setting means I can quickly pop it out from next to the sofa if I need to iron or nip to the toilet and pop it back in a few seconds so it's not taking over the room." She also thinks it would be invaluable for holiday cottages that may not be very well baby-proofed.

The cot also comes with a mattress included. Our mum tester Georgia says, "The only issue I had with it was once wrapping the mattress around the base you do have to pull it quite tightly to then fit it in the bag." Overall our testers love the convenience of having a pop-up cot to hand at home. One thing to be aware of though, as our mum tester Joanna pointed out, is that It has quite a large high sides so it can be difficult to reach within, especially if you have a bad back.

Read our full review of the Graco FoldLite.

If you're looking for a travel cot that's a doddle to set up and folds away in seconds, this is it – no more grappling with unwieldy parts when you arrive at your destination with a tired baby. We love the clever design, which gives a seamless experience on the go. Our mum tester Meg found the cot to be very sturdy and easy to pack and unpack. She says it folds up reasonable small, and likes that the carry handle makes it easier to transport. "Seems comfortable" she adds, "the newborn bassinet is super convenient for little ones and my babe settled immediately in it."

Convenient for carrying around your home too, it comes with a zip-in carrycot insert, an all-around mesh panel for airflow and a lovely firm and comfortable mattress. It's a shame the mattress doesn't include a waterproof cover, so you'll have to buy this separately to protect it. Our parent tester Matt bought this cot mainly for the ease of popping it up and down, but also says he liked that they could raise the height of the mattress when their baby was very little. this provides easier access to lift baby in and out. "There don't seem to be many travel cots that have that design," he says, "we used it as much at home for naps as we did on the road. It's a great bit of kit." The suspended base will also protect your little ones from draughts.

Shortlisted for Best Travel Product Over £25 in the M&B Awards 2019

This deluxe super lightweight travel cot has a bassinet attachment that clicks easily onto the top, making it perfect for changing nappies. It also has wheels, so it's easy to move around. The best part is that it sets up and folds away in seconds, making it a great travel cot that won't break the bank. Our mum tester Tori likes that it folds up thin to fit in their car boot along with a double pram and a few bags. She says, "I would definitely recommend this product to other mums, it's so easy to put up and down and transport on its handy bag"

Mum tester Sarah agrees, and would also recommend it for anyone looking for an inexpensive no-nonsense travel cot. She says it was lightweight enough for her to carry around, and compact enough to pack in their car along with everything else. She says, "Once I'd done the initial set up of the cot, it was easy to put together and to take apart too." Our mum testers also say the instructions are really easy to follow and everything is easy to wipe down to keep clean while travelling. One thing to be aware of is that the design of this cot is quite low to the ground, which may be something to keep in mind if you have back problems when lifting baby in and out.

Read our full review of the Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot

Shortlisted for Best Travel Product over £25 at the M&B Awards 2015

This travel cot is a real doddle to assemble – just slip it out of its travel bag, and it practically unfolds automatically, so there's no grappling with poles or fiddling with extra accessories. It's also easy to fold away and is really light and portable, making it perfect for taking with you when you visit relatives, or just moving with baby around your home. Our mum tester Nicola did find the cot to be less attractive than others in terms of design appeal, but said her little one slept well in it and seemed very comfortable. She liked that it also comes with a nice carry bag, which she says makes it easy to transport.

The built-in base helps to keep it standing nice and sturdy in its position, but this is a very lightweight cot. Mum Nicola found it to be less robust than others, saying "Amelia can push it around by herself." However, she also says it's the easiest travel cot to carry as it's amazingly light." We love that the fabric can be removed and popped in the washing machine – a real bonus if you have a baby with reflux. The materials of this travel cot meet the requirements of OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Class 1 for baby products, which essentially means kind to your baby's sensitive skin. One thing to keep in mind is that it may be harder to dry, which is quite important if you're away and need to wash and dry it.

Read our full review of the BabyBjörn Light Travel Cot

This versatile travel cot comes with lots of extra accessories, so it's great value for money. You basically get three-in-one, with a a full-size bassinet, which snaps easily on and off as required, as well as a changing unit and portable bouncing seat. What makes this travel cot even more unique is that there are also lots of sound and light features, including a soothing sound vibration, plus five classical lullabies and nature sounds. The two integrated wheels make it easy to move from room to room, and there's also a nightlight with three brightness settings to guide you In the dark.

Despite all the extras, it still folds compactly and comes with its own travel storage bag. Our mum tester Kathryn did find it quite difficult to assemble though. "I had to enlist my husband's help." she says, adding that it's sturdy and almost as big as a normal cot. however she points out that the integrated wheels do make it easier to move. She says the extra accessories that come with the cot would be great for a newborn, but her Olly was a bit too old for them. He did, however, like the sounds, and she says the light was great for night changes without fully waking him. Overall, Kathryn recommends this cot as a real investment that will grow with your baby.,

Our mum tester Nicola was also impressed, and like that the mesh sides enabled her to check on her little one without getting out of bed. Her daughter also enjoyed being able to see them when she woke up. Nicola says the mattress seems very comfortable for her little one, and she found the colours and pattern of the travel cot to be really appealing. She agreed that the extra accessories aren't really suitable past 12 months though, and also found the cot to be quite heavy. She says, "I would struggle to move it from room to room without help".

Shortlisted for Best Travel Product over £25 at the M&B Awards 2018

This stylish, contemporary travel cot takes seconds to put together and is reasonably quick and easy to fold, even with a baby in your arms, making it ideal for travel. We love the bassinet accessory, which makes this brilliant for use from birth, and so does our mum tester Kirsty who says, "The bassinet makes it easy to lift Rikku in and out." She did find it a bit fiddly to detach though.

Doubling up as a play space, this travel cot has padded edges to prevent pinched fingers, and it also comes with an organic cotton sheet included and its own bag to store and transport it in.
Kirsty especially liked that the sheet stayed in place with the velcro. The cot has a sturdy aluminium frame and a triple-layered ventilated mattress for superior comfort. Mum tester Nicola thought it was very stylish and said her daughter slept well in it. She loved the "lovely, thick mattress" and extra machine-washable sheet, saying she found it was simple to assemble.

When it comes to set-up our mum tester Kirsty found it reasonably straightforward. However, she says it doesn't fold very neatly, and she found it fiddly to pack away. While the cot is certainly very sturdy, Kirsty says this makes it feel more heavy and take up a lot of space in their small car boot. Mum tester Nicola really liked the sturdiness of the travel cot too, but agrees that the only disadvantage is that it's quite heavy. She says, "I think I would struggle to get this from one place to another by myself."

Read our full review of the Nuna Sena Aire

The Graco Contour is a good-value travel cot with lots of extra features. Our mum testers love that it's quick and easy to assemble, and compact enough to fit into smaller spaces without taking up too much room. However, our mum tester Kathryn described it as one of the heaviest travel cots they tested. This meant that it was nice and roomy, and a good size for their baby, but Kathryn says it was almost the same size as their normal cot! Despite this, she agrees it's easy to assemble and put away in the carry bag included, plus, the wheels made it easier to move around, and she did like the neutral colour. Mum tester Nicola, on the other hand, points out that while the cream colour does look lovely, she imagines it could get dirty very quickly.

Loaded with extras such as a newborn bassinet, handy changing mat and toy bar, this is definitely a cot that represents great value for money, although Nicola points out that the changing unit, while it's a great idea, is only suitable for use up to 12 months. It also has a nightlight and musical feature, as well as the option to set the mattress to vibrate to help soothe your baby. The four mesh sides are a great feature too, allowing you to keep an eye on your little one, while also being useful for ventilation, but Kathryn found that she did have to bend low to reach her baby. Nicola also felt that the mattress was on the thin side, which meant that her little one didn't sleep as well as hoped.

Read our full review of the Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot

We love the innovative way this travel cot converts between two different modes, with a bassinet level for younger babies to cot, and the fact that you can use it in either fixed or rocking mode. This is top pick for newborns, so be aware you won't be able to use it much beyond six months old.

This travel cot is worth considering if you're really short on luggage space, as it's particularly compact once folded and one of the lightest travel cots we found. Our mum tester describes the cot as the best purchase they've made for their baby. She says, "We can't fit a cot in our bedroom and needed something that would last longer than the Moses basket. Our little boy sleeps so well in it and it's so easy to pick it up and carry downstairs. We have travelled with it too and it folds down neatly."

This is a really clever invention! it looks like a really spacious changing bag, but then off you pop for your overnight stay, take everything out of the bag, and it changes into a travel crib. Our mum tester Jennifer thinks the design is stylish and that it's extremely easy to use. It doesn't take long to assemble and comes with a padded mattress. Jennifer says, "The travel cot section folds out in a few seconds and the rods are easily inserted to make it very sturdy. This means a new mum (who has little time on her hands) can easily erect this in minutes." She likes that it is easily transported and takes up no more than a bag's room in the car or walking, so it really can be taken anywhere! Jennifer says, "I have only used this at friends/ families homes but definitely would take it on weekends away or on holiday. It means I don't have to buy a big travel cot. It is also lightweight so don't have to worry about carrying something heavy."

Unfortunately, it isn't as long-lasting as the other travel cots on our list, as it's really only suitable until baby is four to six months old or when they start rolling, but it's definitely the smallest travel cot, not to mention the most compact and easy to carry. Our mum tester Esther says it's designed as a travel sleeping pod, for nighttime and daytime naps, and a changing bag. She had no trouble assembling it in a couple of minutes, and says it weights as much as a bag of sugar and would fit in easily amongst other items in a packed car when going away. She says, "We used the pod whilst away for the weekend and found it very useful, as we already had a travel cot packed for our older child and couldn't have fitted a second in the car."

Read our full review of the Bizzi Growin POD Travel Crib

This travel cot represents good value for money, especially because it can be used from birth up to approximately three years of age. It's also very sturdy, which means it doubles up as a playpen for smaller babies. And although fairly large, it features wheels and a brake to make it easier to transport around the home. Reviewer Sophie describes it as an excellent travel cot and incredibly easy for one person to put up within minutes. Thankfully, folding it away is just as quick and easy, and it folds down to such a compact size, she says, which is then stored as a carry case and easy to stow away.

The cot also comes with a small toy bag attached, which could be useful for storing nappies or other baby essentials when you're on the move and away from home. Sophie loves that it can be used as a play pen too, and found the storage pouch to be useful. She says, "I initially set the cot up in the sitting room as a play pen/nap time cot. It is a full size cot so does take up some room but it means that the cot will last for several years before the baby outgrows it."

Our mum tester Corinne Hills said that standard cot bedding fit, then she found the mattress to be quite thin and had to pad it out with blankets. Mum tester Roz Walker described the mattress as okay for occasional use.

The Sleeptight Travel Cot is an award-winning sleep solution from Red Kite. Stored in a carry bag, the Sleeptight Travel Cot is lightweight and compact folding. It is the perfect choice for holidays, visiting friends and family or for your own home. Mum Kat is really impressed with it after using several times and says, "it's good quality and not too bulky when folded so fits easily into my small car boot along with all the other baby paraphernalia needed for a night away!"

It's really easy to put up and take down and Kat says "it was so helpful that the instructions are printed onto the underside of the mattress - what a great idea!" She points out that you must put it up/take it down in the right order or you will struggle to get it folded correctly. The mattress doesn't come with a waterproof sheet so Kat used her own with a cot sheet on top of the mattress. She says, "For the price paid, it's exceptionally good value. 10/10!"

A practical travel cot which also doubles as a playpen, cradle and everyday cot, the SOFI is a great purchase. It is suitable for babies and toddlers from birth to 15kg and it's lightweight and easy to fold. Plus, it includes a storage bag which makes it easy to carry when travelling. The SOFI has mesh sides to ensure you can see your little one and for good airflow. It also comes with a mattress and cover, and the frame can be used as a rocking frame too.

The cot is slightly narrower than some travel cots, but one reviewer says that this was exactly what they needed to fit it into their spare room for their new grandson when he stayed with them. They said that they love that it's on two levels too, so it's suitable for a newborn as well as a toddler, although they weren't sure their grandson will fit past the age of two years.

The fact that this cot is so easy to fold and comes in a cover, means it can be stored under another bed quite nicely. As this reviewer points out, while you use the top level, things can also be stored underneath. They say the only slight problem is the fitting of sheets, "It is fiddly", they say, "and you need to lift the mattress to be able to fit the sheet and tuck it in. But it is doable, so very happy with purchase."