best travel porta cot

Best travel cot 2023: lightweight cots for travel

Attempting travel with a baby? The best travel cot will make sure you’re suitably armed, and they’re suitably snuggly

The best travel cot? Be honest, it’s something you didn’t even know existed until you became a parent and had to take a trip. Do you have to travel with a bed for your baby? Well, yes, you do, they're just as essential as the best car seats and best suitcases , and luckily there are so many incredible new designs that hitting the road with your littlest is that little bit easier.

We give you the travel cot, the portable crib, and the basket bed … here are all the latest and the best products on the market which allow you to travel light even though you’re now packing an extra person.

How to buy the best travel cot

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

First off, you might be surprised to find out that travel cots aren’t just for travel. If you’re stuck for space at home, regularly splitting time between two places, want a safe place to keep them corralled while you pop off for a second (see above), or like to have a spare for friends’ babies when they pop round for a coffee (the friend, that is, not the baby), a travel cot is a sensible solution.

But when it does come to travel, having your own portable cot means that you needn’t worry about whether that Airbnb has all the necessaries or that hotel webpage is up to date, and it also gives baby a familiar place to sleep, eliminating one more reason for them to get lairy while you’re on the road.

And it’s what you’ll be using it for that’ll mostly dictate the type of travel crib you want. 

Compact foldable cots or bassinets are best for chucking in a suitcase or luggage locker on the plane, while trips by car simply call for something that can fit in the boot. The more lightweight they are, the more you might question the fact that they’re deemed suitably sturdy for a human child, but between rigorous manufacturer testing and great reviews across the board, you can rest assured each of our picks will keep them safe as houses, even if you’re a long way away from yours. 

You might be wondering if travel cots are safe to sleep in? The answer is yes, as long as you buy the right one and your child doesn't sleep in it all the time. Read our guide linked above for more information on travel cot safety.

Finally, for maximum mileage when it comes to the initial spend, look for a model that comes with an included mattress, adjustable levels for rapidly growing babes, and more.

The best travel cots you can buy today:

1. Micralite Sleep&Go Travel Cot

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Sleep&Go Travel Cot is a well-designed piece of kit that hopes to make travelling with little ones a breeze. It sets itself apart from rivals by being adaptable: it's a travel cot one minute, playpen the next, and can even transform into a newborn co-sleeper. Perhaps best of all, it's able to transform between these functions in seconds thanks to its innovative all-in-one frame.

It lets itself down slightly with the lack of colour options, and the fact that it's not the smallest when folded.

With an RRP of £150, it sits firmly in the upper-mid-range price category, but it's durable materials, solid build, and innovative features mean it more than earns its place at the top of our list.

• Micralite Sleep&Go Travel Cot review

2. BabyBjorn Travel Cot Light

Praise be to Björn Jakobson, granddaddy of all things baby-related — his brainchild BabyBjorn still leads the pack when it comes to travel cots, with this one getting our second spot for its practical, paediatrician-approved design. The foldable travel cot packs down into a neat carry case with padded shoulder straps and a waist belt for easy transportation, and we love how compact it is, not to mention easy to set up, which is a real bonus when there’s unpacking to be done. 

The mattress has been designed in conjunction with paediatric specialists to provide the best support possible, but the only problem is that it’s at floor level, so if you have shorter arms, bear in mind it might take some effort, or the help of a taller family member.  

3. Nuna SENA Aire

The thing about parenthood is that you always have your hands full, and when it comes to travelling with kids, that goes double. So welcome the SENA Aire, a thoughtfully designed travel cot from premium baby gear brand Nuna that can be set-up not only quickly, but with one hand. Its zigzag legs pop-up instantly, and come with padded edges so you cannot trap you finger in a hinge while you’re seeing it up. 

However, the SENA Aire’s main USP is what its name suggests; an advanced air design delivers maximum airflow that will give its inhabitant deeper sleeps. That’s the theory. Elsewhere, the SENA Aire gives the travelling parents everything they need, including a mattress, sheets, an insect net and even cotton sheets. Best of all, it’s all machine washable, and goes neatly into a travel bag.

4. Inovi Cocoon Folding Moses

Here’s one for youngsters taking their first flights. Suitable for the under six months crowd, this simple crib won’t be with you for long, but it’s sure to impress any parent thinking of taking a flight to show-off their new addition. A simple and nice-looking crib that could easily be used at home, the Cocoon is compact and lightweight enough for travel, even complying with international aviation standards (IATA) so it can be taken on a plane as hand luggage, and stowed in overhead locker compartments (minus junior, we hope). 

It also includes a mesh canopy that protects baby from the outside world – including insects, pets and curious passers-by – while being itself constructed atom transparent, breathable mesh panels. The Cocoon is also easy to set-up, with four locking joints on its fold-out base for maximum stability.

5. Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Cot

Like the BabyBjorn travel cot, this Phil & Teds option is suitable for use from birth to three years, making it a good option if you’re after a longer-term solution. The big difference between the two is that this little number is more suited to long-haul travel, with a weight of just 3.2 kilograms and an ultra-compact design that’s formulated to fit in a suitcase, luggage locker, or even the storage space of your buggy. 

Reviewers found it was a bit awkward to set up, but that it was light, sturdy and comfy enough to make up for it, so we reckon it sounds just fine if you’re setting up camp for a while.  

6. SpaceCot Travel Cot

If the combination of quick setup and sturdiness is the holy grail of travel cots, then call us Indiana Jones, because we seem to have found it in the SpaceCot Travel Cot. The makers say it opens and closes in just three seconds — a big boast, but reviewers vouch for its veracity. 

They found it super easy to set up, and loved the included detachable crib levels and mattress that let it work as a cot up to six months, and a playpen up to 30 months. If you frequently find yourself with your hands too full for faffing around, all signs point to this easy-up cot being a good buy.  

7. LittleLife Arc 2

OK, it’s a tent. Get over it. Kids love camping! Seriously though, the tent-style Arc 2 has a lot going for it, especially if you travel a lot because (and this is a stroke of genius) the Arc 2 packs-up into a small lightweight backpack. A pop-up tent weighing a mere 2.5kg, it uses colour-coded, lightweight aluminium poles and comes with a Velcro-attached foam mattress and washable cotton cover. 

Although it can be used indoors perfectly well, as its design suggests, the Arc 2 can also be used outdoors, and be secured with tent pegs. It works as a bed, a playpen, and just as a place to keep a child out of the sun. If you’re an outdoorsy kind of a family, the Arc 2 is a no-brainer.

8. Pop Up Bassinet Koo-Di

Designed for use in the house or out in the garden, at the beach or for trips somewhere rather sunnier, the Koo-Di Sun and Sleep Travel Bassinet looks to be a versatile option for keeping the smallest member of your group happy, cool, and out of the sun. 

The mesh sides are intended for ventilation and peace of mind, allowing you to check on them as they (hopefully) snooze, while the integrated zip-up mosquito net keeps nibbles at bay, and the blackout blind claims to block 93 percent of all harmful rays. That’s all pretty high tech for a travel cot, making it our best bet for travel abroad and hot summer days at home.  

9. Chicco Lullago Zip Crib

This expandable travel crib gives the option for different depths as they grow, giving it more lasting power than some of our smaller picks, and making it, according to happy reviewers, a great transitional cot. Users loved that it was sturdy and easy to put together, but found it a bit heavy to carry — although, while the travel bag is a bit more cumbersome than its BabyBjorn equivalent, some might appreciate that it looks more like your average minimal tote bag rather than a baby-specific behemoth. 

Overall, it’s agreed that the quality is top-notch and the setup simple, but if you have to travel a long way, you might be better placed going for something like Phil & Ted’s travel cot.  

10. Joie Excursion Change & Rock Travel Cot0

Trying to get them off to sleep isn’t the only thing that can prove tricky on the road - there’s also the small matter of changing to attend to. Luckily, some clever clogs at Joie has made a travel cot that doubles up as a changing table. Actually, make that triples up, because it also packs in a soothing rocker with soft toys. And it has wheels! 

With a draught-resistant base and mesh lining for a comfortable sleep, a rocker/bassinet for soothing and naps, and a changing table for you-know-what, reviewers agree this is a great portable option for when you want to streamline your stuff. Just be aware that it’s very large and very heavy, so it’s not the best for small cars and certainly won’t fit in a suitcase, but gosh darn is it versatile.  

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As the Style and Travel Editor at T3, Spencer covers everything from clothes to cars and watches to hotels. Everything that's cool, stylish, and interesting, basically. He's been a part of T3 for over seven years, and in that time covered every industry event known to man, from CES and MWC to the Geneva Motorshow and Baselworld. When he's driving up and down the country in search of the greatest driving roads, he can be found messing around on an electric scooter, playing with luxury watches, or testing the latest fragrances.

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10 baby portacots for easier travels

Family holidays are a time for exploring, playing and creating sun-soaked memories. And while there’s no doubt that travel changes once a baby arrives, a portable sleep solution such as a travel cot or portacot makes moving as a tribe easier for everybody.

A portacot is a foldable and convenient sleeping space for babies when you’re away from home. Equipped with a mattress base and airy mesh sides, they ensure that little ones get the rest they need and parents catch their breath before the next round begins.

The best portable cots are lightweight, easy to assemble, safe for baby to sleep and durable enough to last future family holidays to come – and we’ve put the best of them in one handy spot for you.

What to look for when buying a portacot

Here are some of the key features to look for when choosing a portable cot:

Size: The travel cot will need to fit in the boot of your car along with lots of other luggage. Keep size and storage at home in mind.

Lightweight: Again, you’re likely to be carrying your portable cot alongside lots of other luggage. Be realistic when considering how much weight you can physically carry.

Quick assembly: The quicker the cot goes up, the sooner baby goes down. Too many fiddly bits could lead to added frustration at the other end.

Longevity: How many family holidays and weekend trips are you likely to take each year? A travel cot needs to be able to withstand a few knocks and bumps along the way.

Safety: Babies safety is paramount. Look for a model with breathable fabrics and made to correct safety standards.

Accessories: Extra accessories are always a bonus, especially when you’re away from the comforts of home. Your travel cot may come with a bassinet insert, a carry bag or a mosquito net.

10 baby portacots for napping anywhere

Whether it’s for a weekend away or an extended family holiday, tiny travellers need somewhere safe and secure to snuggle up in.

Here are nine of the best portacots for babies and toddlers as recommended by our Pregnancy and Baby group members.

AeroMoov Travel Cot ($519)

With set up and store away taking only two seconds (literally), the AeroMoov travel cot is perfect for on the go. Meeting the highest safety standards, it’s super light yet solid with a sturdy PU foam mattress. There’s an extra mattress layer for babies up to 2 months and everything packs away in a compact carry bag.

Folded Dimensions:  72cm x 671cm x 12 cm Weight: 5kg

“We have some travel adventures booked in and it won’t be a hassle to take on the plane.” –  Rachel

BabyBjorn Travel Cot Light ($440)

Travelling with kids is a lot to juggle, without the extra weight of bulky items. The super lightweight cot from BabyBjorn makes all the difference. A simple frame and soft comfortable mattress are a breeze to set up and fold away, giving you more time for snuggles and stories. Suitable for children up to three years of age.

Folded Dimensions:  49cm x 60cm x 14 cm Weight: 6kg

“ It’s very light, extremely easy to put up and the mattress is heaps more comfortable than other portacots I’ve had. ” –  Kirsty H

Star Kidz Australia

Star kidz australia vivo 3-in-1 travel cot ($399).

Wave bye-bye to the manic morning pack up. The savvy Vivo 3-in-1 is lightweight and assembles in just seconds. It comes with a soft mattress, ventilated mesh sides to help with visibility and ventilation and a convenient carry bag for easy transportation.

Folded Dimensions: 60cm x 15cm x 49cm Weight: 6kg

“The side zip is great so you don’t have to bend down as much getting bub in/out or patting.” – Stephanie H

Steelcraft 4-in-1 Portable Cot ($229)

Complete with a bassinet, musical mobile, change table and a large side storage pocket, this handy portacot gives baby a safe place to sleep while covering multiple other uses to save on space. The addition of wheels is a real bonus – perfect for shared hotel rooms.

Folded Dimensions: 79cm x 27cm x 27cm Weight: 13.5kg

“ I have this one it is great for smaller bub but now he is 6 months we just use the cot and mobile but definitely recommend one with wheels as when we are away we use as playpen also it isn’t too heavy and is easy to put up if u do what the instructions say. ” – Hannah J

Joie Excursion Change & Rock Portable Cot ($329)

Suitable from birth right up to 15kg, this portacot really has it all. With the click of a button, remove the handy rocker and take your sleepy bub into another room, to the pool or even out for dinner. There’s also a changing unit for those late-night nappy swaps and a mesh lining on all sides for optimum ventilation.

Folded Dimensions: 84.2cm x 26.3cm x 21cm Weight: 15.1kg

“ We love our Joie portacot ! I used it full time with my first as we didn’t have space for a full nursery set up. ” – Jeni V

phil&teds

Phil&teds traveller v4 portacot ($229).

Meet the portacot that’s lighter than your baby! Weighing in at just 2.8kg, this portacot is light as a feather with a few snazzy features to boot. A zip-open side transforms the cot into a play space for baby and a self-inflating mattress makes for speedy assembly. Win-win.

Folded Dimensions: 65cmx 20cm x 20cm Weight: 2.8kg

“ We just got home from 3 weeks in Japan . It was awesome. So light & easy. It has a zip down side to help get bub in & out. And we just put a blanket on the floor underneath it for a bit more comfort. ” – Nicole I

Babyhood Dormire 2-in-1 Portacot ($299)

Wheel right this way! The award-winning portacot from Babyhood boasts a standout design with brilliant features. The fully mesh sides provide baby with a comfortable sleeping environment while giving mum and dad a chance to check on baby from any angle. Convenience is key with this cot – a simple zip and clip system, lockable wheels and carry bag ensure setups and pack-ups are as easy as 1,2,3.

Folded Dimensions: 82cm x 26cm x 26cm Weight: 9.7kg

“ Wheels around and also very sturdy construction with thick mattress and added bassinet level so easy to transfer Bub sleeping. Bub slept perfectly for a week in it.  ” – Marianne A

Veebee Amado Travel Cot ($140.86)

Thanks to its slender aluminium frame, this nifty travel cot folds flat ready to be tucked away into its accompanying travel bag. Weighing in at just under 4kg, it’s ideal for plane travel or taking to the grandparents. With fully mesh sides, this cot also offers complete visibility of your dreaming, darling bub.

Folded Dimensions:  60cm x 16cm x 52.5cm Weight: 3.9kg

4Baby Liteway Travel Cot ($169)

A cuddle-worthy padded mattress earns this portacot rave reviews. Featuring a similar design to many others on the market but at a fraction of the price, it’s a no-brainer for last-minute family holidays.

Folded Dimensions: 60cm x 15cm x 49cm Weight: 5kg

“ Baby Bunting have a  travel cot that’s  nice and compact. I think we have the  4baby  one…works fine, nice and light and doesn’t take up make space. ” – Olive B

Chicco Lullaby Easy Portacot ($499)

Dripping with features, the Chicco Lullabye portable cot includes everything you could need for travelling with bubs, from the newborn stage right through to toddlerhood. There’s a detachable change table, a newborn bassinet, a sweet mobile and a super-sized play yard for keeping inquisitive tots entertained in one spot.

Folded Dimensions: 80cm x 48cm x 30cm Weight: 15kg

“We’ve had the Chicco lullaby magic and have used it since baby was born whenever we’ve travelled but also used it as his day sleep cot when had a two-storey house and it been amazing.” – Nirmani G

Travel cot alternatives for babies under 6 months

Smaller babies don’t necessarily need a full-sized portacot for their daytime naps. Whether you’re visiting a friends house or pottering around at home, these travel cot alternatives may be all baby needs while they’re teeny tiny and sleeping like…well, babies.

Fisher-Price

Fisher-price baby dome portacot ($114.99).

A playpen and portable napping spot all-in-one. This clever little creation gives bub an enclosed space to sleep and smile at the toys hanging above. Perfect for indoors and outdoors, the handy canopy protects little one from the sun and pesky flies all while giving mum peace of mind that they’re staying put.

Folded Dimensions:  79.8cm x 56cm x 13.4 cm Weight: 8.48kg

“ We used this Fisher-Price  dome for her play and sleep, it folds down compact it’s amazing. ” – Lauren J

Sunbury Portable Cocoon Bassinet ($159)

A safe and secure sleep space for the home that doubles as the perfect travel companion. The Sunbury Cocoon is ideal for families with newborns needing a little flexibility. The lightweight bassinet can be easily moved from room to room or folded down and stashed in the car ready for a weekend away.

Dimensions:  50cm x 41cm x 21cm Weight: 4kg

“ We used for our first for the first 6 months and I loved it as could move from bedroom upstairs/lounge downstairs and anyone’s house we went to. Folds up in seconds with sheets on and throw in the car (I never took the legs off, just had them sticking out of the bag). We never had next to the bed, we had the baby in own room from the start and was a good height next to the chair .” – Gemma C

Bebe Care Baby Travel Cot Dome ($139)

Like a pop-out tent, but for baby. The dome-like design creates a darkened place for little ones to lay down and nap while the world carries on around them. A UPF of 50+ makes it ideal for camping and beach trips – simply fold away when not in use.

Folded Dimensions:  46.5cm x 43.55cm x 10cm Weight: 2.77kg

“ I have a Bebe Care Travel Dome and can’t recommend them enough! I just bought my 3-month-old one for when we go away early next year so will have one for my 3-year-old and our baby as well. They are just a pop – up portacot dome thing. Easy to fold down and they are only 2.5kgs (I think). Fits easily into a suitcase when you travel. Love  it. ” – Kiah P

This post includes affiliates and/or paid inclusions. See our Disclosure Policy .

Know some portable cots we should add to our list? Contact us and let us know.

Find more products for travelling with baby …

Portacot, tick. now check out our other juicy roundups for tips on Australia’s best baby products and brands. From prams to sweet personalised blankets, we’ve got everything in one handy spot.

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Best travel cots: tried and tested

Whether used at home, at the grandparents' or as a playpen, a travel cot can be a familiar place for your baby to sleep, wherever they are. After rigorous research and testing, we reveal the best travel cots to buy in 2024.

By Poppy O'Neill | Last updated Apr 22, 2024

While you may have dedicated a lot of time to finding the best crib , moses basket or cot bed for your child, we tend to give less thought to which travel cot to buy. But getting the best sleep possible is just as important while you're away from home, so we've put some of the best travel cots on the market through their paces.

While they're mainly used for overnight stays at a grandparent's house, or longer holidays, travel cots can also be used instead of a traditional crib or playpen for both babies and toddlers. They are portable, easy to carry, fit in your car boot and should be fairly lightweight too. Pack your travel cot along with a baby monitor and your little one's best baby blanket and you're good to go.

Our parent tester, Ruth, and her 18-month-old put some of the UK's top-rated travel cots through their paces. We also turned to the Mumsnet forums - home of the UK's largest network of parents - to seek out authentic recommendations and honest reviews of the travel cots they'd used with their own children. Referring to expert review sites for extra information, we collated all the information to bring you our top picks, of the best travel cots 2024.

The best travel cots 2024: editor's picks

Joie kubbie Bassinet Travel Cot

Red Kite Travel Cot

Graco FoldLite LX Travel Cot

Joie kubbie™ sleep travel cot.

Lift and lower side panel means baby can be picked up and placed down without hassle

Compact frame that packs down into a travel bag

Mesh panels on all four sides

Padded top rail

Too small to be used as a playpen

Material isn't machine-washable

Price on writing: From £100 | Suitable from: Birth to three years (15kg) | Weight: 8.79kg

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Joie kubbie™ Sleep review

The Joie kubbie™ Sleep is a real steal and a brilliant choice for new parents who want something that covers all bases - that's why we've named it our best travel cot overall for 2024. Versatile in style and cocoon-like in the way it nurtures and grows with newborns, the kubbie™ Sleep also comes with a bassinet that can easily be attached and detached.

A unique feature of the kubbie™ Sleep that our tester was impressed by is that when your baby is in the bassinet, you can tuck the cot close to your bed and adjust the height of the crib so that it acts like a co-sleeper. It's a lovely feature if you're travelling with a tiny baby, it provides extra peace of mind and easy access for changing and breastfeeding .

Great for parents who

Have a newborn

Like the idea of a co-sleeper and want to keep their baby close during the night

Want a cot that can last up to three years old

Read next: The best changing bags Mumsnetters swear by

Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot

Lightweight and folds down compactly into a travel bag

Quick to assemble and fold away

Easy to clean

Mesh sides make it easy to see baby

The mattress is thinner than some other baby travel cot mattresses on the market, such as the Joie kubbie™ Sleep

Doesn't have wheels

Price on writing: £37 | Suitable from: Birth to three years (or able to climb out) | Weight: 8.5 kg

Tried and tested by Mumsnet : Read our full Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot review .

Robust and simple in design, the Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot is a basic, practical travel cot that you'll be glad to have for the odd night away from home with your little one. With breathable mesh on four sides, a carry bag and padding over the poles and edges, it's got everything you need for a safe night's sleep - or a handy play pen.

Mumsnetters say the mattress could be thicker and better quality, which is often the case with cheaper travel cots. If you're looking for a separate mattress, this one from Mother Nurture fits the Red Kite perfectly and folds up for extra practicality while on-the-go.

Need a bed for short trips or as a secondary for the grandparents' house

Are on a tight budget

Read next: The best cabin bags to buy for your next family holiday

Lightweight and easy to fold up and down

Collapses to just 26 cm wide

Comes with a removable infant bassinet

2 wheels for easy manoeuvring

The mattress could be thicker

Price on writing: £80 | Suitable from: Birth to three years (or able to climb out) | Weight: 6.78 kg

With two ways to fold, the Graco FoldLite LX is a brilliant cot for frequent use. The quick fold is designed for speed, while 'Home Fold' is ultra-thin at just 26cm wide - perfect for storing away at home.

We love the two-wheel design that makes the cot easy to drag around, and it's not bad to look at either. The base is one of the lowest to the ground on our list, making it a good option for using as a playpen. It also comes with a removable infant bassinet for smaller babies.

Graco are well-loved by Mumsnetters thanks to their good-quality, affordable baby gear, and this travel cot is no exception.

Want a cot that can be put up and down frequently without too much hassle

Have limited space for storage

Read next: The best nursing chairs to buy, as recommended by mums

LittleLife Arc 2

Insect-proof mesh for hot weather and the outdoors

Has a front panel with a safety toggle that can be zipped open or closed, making it a great option to use as an outdoor playpen

Colour-coded poles make assembly simple

Lightweight option

Thin mattress

Sunshade must be bought separately

Price on writing: £110 | Suitable from: Birth to three years (15kg), but we'd recommend it for toddlers | Weight: 2.5kg

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full LittleLife Arc 2 review

The LittleLife Arc 2 is extremely lightweight (practically featherweight, really, at just 2.5kg), is designed just like a tent and can be folded down compactly to fit into a backpack, which comes with it. This makes it perfect for use on public transport, holidays and camping.

It works just as well outdoors as it does indoors and is great for those grab-and-go moments. Our tester really liked its tent-like design - close to the floor means there's no risk of kids falling out and the cosier sleeping space makes it ideal for younger babies. She was also impressed by the mosquito net - perfect for travel wherever you're headed.

Use public transport when travelling

Want something that could double up as a playpen

Read next: The best baby carriers, tried and tested

BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light

Durable construction

Very comfy mattress

Mattress and fabric is removable and machine-washable

Mattress is fairly close to the floor – one side can be unzipped for easy access though

It’s one of the more expensive cots around

Price on writing: £220 | Suitable from: Birth to three years | Weight: 6kg (including carry bag)

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full BabyBjorn Light review

If you have a little extra to spend, then the luxury and comfort of BabyBjörn's Light will make sleepovers fuss-free no matter where you go. Our tester found it sturdy, simple to set-up and really easy to transport. The mattress is considerably more comfy than those you'll find in cheaper travel cots, and all the fabric parts are removable and machine washable.

The main drawback is the price tag, but if you have the means, then this cot won't let you down.

Need a small portable crib that can be taken on short or long trips

Want to invest in a travel bed that can stand heavy use

Related: The best teddy bears and soft toys for kids of all ages

Joie Commuter Change

Two wheels make this cot easy to move around

Easy to fold and unfold

Bassinet and changing unit don’t fit into carry bag

Side of the cot can’t be pulled down like the new Joie kubbie™ Sleep

Price on writing: £100 | Suitable from: Birth to 15kg | Weight: 12.3kg

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Joie Commuter Change review

Winner of the Mumsnet Best Travel Cot 2018 award, the Joie Commuter Change didn’t quite make our top five this year, but it’s still a great product and definitely worth considering.

Our tester loved all the added extras that come with the Commuter Change. Not only is there a full-size bassinet, which will save your back when reaching down to your child, but the cot also comes with a changing table which handily clips onto the top.

Read next: The best cot mattresses for a safe night's sleep

Bugaboo Stardust

Great quality mattress

Takes just one second to unfold and three seconds to fold

Can be folded with the mattress left in

Carrycot insert for newborns

On the expensive side

Only suitable up to 2 years

Price on writing: £225 | Suitable from: Birth to two years | Weight: 6.7kg

For those considering a travel cot to use from birth, the Bugaboo Stardust is a great option. It comes with a carrycot insert which means the cot can be used as a bedside crib - perfect for co-sleeping away from home.

It has a height-adjustable mattress and an incredibly easy fold up and down. When folded up, the travel cot is nice and slim, making for easy storage. The mattress is great quality and thicker than the others on our list. At just over £200, it's on the premium end of the spectrum, and the manufacturer recommends only using it up to 2 years, so it doesn't have quite the longevity of most other travel cots, which generally can be used until the age of three.

Want to co-sleep safely away from home

Are expecting to use the cot frequently for sleeping

Related: The best breast pumps, as recommended by Mumsnetters

Travel cots: our pick of the best of the rest

Sturdy but pricey.

We have the Nuna Sena and its amazing, the most hassle-free assembling I've seen having watched BIL trying to get his cheap and cheerful one up! You just push the ring in the middle. It looks great and my kids have both slept great in it when we're away. Also sturdy enough to double as a temporary living room playpen for a while too! Has definitely been one of my highly recommended baby items.

lightningpeach

Nuna Sena Aire

Best travel cot for use as a playpen

Quite a while ago now we bought a BabyDan one from John Lewis which is the same dimensions as a standard cot (not cot bed). Extra handy as we could also use the actual cot mattress in it for extra comfort if we had space in the car, or latterly when we had got rid of the cot but had friends or relatives to stay

DiddlySquatty

BabyDan Travel Cot

Best travel cot for air travel

I've been to many different countries on different planes, trains and automobiles and the Phil & Teds is the only one which works across various check in requirements and ages of children ...100% [would recommend] the P&T one if you actually intend travelling with it, as opposed to staying at Granny's place every now and again.

mynamechangemyrules

Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Crib

What age is a travel cot for?

This type of cot is usually used from the newborn stage up until toddlerhood – or until the little wriggler can climb out by themselves.

Do I actually need a one?

The short answer is: no, not necessarily, but that depends entirely on your lifestyle.

Portable beds can be expensive and can take up unnecessary space in an otherwise baby-filled home, so if you think you'll only get use out of one for two weeks of the year, then you could probably do without.

If you already have a co-sleeper, Moses basket or carrycot that you use with a travel system , you might be able to use that when you're away from home with a smaller baby.

If, however, you tend to travel often or think your little one will have regular sleepovers with the grandparents, then a travel cot is a great solution.

It'll not only be easier to cart around, but it'll offer a familiar and comforting environment for your child no matter where they rest their head.

Are travel cots safe?

Safety is crucial when buying a travel bed for your little one so, while all products should have some sort of testing certification, be sure to check the safety features out yourself.

If you plan to buy in-store, ask to see it being assembled

Check how sturdy it is – could it withstand being knocked into?

Look for safety locks on wheels if there are any – can they also be tucked away when not in use?

Choking hazards are also something to look out for so make sure that small parts, like zips, are well covered

Check for sharp corners and padded rails

Assess whether your child would be able to climb out easily – check that the side panels are high enough

Safe sleeping and travel cot mattresses

The Lullaby Trust says that all cots need to comply with British Standards Institution (BSI) safety standards regardless of how old they are. If there is no safety standard number visible then you shouldn't buy it.

When it comes to safe sleeping, they also insist that the bed's original mattress needs to be firm, entirely flat and waterproof with no soft or cushioned areas, particularly around the baby's head. Babies should be placed on their backs with their feet at the foot of the cot.

Soft mattresses are known to increase the risk of SIDS as they make it harder for babies to lose body heat, which can cause them to become too hot.

Sleep positioners and pillows must not be used and there should also be no loose or bulky bedding inside the crib as this can cause a baby to overheat.

Even if the mattress feels thin, don't be tempted to place folded blankets underneath your child. Go for a baby sleeping bag or a well-fitted swaddle instead.

The Lullaby Trust also advise that portable cribs aren’t placed against radiators and remain out of reach of blind cords.

How much does a travel cot cost?

Prices range from £20 to over £200, and your budget will probably depend entirely on how much you think you'll use it.

As with anything, the most expensive option won't necessarily be best suited to you and your child. Some cheaper models may do just the trick and will last well into the toddler years too.

Can I buy one secondhand?

Yes, you can, but make sure you always follow the manufacturer's instructions before using.

Make sure it isn’t damaged or broken, that the frame is intact and that there aren’t any sharp edges that could cause injury. If possible, ask to assemble and fold it down before you buy to check it works as it should.

Secondhand travel cots can go from anywhere between £10 and £80.

Other things to consider when buying a travel cot

1. portability.

Check the size and weight. Can it be folded down compactly? Is it likely to fit into the boot of your car?

If you tend to travel by public transport, you'll want a bed that's lightweight and easy to carry. For planes, some small cots may even be able to fit into an overhead locker.

2. Assembly and storage

By nature, travel beds are usually easy to put up and fold down. Pop-ups are, of course, the easiest, but check to see if your chosen product is quick to assemble, fold and pack away.

When it comes to storage, the amount of space you have at home will influence your decision.

Some models have mattresses that fold with the frame before they go into a bag, and most will fit into the back of a cupboard or under a bed when stored away.

3. How to clean

Babies create mess – and a lot of it too. Look for a removable mattress that comes with a fitted sheet, which you will be able to stick in the washing machine.

Some cots have removable side panels, but if they don’t then you can always wipe them clean with warm water.

4. Extra features

Many larger models double up as a playpen which is great for keeping your child safe at all times no matter where they are. Some even come with changing tables, mobiles and bassinets for newborns.

You’ll find that the added extras will usually need to be carried separately once the frame is folded down. Brands that offer attachments like these include Joie (the Joie Commuter Change won Mumsnet Best Travel Cot 2018), BabyBjorn and Graco.

Some, like the Arc 2, also come with added extras like built-in mosquito nets for camping.

What's the best travel cot to buy?

The Joie kubbie Sleep is the best travel cot to buy in 2024. Mumsnetters love that it doubles as a co-sleeper, making it a versatile, useful and great value buy. The compact design makes it easy to transport and set up, while the bedside feature allows for easy access to your baby during the night. Overall, the Joie Baby Kubbie Sleep Bedside Travel Cot is a great choice for parents looking for a safe and comfortable sleep solution for their little one.

How we tested and why you should trust us

For continuity, we try to get one tester to test all the products in a single category. This reduces any potential variables during the testing process and ensures that our results are based on like-for-like comparisons. After approximately 24 hours of research, our tester, Ruth, produced a shortlist of 14 cots to put to the test. The list included the most highly recommended cots by Mumsnet users and other review sites, plus a wide range of designs and price tags, from nifty pop-ups to more studier models akin to traditional cribs.

Each product was tested in rooms with both carpet and laminate flooring, then scored on six key areas:

Safety and stability

Comfort and day-to-day use, cleanliness, value for money.

Five products were then awarded a Mumsnet Best badge – these are the products that we feel offer the absolute best value for most parents. We also gave honourable mentions to four others.

Ruth scored each product based on each criteria below, with the highest scoring coming out on top as the overall winner. Honourable mentions were then given to nine other top-performing beds.

We looked at a number of factors including:

Durability and materials – how well was each product made and finished?

Safety features – did the product have padded rails, lockable wheels, mesh ventilation, firm bedding, a locking system etc? And could a baby's fingers become trapped? Ruth studied everything from the frame to the mattress

Choking hazards – were there any parts that could come loose?

Sturdiness – she walked into it, knocked it against furniture and dropped it when assembled and packed away. Could each cot withstand the weight of both an adult and child if accidentally fallen into?

Safety standards – she also looked for the appropriate safety labels

Height of side panels – could a child climb out easily?

Assembly and folding

How straightforward was it to assemble and fold?

Were written or visual instructions clear and precise? Could the instructions also be accessed online and were there video tutorials to guide you through?

Each cot was assembled and taken down 20 times – this was also timed to see how long it would take

We also wanted to see which products might cause difficulty for people with mobility issues and which were the easiest to assemble and take down

Ruth also considered how easy it would be to access spare parts and whether each cot came with a warranty

Ruth looked at how much space the cot took up in a room – did it slot in easily, and was it more suited to indoors or outdoors?

Could it be moved around easily, particularly through doorways, from one room to another, and up and down the stairs? Did it have to be folded in order to do so?

How easy was it to place the child inside? Could the side panels be lowered?

When inside, was the little one comfy? Did they like it and was there enough room to sleep and to play?

Was it heavy to carry and did it fit comfortably in the boot of an average-sized family car? Could it be taken on public transport easily?

Ruth analysed looks, including colours, fabrics and overall design

Did the bed fit in with the décor? Was the design attractive and user-friendly?

Were there different colours to choose from?

The likes of mud, sand, peanut butter, milk and orange juice were smeared and spilled onto the interior and exterior to see how easy stains were to remove

Ruth also checked for removable bedding that could easily be thrown into the washing machine

We tested products with a variety of price tags and compared the more expensive models to those that were cheaper

If pricey, was it worth the price tag?

And were there any extras included to make the investment more justified?

How real-life comparative testing makes Mumsnet Reviews unique

We commissioned Ruth Lumley to write about and test a variety of toddler and baby travel cots. Ruth is a journalist who has used a number of baby beds with her three young children – from the newborn stage right through to toddlerhood and while holidaying abroad and visiting relatives in the UK.

During the research process, she looked at the types of products available, scoured the Mumsnet forums for recommendations and spoke to baby sleep experts from The Lullaby Trust , an organisation that provides advice on safer sleep for babies.Ruth tried out each bed with her youngest child, who was 18 months old at the time of testing. She tested each for at least three nights, both at home and at the grandparents' house, which meant that all the models were subject to the same environmental factors and held a child of the same age and weight.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy , The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy  and Mother Power . She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. When her children were young, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and re-trained as an author and freelance writer.

13 of the best travel cots 2024 for babies and toddlers

Our pick of the best cot and bassinet options to provide your baby or toddler with a portable sleeping space for travel, put to the test by parents

• Christy McGhee
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Travel cots are portable, safe places for babies and toddlers to sleep when away from home. They’re lightweight, have collapsible sides and fold into a portable format with a carry handle, making them great for holidays, breaks and overnight stays.

We’ve analysed the travel cot market and rigorously tested a range of different models to find the best ones for your family. Whether you're looking for something safe for a newborn, or a roomy cot for an older toddler, you'll find it here. Some travel cots can also be used as playpens for a baby, although, if you're looking specifically for a playpen check out our best playpens for babies and toddlers . For cosy bedding inspiration, take a look at our list – tried and tested by real parents and their kids. If you're travelling somewhere hot with your little ones, take a look at our selection of the best pram fans .

Best travel cots at a glance

• Best travel cot for easy assembly: Bugaboo Stardust, £225
• Best lightweight travel cot for a good mattress: Venture Airpod Travel Cot, £119.99
• Best multi-use travel cot: Silver Cross Slumber 3-in-1 Travel Cot, £195
• Best travel cot for added extras: Graco Contour Electra, £100
• Best budget buy travel cot: Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot, £37
• Best travel cot for versatile features: Hauck Sleep'n Play Centre Travel Cot, £79.95
• Best travel cot for occasional use: Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot, £60
• Best travel cot for newborns: Joie Kubbie Sleep, £99.99
• Best budget travel cot for co-sleeping: Red Kite Dreamer Bedside Travel Crib, £65
• Best travel cot for versatile newborn co-sleeping: Chicco Next2Me PopUp, £199
• Best travel cot for no upper weight limit: BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light, £219.90
• Best stylish travel cot: Tutti Bambini CoZee Go 3-in-1 Bassinet, Travel Cot & Playpen, £129
• Best lightweight newborn travel crib: ErgoPouch Easy Sleep Portable Crib, £99.95
• Jump to best travel cots and cribs in 2024
• Jump to why do I need a travel cot?
• Jump to what to look for when buying a travel cot
• Jump to how, when and where will you use your travel cot?
• Jump to how much does a travel cot cost

Here are the best travel cots for 2024

1. bugaboo stardust, £225, – best for easy assembly.

Suitable from: birth (with newborn insert) to 2 years/15kg | Travel cot weight: 6.7kg | Unfolded dimensions: L64cm x W98cm x H85cm| Folded dimensions: L 65cm x W14cm x H85cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes

• Quickest to assemble
• 2 mattress height positions
• Lightweight

More like this

• Quite large when folded

Forget tricky folds, the pop-up style mechanism of the Bugaboo Stardust takes just seconds: simply pull the cot open from flat by pulling both sides. It’s perfect for a hassle-free bedtime when you’re not in the comfort of your own home.

It conveniently folds back down in the same amount of time, too, although it is worth noting this model folds down to a large flat shape, like a suitcase, making better suited to sliding into a car boot or under a bed than taking on public transport.

Along with the ease of assembly, the built-in mattress is what you pay for with this model: it's not only comfortable but can be adjusted to two height positions (with the newborn insert) making it easier to lift out newborns and babies not yet sitting up unaided. This is particularly handy if you’re prone to back problems or have just had a C-section. The mattress can be folded down inside the cot, meaning no extra assembly is required.

Although one of the priciest travel cots on our list, the Stardust can still deliver great value if you’re using your travel cot regularly with your baby. MFM home tester Rovenna, who tried it with her 4-month-old, said, "The fact it has both a raised zip in baby bassinet or a deep bed for toddlers – as well as a comfortable and generously filled built in mattress – is fantastic. It’s compact and lightweight, meaning it can be easily moved from room to room and transported in its handy carry bag.”

Available from: Bugaboo , Boots and John Lewis

2. Venture Airpod Travel Cot, £119.99

– best for lightweight with good mattress.

Suitable from: birth to 3 years | Travel cot weight: 6kg | Unfolded dimensions: L85cm x W55cm x H66cm| Folded dimensions: 60cm x 15cm x 50cm | Newborn bassinet: No | Awards: Gold – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2024

• Easy to build and collapse
• Mesh design
• Good mattress
• No newborn bassinet
• Can’t be used as playpen

This travel cot is very lightweight, comfortable and easy to carry. It's available in a number of colours and features mesh panels on all sides. The mesh means that you can get a great view of your baby or toddler, while also ensuring good air circulation at night time.

Travel cot mattresses are often the feature that parents are least satisfied with, as they are often thin and flimsy. However, the Airpod travel cot has a better quality, more luxurious mattress than you might expect. Although the Cuggl Deluxe is very similar and quite a bit cheaper in price, we found that the mattress in this travel cot was of much higher quality.

Although this cot doesn't have an all-in-one pop-up assembly, it's still easy to put up and down, so much so that some of our home tester parents didn’t need the instructions. “It was very easy to remove from the carry case and put the cot together.” said MFM home tester Sarah. “It was also easy to take apart and put back into the travel case. No fiddling or spare parts. The easiest baby item I have actually put together.”

The Airpod Travel Cot is suitable from birth, but it doesn't come with a bassinet, something that you might prefer for a newborn. Offering a good amount of room, the travel cot can also be used as a play pen, and offers a comfy night's sleep for babies and toddlers.

Available from: Amazon and Venture

3. Silver Cross Slumber 3-in-1, £195

– best multi-function travel cot.

Suitable from: birth (with newborn insert) to approx. 3 years (up to 15kg) | Travel cot weight: 7.65kg | Unfolded dimensions: 112 x 80 x 67cm| Newborn bassinet: Included

• 3-in-1 functionality
• Will grow with your child
• Sustainable fabric
• Large when assembled, expensive

If you're looking for a multi-use travel cot that will grow with your child from birth, then the Silver Cross Slumber is a stylish design that offers 3-in-1 functionality in one portable package. Made of breathable mesh with a padded mattress included, the Slumber has three distinct uses as a bedside co-sleeper, travel cot and playpen.

Zip in the newborn insert to create a bedside crib suitable from birth until approximately 6 months old. The newborn insert sits at the top of the cot, meaning your baby will be at the height of your bed - although these is no option to drop the side in this mode as with some bedside cribs.

As your baby grows, you can use the Slumber as lightweight travel cot, using the same mattress. A waterproof carry case is included to allow for easy portability on the go. You can also use the Slumber as a secure play pen, and there's a zip-open door your toddler can crawl in and out when they are older.

At 7.65kg it’s a lightweight design that can be transported easily and stored away when not in use. The Slumber also has an easy-fold function meaning it can pop up and fold down quickly. For eco-conscious parents, Slumber features quilted material crafted using a yarn made from recycled plastic bottles that would have otherwise been sent to landfill. It looks good too, with an attractive, minimalistic design. This is a useful product that will grow with your child and a stylish option from a trusted brand.

The Silver Cross Slumber is available in two different colourways, carbon and stone.

Available from: Boots

4. Graco Contour Electra, £100

– best for added extras.

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 10kg | Unfolded dimensions: H:91cm W:73cm D:104cm| Folded dimensions: H:85cm D:23cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes

• Lots of accessories included
• Good newborn bassinet

If you're looking for a travel cot that will do double or even triple duty, this could be the product for you. The Graco Contour Electra comes bursting with added extras, including practical additions like a cot-top changing unit, and fun ones like the mobile and battery-operated unit that plays tunes and vibrates the cot.

MFM home tester Jessica said, "The Graco Electra travel cot has proven to be a lovely cot for my 5 month old son. It folds up to an easily transportable, small travel bag and has lovely extras such as the hanging toy bar and night light which are well thought out."

There's a newborn bassinet that fastens in to keep tiny babies close, and the whole unit is on wheels so it can be moved easily. It's definitely not the lightest product on our list, but remove any accessories you're not using (such as the changer or bassinet) and this significantly reduces the weight to make it easier to move or carry.

Read our full MadeForMums Graco Contour Electra review

Available from: Smyths and Graco

5. Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot, £37

– best budget buy.

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 8.7kg | Unfolded dimensions: L99cm x W59.5cm x H80.5cm| Folded dimensions: L27cm x W25cm x H80.5cm| Newborn bassinet: No | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.2 stars

• Easy to assemble
• Thin mattress
• Not very lightweight

The cheapest cot on our list, the Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot is a great choice if you're looking for an affordable but sturdy option. The mattress, as you'd expect, is quite thin, so if you do look to buy an alternative one, take note of the dimensions and ensure anything you buy is the correct size. It must be a snug fit with no gaps around the edges.

Where this travel cot does excel is the ease of assembly. “Once you have pulled up the handle in the bottom and un-assembled the cot, it is very easy to fold shut and put into the carry-bag,” stated our MFM reviewer Jessica, who called it “hassle-free and very quick.” Travel cots of this type usually have an order in which each section has to be assembled (or taken down), so pay close attention to the instructions.

This cot's purse-friendly price point doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality – you’ll find plenty of useful design features like a full padded top rail and mesh sides to provide visibility and air flow. Our MFM reviewer and parent testers also found it felt robust once built. One parent tester said, “It feels secure, with the side bars locking in place, and is sturdy enough to accommodate a lively toddler.”

Read our full MadeForMums review of the Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot

Available from: Amazon and Halfords

6. Hauck Sleep'n Play Centre Travel Cot, £79.95

– best for versatile features.

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 8.5kg | Unfolded dimensions: L125cm x W68.5cm x H82cm| Folded dimensions: L22cm x W21cm x H76.5cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes | Awards: Bronze – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2024

• Good value with lots of features
• Changing table included
• Can wheel along when folded
• Easy to assemble and transport
• Thin, uneven mattress

The Hauck Sleep'n Play Centre Travel Cot has all the bells and whistles for under £100. This includes an integrated changing table, high and low sleeping positions (reducing back strain), a utility pocket, a zip-down side panel for a fun playpen adventure (crawl in – crawl out) and a fun design with pops of colour. For ease of moving about, it also has two wheels when folded up that means you can pull it along like a suitcase – genius!

Our home testers found the cot to be well made and sturdy, and they particularly liked the wipeable fabrics. With a little practice, parents found it easy to set up and fold down as long as they performed the steps in the right order. "The cot feels sturdy when set up and the fabric is wipeable which makes life easy when on the go," says Shannon, who tested it with their 2-month-old baby Rae (pictured).

Testers would have liked the mattress to be a bit thicker, however, and didn't score it quite so highly for comfort (Hauck do sell a thicker mattress separately). One parent said they found the included mattress did not lie completely flat, but that “the unevenness was not to the extent that we had concerns about baby”. They also felt the changing table’s safety strap could be longer for older babies.

"It's good travel cot for the price with lots of features," said Jennifer, who tested the cot with her 3 month old Brianna. "It's large so will last while our child grows, and the ability to use from newborn up is obviously very helpful. The included change station an added bonus for when baby is small and I think the quality of the frame and materials is good."

Bargain hunters will be happy to hear that despite the £79.95 RRP, we’ve seen online deals for less than £60 - which would make this even better value.

Available from: Boots and Online4Baby

7. Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot, £60

– best for occasional use.

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 6kg | Unfolded dimensions: L85 cm x W56cm x H86m| Folded dimensions: L50cm x W61cm x H15cm| Newborn bassinet: No

• Folds up small
• Small footprint
• Low weight limit

Coming in at only 6kg, this is one of the lightest travel cots on our list, and also one of the most affordable. If you're looking for an all-rounder for occasional use during the first couple of years of your child's life, it's a good value option that performs well. We found it can be constructed in minutes and folds up to a suitcase size, although it's sadly not quite small enough to take as hand luggage on a plane.

The built-in mattress is 2.5cm deep, putting it on a par with most travel cot mattresses but perhaps not up there with the likes of the Bugaboo Stardust. Overall, the cot is smaller in size than some other options we tested, but that means it folds up smaller too. However, for taller children a larger option like the Joie Kubbie or BabyBjorn might last you longer.

Available from: Argos

8. Joie Kubbie Sleep Travel Cot, £99.99

– best for newborns.

Suitable from: Birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 8.79kg | Unfolded dimensions: L99cm x W59.5cm x H80.5cm| Folded dimensions: L 27 cm x W 25 cm x H 80.5cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes

• Simple drop-side feature
• Grows with baby
• Can be tricky to put up and down

For parents who want a travel cot from birth – perhaps to keep at a family member or caregiver's house – the Joie Kubbie Sleep combines the functionality of a travel cot with that of a bedside crib, with a drop-down side operated by a button that allows easier access to a newborn while in bassinet mode. It does sit quite high up so the exact functionality will differ depending on the type of bed you have, but in those early days when mum is healing it could be a lifesaver.

"One of the great features of the Joie Kubbie Sleep travel cot is that it can be used beside the bed once its straps are attached to the bed, and its side is dropped," said MFM reviewer Dominic, who tested this with his newborn daughter. He was also impressed with the durability, saying, "I’m really impressed with the quality of the build, despite the ‘sticky’ mechanics. Once assembled, it feels sturdy enough to last a number of years, which will be helpful for when our daughter can start using it as a playpen."

Once your baby is old enough, you simply put up the side, drop the mattress down to the base of the cot, and it becomes a generously-sized travel cot and playpen that'll last until the child weighs 15kg. The pull-and-click functionality takes a few minutes to master, and like others of this style there's an order you need to memorise in order to get it to go up and down smoothly, but Joie has a great instructional video to help .

Read our full MadeForMums Joie Kubbie travel cot review

Available from: Very and Argos

9. Red Kite Dreamer Bedside Travel Crib, £65

– best budget travel cot for co-sleeping.

Suitable from: birth (with bassinet) to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 7.6kg | Unfolded dimensions: L99cm x W57cm x H76cm| Folded dimensions: L27cm x W71cm x H26m| Newborn bassinet: Yes

• Permanent drop-side option
• Flimsy newborn insert

Like the Joie Kubbie sleep, the Red Kite Dreamer offers the perfect travel option for families with newborns that use a bedside crib at home, as it has the same drop-side functionality built into a more portable travel cot. However, unlike the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which has a button-operated drop-side, this one is fastened with buckles, making it more suited to those who want to keep the cot fastened to their bed with the side dropped permanently down, for a safe way to cosleep with a newborn.

Once the baby is older, it becomes a travel cot that's almost a metre in length, offering lots of space for a growing toddler. Our testers were divided on the mattress' comfort levels. While our reviewer found it to be too firm for their 9 month old, other testers really rated it. "As travel cots go this is one of the comfiest mattresses I’ve seen. It feels nice and padded and had a solid firm base underneath to secure into the cot," said home tester Bridget, who tested this with her 4 month old.

Our testers did find the bassinet insert for newborns a little flimsy, but fine given that's only used for the first few months before moving to the full travel cot. It's also lightweight to carry and one of the smaller folds on this list.

Read our full MadeForMums Red Kite Dreamer beside travel cot review

Available from: Argos and Red Kite

10. Chicco Next2Me PopUp, £199

— best travel cot for versatile newborn co-sleeping.

Suitable from: birth to 6 months | Travel cot weight: 10.5kg | Unfolded dimensions: L97cm x W80cm x H82cm | Folded dimensions: L97cm x W84cm x H23m | Newborn bassinet: No | Awards: Silver – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2023

• 6 height positions
• Quick and easy fold
• Shorter life span than other options
• Can be difficult to transport

The PopUp is the latest offering from the Chicco Next2Me range and is a great option for parents who will be travelling with their young baby a lot in the first 6 months. The Red Kite Dreamer and Joie Kubbie Sleep also offer co-sleeping but, unlike these, the PopUp has a range of features that make it a really great choice for newborns.

We love that the crib has 6 adjustable heights to better help it align the barrier of the crib to the parents' mattress — this is particularly useful if you're travelling and staying in different places. Also, thanks to its foldable feet, it is suitable for use with beds with storage compartments. It also comes with straps that allow the crib to conveniently attach to different beds. It can be used as a standalone or bedside crib and transforms easily between both. It also has 2 wheels that make it easy to move from room to room around the house.

There is an ergonomically designed mattress included and the crib itself has mesh panelling on all 4 sides, providing great visibility and air ventilation as your baby sleeps.

MFM reviewer Helen who tested the Chicco Next2Me Pop Up with her 1-month-old son Alessio said, "The Pop Up works very well as a crib for the early months of a baby’s life, especially for people who will be travelling a lot, because it is so easy to put up and down. It would certainly be a practical buy if you are going to be driving to stay away from home several times in the first 6 months of your baby’s life."

The crib has an impressively quick and easy 3-second fold that Helen thought was one of the standout features of the travel cot: "The ease of putting the cot up and down with the 3-second fold, and without the need to dissemble anything, is the main selling point and for good reason. It easily folds up into one piece and is easy to insert into the travel bag included." However, at 10.5kg, the PopUp is the heaviest option on our list and is quite bulky when folded. Whilst compact and able to fit under some beds while not in use, it does have a large footprint and therefore takes up quite a lot of car boot space and may not fit into the boot of smaller cars.

Read our full MadeForMums Chicco Next2Me Pop Up travel cot review

Available from: John Lewis , Amazon and Boots

11. BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light, £219.90

– best for no upper weight limit.

Suitable from: 0-3 years | Travel cot weight: 6kg (including travel bag) | Unfolded dimensions: L112cm x W64cm x 82cm | Folded dimensions: L49cm x W60cm x H14cm | Newborn bassinet: No

• No upper weight limit
• Easy to set up
• Premium feel
• Extra thick mattress
• One of the most expensive options

This lightweight, easy-to-use travel cot impressed our parent tester for a number of reasons – as you'd expect for one of the most expensive options on our list.

The brand known for stylish baby products won't disappoint parents on the go, with a sleek silhouette, premium-feeling fabrics and excellent functionality. It's impressively easy to set up and fold down – a true highlight compared to trickier styles such as the Joie Kubbie Sleep. Simply pull out each leg, click it into place on the top frame, then place the mattress inside and secure with poppers.

MFM Head of Consumer Content and mum of 3 Christy commented: "It's so easy to set up, which is really useful if you forget how between holidays, or are asking a grandparent to help. I had no worries about sleepily packing it up at the airport hotel before we took an early flight."

The mattress is extra thick, an essential luxury as the base rests on the floor. This design means there's no weight limit, a real plus point for parents with heavier-than-average toddler.

Christy, who tested the cot with her tall 2 year old, says: "I loved the fact that the BabyBjorn has no weight limit. With a heavy toddler who is not ready for a bed, it's perfect. He slept very well, even though we tested it on a hard tiled floor."

The cleverly designed shape, with the sides inclining towards the top, also makes it harder for little ones to climb out of, and the mesh walls give great visibility from any angle.

The cot folds up into a flat rectangle shape, stored in a carry bag. Christy adds: "We took it as hold luggage out our TUI flight, and could even have fitted it inside our large family suitcase to avoid dropping it off at the 'oversized luggage' desk."

Available from: John Lewis and BabyBjörn

12. Tutti Bambini CoZee Go 3-in-1 Bassinet, Travel Cot & Playpen, £129

— best stylish travel cot.

Suitable from: Birth (with bassinet) to 3 years | Travel cot weight: 6.5kg | Unfolded dimensions: L133cm x W98cm x H65cm | Folded dimensions: L72cm x W62cm x H14cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes | Awards: Bronze – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2023

• Multi-functional
• Quick to put together
• Mattress included
• Quite large

Suitable from birth and adapting to a toddler travel cot and playpen, this Scandi-style cot impressed our testers with its appealing, stylish design and ease of use.

It's a breeze to initially put together and then fold away and, at 6.5kg, it is one of the more lightweight options on our list. It's suitable from birth with the included newborn bassinet and foldable mattress. As your baby gets older, the mattress can be unfolded to be used as a floor-level travel cot. Then you can zip open the mesh window and you've turned it into a playpen.

The mesh fabric all around the cot provides great visibility and airflow and, available separately, is the Day & Night Shade which can help your baby switch off and sleep in bright or unfamiliar places. We also love that there is a carry case included for storage or travelling. It's not the most compact travel cot when it's assembled and is still quite large when it's folded — it's wide and square, which may be awkward to transport in smaller car boots. Our testers also found that fitting everything in the carry case and zipping it back up again could be difficult.

Parent tester Cali, who tested the CoZee Go with her 13-month-old son Teddy, really loved the style and quality of the travel cot: "There are cheaper travel cot and playpen options out there but they don't look as stylish or high quality. I absolutely love the minimalist look, it's stylish and neutral. All of the materials feel extremely good quality — this is definitely one of the comfier travel cots that we've used."

Cali also praised its different elements, "The CoZee Go makes a great playpen, the zip opening was especially good for giving my son the freedom to come and go as he pleases. As a travel cot, its a really good size so should last well into toddlerhood."

Parent tester Claire, who tested this with her 3-month-old son Zach also praised the design of the cot, "It is a high-end, stylish travel cot that’s built to last and worth its price tag. It also packs up compactly for ease of transport and has a very comfortable mattress that I think little ones will sleep well in."

Available from: Kiddies Kingdom , Natural Baby Shower and Tutti Bambini

13. ErgoPouch Easy Sleep Portable Crib, £69.97

Best for: lightweight newborn travel crib.

Suitable from: birth to showing signs of rolling | Travel cot weight: 2.2kg | Unfolded dimensions: L80cm x W49cm x H27cm | Folded dimensions (in backpack): L50cm x W49cm x H8cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes | Awards: Silver – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2024

• Very light and compact
• Mosquito net included
• Multifunctional

Considerably smaller – by design – than the more traditional travel cots on our list, this lightweight folding crib weighs in at a very portable 2.2kg. It is suitable for overnight sleep with newborns, so ideal for babies who are sleeping in a moses basket or crib at home and not quite ready to spend their holiday in a larger cot. Our testers found the breathable mesh sides make it easy to keep an eye on your baby, and the easy fold and included storage backpack make this a great shout for travel in the early days. The high sides and sturdy steel frame also make it a safe resting place for tummy time and play.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a lighter travel cot, but the downside of it being such as super-lightweight crib is that it has a relatively short usage span for sleep. ErgoPouch say the product is designed as a safe sleep area for a newborn infant, but do advise you discontinue use once your baby shows signs of rolling, or has reached 9kg (whichever comes first).

Holly, who tested it with her 7 week old, Charlotte, says, “My honest initial thoughts were that it was flimsy – however as soon as I assembled the product I realised it was exceptionally well produced - the materials are wonderfully lightweight which allows it to be carried in the accompanying backpack with ease. Similarly, I was worried that the mattress would be overly thin but in reality it is not much thinner than the mattress we currently have in the moses basket and is soft and comfortable. Great value for money!”

We also like the fact the mattress is breathable, and the cotton cover can be removed for washing. For lazy days by the pool or in your garden, it even comes with a mosquito net for extra protection for your baby. Folded down and popped in the travel case, it can also fit in overhead lockers on the airplane, or inside a suitcase.

Available from: Ergopouch and Natural Baby Shower

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Why do I need a travel cot?

One of the main benefits of travel cots are their portability. Regular cots are often made of wood and to disassemble and put in a car or suitcase would be quite a task! With a travel cot disassembly is usually a matter of a few minutes (or even seconds) and some of the travel cots on our list fold small enough to fit in a suitcase or overhead locker alongside the stroller.

Travel cots are an on-the-go sleeping option that means you won’t have to rely on sleeping arrangements at your destination. For frequent travellers they can be as familiar to little ones as their regular bed; helping to aid sleep in a different environment.

What to look for when buying a travel cot

Portability — Travel cots have lighter-weight components and are designed to be easily carried and stored. But they're still cots, so none of them are going to fold into a truly tiny package. They fold into different shapes so look for the folded style that suits your needs. Some of the travel cots on our list fold into a long 3D rectangular shape more suited to public transport, others fold flat to fit well in a car boot.

Weight — Travel cots vary significantly in weight - we found some that are under 7kg and others that weigh in at a hefty 10.5kg. There's even a super-light travel crib, albeit with a shorter usage period. Think about how often you’re going to use it, and if you’ll be lifting it up and down stairs or in and out of a car. If you want frequent use, a very lightweight travel cot may suit you best. Of course, a heavier cot is likely to feel more sturdy and offer more functionality.

Ease of assembly/disassembly — Once you have the knack, putting a travel cot up and down should be a very quick process - a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Do read the instructions though, many have a knack and have parts that need to be put together in a very specific order. If you only plan on using it occasionally, a cot with a very easy, or intuitive fold, might suit you better than an 'easy once you've practised a few times' option.

Age suitability — Age suitability really varies for travel cots. Most can be used from birth – we’ve specified the manufacturer’s instructions – but the travel cots that have a built-in bassinet offer a cosier, elevated sleep environment for newborns. This will also make bending down to lift them out easier if they need frequent settling through the night. Several of the cots even have drop-down sides to allow them to be used as a bedside crib. Some cots can only be used for a few months while others are suitable up to around 3.5 years.

Mattress — Travel cot mattresses tend to be thinner and harder than normal cot mattresses. This is partly to enable a compact fold and easy storage, and is why travel cots are usually not recommended for permanent overnight sleep. But remember, a firm mattress is important for safe sleep for your baby, and doesn’t mean your child won’t be comfortable. Most manufacturers will state that you shouldn't add an extra mattress to a travel cot.

Extra functions — Some travel cots can serve as a handy playpen once babies can sit up. Some also have a changing station, which could be useful if you’re frequently travelling with a baby.

How, when and where will you use your travel cot?

Do you plan to use the travel cot frequently during the year, or do you need it for a particular holiday? The frequency and location of where you’ll use it will help when considering weight, functionality and budget. For example, if the travel cot will be used for overnight stays at relatives or friends every month, you won’t need to worry too much about weight and the ease of assembly – especially if it can remain constructed.

For holidays in hot climates, a breathable mattress and all-around mesh panel are factors to consider. These help with air circulation and will provide a more comfortable environment for your child to sleep. Some travel cots include or offer the option of an insect net and sun protection.

For travel involving flights, it’s worth investigating your airline’s baggage allowances. A light, compact-folding model with easy assembly could be your best solution.

How much does a travel cot cost?

Our list covers travel cot prices ranging from £35 up to more than £200 - so quite a wide scope. For items at all price points, we expect a safe, comfortable and stable sleeping environment.

When looking at budget options, our reviewers found that they certainly did the trick and functioned well as a travel cot but were quite basic with limited added extras. For example, you shouldn’t expect a changing station included on a lower priced travel cot.

When considering more high-end travel cots we still expect good value (not overpriced), premium components and extra thought on a design that will make traveling with kids a breeze. Of course, the more often you travel, the easier it is to get your money’s worth out of a more expensive travel cot.

The mid-range options on our list – priced under £100 include many great benefits and may tick quite a few boxes but without some of the lush extras of more expensive models.

How did we choose our 13 of the Best?

When testing travel cots, we considered size and weight limits, mattress quality, effectiveness, ease of build/fold, ease of transportation, any extra features or additions, and value the money.

Our 10 of the Best lists are compiled by qualified and experienced parenting journalists. They rely on a number of sources, including our independent reviews, testing undertaken during the MadeForMums Awards, and feedback from our home testing panel and Top Testers Club. Each year thousands of products are put through their paces by hundreds of parents across the country on behalf of MadeForMums, to ensure we’re bringing you honest and true reviews and recommendations.

Our list is not an ordered ranking from 1-10, instead it is a carefully selected group of tried-and-tested products, each ofwhich we believe is  best for  a different situation or requirement. We don’t just tell you what is best, we help you discover what is best for  your family .

Read more...

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Christy is MadeForMums’ Head of Consumer Content

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6 Best Travel Cots of 2024

• by Baby Village
• 04 January 2024

Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot

• BabyBjorn Easy Go Travel Cot
• Bugaboo Stardust Travel Cot
• ergoPouch Portable Bassinet
• Koo-Di Pop Up Bassinet
• Phil & Teds Traveller
• shopping guides

While Travel Cots are great for holidays, their uses start much closer to home. If you've got a new Bub and you enjoy the outdoors, it's perfect for picnics or just spending time in the backyard. They're perfect for overnights with your parents, or even a secondary sleep setup in your own home, think day-naps or homes over split levels. Travel Cots are the perfect solution and one of the most essential items you need on your packing list.

Our Top 6 Travel Cots for 2024

1. Bugaboo Stardust - the pop up portacot!

2. BabyBjorn Easy Go Travel Cot - the popular easy-go must have!

3. Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot - the most versatile travel cot!

4. Phil & Teds Traveller - the lightest in the market!

5. ergoPouch Portable Bassinet - the best for newborn!

6. Bebe Care Zuri Timber Travel Cot - the best value travel cot!

Before we jump into the fantastic details of these Travel Cots, it’s important you know what you are looking for so we have come up with a list of must haves to help you figure what Travel Cot is best for you & why.

What are the Factors I need to consider when choosing a Travel Cot for my Baby?

Is it easy to assemble & is it stable.

Next factor to consider is how easy the cot’s assembly is. A cot that’s easy to assemble and disassemble is the most ideal when travelling, whether you’re staying in one place or going to different destinations. Especially if you arrive there late at night and your baby is already off to dreamland, you would want to have the cot set up in a snap. Once that cot is up; you have to consider its stability. You will have to get a cot that can withstand a baby that moves around a lot to avoid late night disasters.

What is the weight?

Next is the cot’s weight. A travel cot to be used on holiday vacations and trips need to be lightweight, so it’s a breeze for you to carry around. On the other hand, if you’re the type who loves spending time with relatives and wants their child to bond with their grandparents, then a heavier one would suffice since you’ll probably leave the cot at your parents’ house. It is also advisable to consider where you are going to be storing your travel cot. Although all Travel Cots fold quite compactly if you need to squeeze it into overhead storage on a plane in comparison to the relatively large boot of your car this might be another consideration at the time of purchase.

Is the Travel Cot the right size for me?

It’s also important to consider the size of the cot and what mode of transportation you are taking on your next adventure. If you’re travelling by plane, there are some cots that can be folded compactly and can fit in the overhead bins. There are others that do not fold as small as those types, but still do not take up a lot of storage.

What is the age limit?

It’s important to first consider who will be using the cot. Whether it is an infant or a toddler will impact your choice in Travel Cots as some cots are suitable from birth and others not. Some also have inbuilt bassinet functionality to assist with newborns allowing you to use from birth all the way to toddler years in one.

What is the cost?

And lastly is the cost. If you think you’ll be using a travel cot often, then it might be worth getting one at a higher cost because the money you spend will be well worth it. While most hotels do have portable cots available, they often charge for it. So, for families who love going on vacations, consider the cost of renting a cot and getting one of your own. However if you want it for ease of use around the house or for sitting outdoors with Bub then a cheaper option may be the better choice for you & your little one.

What complementary accessories can I purchase?

Some Travel Cots have extra accessories that you can purchase to increase your babies’ comfort while sleeping, or out & about. Some have matching fitted sheets while others have sun covers or travel bags & more. If you are looking for a Travel Cot that has it all then this is another important consideration in your shopping journey.

Top Travel Cots for 2024

Bugaboo stardust.

The Bugaboo Stardust is the newest Travel Cot to hit the market and it is a phenomenal addition. Taking only one second to unfold and three seconds to fold, the Bugaboo Stardust has been designed to offer you a quick and straightforward way to travel with your baby. Not only is it easy to fold but you can do it with the mattress in it!

The mattress has enough padding for your little one to sleep comfortably but is firm enough for regular use at home making it perfect for keeping Bub close by during your morning workout or keeping them safe during outdoor family bonding. The all-around mesh panels will ensure optimal airflow, always providing a safe and peaceful sleep. Weight: 7kgs Age Capacity: Newborn - Two Years

BabyBjorn Travel Cot

The BabyBjorn Travel Cot is one of the most popular travel cots on the market and makes parents' lives much easier when travelling with their little one. With a practical assembly that involves just a single movement and it’s lightweight frame, the BabyBjörn Travel Cot Easy Go combines the efficiency and function parents need when travelling with babies and small children. The easy-to-grip handles allowing parents to easily move it around and even check in at airports makes it an easy purchase choice for first time travel with Bub. Weight: 6kgs (including carry bag) Age Capacity: From newborn to approximately three years, or until your child can climb out of the travel cot.

The Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot is one of the most versatile travel Cots on the market and is perfect for parents who not only need a travel cot to jet set off on a holiday but also for an easy way to keep Baby close & safe for activities or naps at home. It also provides two levels when it comes to your Bub’s ultimate comfort when sleeping & growing up. An intermediate level has been provided for babies up to 2 months so you don't have to stretch too far to pick up your baby. When children can sit up straight the time has come to make the switch to the lowest level! Weight: < 5kgs Age Capacity: Intermediate Level (Newborn - Two months), Ground Level (suitable for use until your little one is old enough to climb out of bed on his/her own)

Phil & Teds Traveller

Weighing in at 2.8kg the Phil & Teds Traveller is one of the lightest travel cots on the market and is a fantastic option for parents looking for the most comfortable experience when travelling. This means no more lugging around a heavy travel cot for parents and no need to worry about oversized baggage at check in ~ it’s a dream for first time parents! The Traveller is also adaptable for indoors & outdoors, with an additional mesh top for shade. It is versatile and light while still maintaining the strength and breathability of other Travel Cots on the market. Weight: 2.8kg Age Capacity: Newborn to Three years old.

Ergopouch Portable Bassinet

Finding a versatile sleep option for your newborn that isn’t a heavy cot or bassinet can be challenging but ergoPouch has created a fantastic option for new parents who are looking for a lightweight and more portable sleep option for their little one. Perfect for naps around the house, on the go or overnight (either at home or away from home) it’s great for bedtime with baby. It is also a fantastic portable option when out & about for tummy time, play or simply gazing up at the trees while you get your workout in or read a book. Weight: 2.2kgs Age Capacity: Newborn babies who are not yet rolling / up to 9kgs

Bebe Care Zuri Timber Travel Cot

If you are out and about or at home the ZURI Timber Travel Cot is perfect cot for your little one! It is simple to set up abd fold up. It is light and convenient to carry. The ZURI Timber Travel Cot features fully ventilated mesh sides which helps you see your baby clearly. This travel cot also comes with soft and comfy mattress so you can sleep tight knowing that your little one is as cosy as they can be. Weight: 8kg Age Capacity: Birth - 13 kg

There are lots of fantastic benefits to purchasing a travel cot for all the adventures your little family are going to go on as well as the added bonus that in bringing your own, you’re assuring yourself that you’re placing your baby in a clean and safe cot. It’s also a great idea to ‘warm up’ your baby to the porta-cot prior to travel so that they become accustomed to it before you travel with them. This could be setting it up in their usual room, using it first for a day nap at home and then one or two nights. This will make your baby less fussy, unlike if they were in unfamiliar surroundings, and will allow them to rest peacefully. If you've got any questions leave us a comment below or email [email protected] .

With love, BVx

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10 best travel cots in 2022

Are you planning on travelling with your baby? Travelling as a parent comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when it comes to sleeping. Baby travel cots are perfect for parents who want to carry their little one on a plane, bus, or even train. They’re lightweight and can be folded up and stored away easily once travelling is over.

But what are the best travel cots in 2022? We have listed the best travel cots for you to use and what features each has so that you can choose which one is right for you.

Why do we need travel cots?

As a parent, you pretty much have your hands full, so it doesn’t make sense to drag a crib around and a travel bag. Additionally, airport security tends to frown on cribs. Whether it’s a few days away for a weekend break or a week-long holiday, baby travel cots can offer those precious few moments of rest and relaxation before or after an important journey.

READ MORE : We select the 8 best travel kettles in 2022

All babies are different. In fact, many parents will tell you their child is unique; it is not just something they say but the truth. Each baby has a distinctive personality and particular ways of reacting to stimuli.

These reactions can cause problems during travelling times if not catered for properly. How can we stop this? Baby travel cots have been designed to make carrying your baby easier and safer for you and your baby.

It isn’t just for long trips

With so many travel cots available in the market, it is only fitting to ask who uses baby travel cots and what they are used for. Travel cots are used for the safety of the baby or toddler when sleeping away from home.

The portability makes them ideal to use on holiday, on weekends, or to have on a boat. They are also useful for people with limited space at home or whose home is not suitable for overnight stays.

Here are our top 10 travel cots for smart travellers

Milliard portable toddler bumper bed, chicco lullago travel bed, pack and play, ounuo 2 in 1 portable playard, babybjorn travel crib light.

• Pamo Babe 2 in 1 Bassinet Quick Foldable Travel Crib

SnoozeShade Pack N Play Blackout Travel Crib

Baby delight go with me, tectake travel cot, regalo my cot, guava family lotus travel crib, what to look for when purchasing a travel cot.

Travel cots are available in various sizes, from cots for when your baby is very young to larger sizes suitable for toddlers. When looking for a travel cot, it is really important to know what you are looking for. There are many different types and sizes available on the market, so make sure to compare before you go out and buy one of those quite expensive products!

Make sure you look for these things when purchasing a travel cot:

• Safety (it should have a suspension system)
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• A durable frame (should also be comfortable)
• Foldability (compact and takes up less space)
• Unfolding way and dimensions
• Weight and size

Also, keep in mind that the mattress must be made of high-quality materials and body-safe to avoid chemical burns, allergies or rashes from using the product. This will protect both the baby and the mother’s health.

The top 10 travel cots in 2022

The Milliard Travel Crib is a portable, bassinet-style travel bed that allows you to keep your newborn close as you get some well-deserved rest while travelling. The adjustable carry bag makes storage and transport easy.

Features include: – Portable Crib – Built-in sleeping bag – Machine washable cover – Teething rail for chewing relief – 5 point safety harness – Made from soft plastic crib sheets material.

The Chicco Lullago Travel Bed is the next generation of travel cots and is suitable for home, hotel or car. It draws heavily on traditional travel cot designs but with a modern twist.

Ingeniously designed to be used both as a travel bed and a cot at home, this versatile product has been rigorously crash tested to ensure baby’s safety every step of the way.

UNUO’s 2 in1 Portable Playard is the only portable play-yard providing sleep and safety. The first and only convertible travel cot can be changed from a playpen to a portable bed and used at any time.

The air mattress has a blower, making it easy to inflate and deflate, with the valve having an auto-lock function for quick deflation. The mattress is made of clear PVC material, thus can be washed by water or wet wipes.

The removable cover is made of waterproof material, so you do not have to worry about your baby being wet throughout the day or night.

BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light folds to a small and easy-to-carry size, making it perfect for parents who travel with their babies.

Made from breathable mesh, this travel cot provides the same comfort and safety as a regular crib but with adjustable height so you can always make sure your baby has a clear view of your face.

The cot can be used by children up to six months old at the highest sleeping setting.

Pamo Babe 2 in 1 Bassinet Quick Foldable Travel Crib 

Pamo Babe is the travel bed that makes it easy to take your baby on an adventure.

Compact and lightweight, the travel bed folds into a flat pack for storage and transport. Once unpacked, it simply unfolds into a cot, no tools required.

Its adjustable height legs ensure you can set up in virtually any space, and its waterproof mattress keeps the cot dry through the rain as well as long naps.

SnoozeShade™ is a revolutionary, patented travel crib that helps create the perfect environment for your child, allowing them to sleep soundly and peacefully while you travel.

Made of extra-thick padding and a motion-activated light sensor, SnoozeShade™ enables babies to sleep at the ideal temperature as they are shielded from light and noise. Your baby will sleep longer, and you will have more time to enjoy your limited vacation time.

The Baby Delight Go with Me Bungalow Deluxe Portable Travel Cot is an innovative hard-wearing travel cot that is both lightweight and compact.

Made with a padded mattress, carry handle, and detachable mosquito net, this travel cot is suitable for children up to 15 months old.

Although ideal for babies, it can also be used as a bedside crib or extra bedroom in the house during its life.

The Travel Cot from TecTake is a premium quality product that can be used for every stage of your baby’s life.

It allows you to keep your baby close while getting a good night’s sleep. This travel cot has a double layer of mattress – at the top, there is a little pillow which always contains the child and at the same time ensures safety.

The Regalo My Cot is a lightweight, portable and compact travel cot made from a breathable mesh fabric ideal for babies, toddlers and children aged 12 months or older.

The convenient size allows it to be taken on excursions and trips as a comfortable place to nap, rest or play.

The Lotus Travel Crib from Guava Family is a safe and supportive travel bed that follows you wherever you go.

It features a washable cotton mattress, easy folding, and small folding size so that it can be stored in the car on the way to the cabin or on top of your luggage.

The cot meets industry safety standards for infant travel beds and is safe for children up to 20 lbs (9.07 kg).

Whether it’s a day trip or a week-long vacation, when you are bringing your child along, be sure to check out the best travel cots in 2022.

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11 best travel cots for hassle-free holidays and overnight stays

Help little ones (and yourself) get some shut-eye with these best-rated snug and secure travel cots, article bookmarked.

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Babies don’t travel light. But if you’re planning a relaxing trip, whether it’s a UK staycation or something more exotic , you can’t skimp on the travel cot.

While some hotels and Airbnbs promise to provide travel cots for the tiniest members of the family, you’ve no idea how many children have slept on them before your little darlings, or predict what that means for how comfortable and sturdy they are. Taking a baby out of their usual safe, strong cot with a supportive mattress and putting them in a shaky cage with a rock-hard or spiky mattress is a fast way to ensure nobody in the family gets much shut-eye.

Different travel cots have different age and weight limits, so, before buying one, consider how many years of use you want to get from your cot. Size is another key factor when looking at travel cots, as those with a larger surface area can double up as a playpen in the day. Also, if you’re in unfamiliar territory and are travelling with a mini-escape artist, a travel cot with high mesh sides means you can see your child and they can see out, but they’re perfectly safe at all times.

However, size should not come at the expense of portability. Remember, you’re going to have a lot of other things to carry as well as the cot, and every extra kilo counts. Plus, heavier cots tend to be more effort to erect and collapse, and you don’t want to waste precious moments of your holiday in a sweaty mess trying to put up your travel cot.

All products in this round-up meet the European Standards for safety, which should always be your first consideration when buying a travel cot. Christina Rolles from safe sleep charity The Lullaby Trust says: “A travel cot should have a rigid frame and base, and a firm, flat mattress, covered in a waterproof material. Travel cot mattresses are often thinner and feel harder than those in a permanent cot, but don’t be tempted to place folded blankets or a quilt under the baby to make them more comfortable, as this could cause injury, suffocation or overheating.”

Related stories

How we tested travel cots.

With the help of a seven-month-old and a two-year-old, we tested the travel cots for size, comfort and safety. The toddler has a habit of swinging their leg up and escaping their regular cot, so we tried to find ones that kept them contained. We also tested each cot for speed of assembly and disassembly and picked it up when folded, to see if it was something that could be carried around an airport.

The best travel cots for 2024 are:

• Best travel cot overall – Graco foldlite: £80, Amazon.co.uk
• Best budget travel cot – Red Kite sleep tight travel cot: £27, Asda.com
• Best travel cot for entertaining baby – Mamas & Papas joie commuter travel cot change and bounce: £190, Boots.com
• Best lightweight travel cot – BabyBjörn travel cot light: £219.90, Amazon.co.uk
• Best travel cot for breathability – Nuna sena aire: £250, Nunababy.eu.uk

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Graco foldlite travel cot

• Best : Travel cot overall
• Dimensions : L 119cm x W 63.5cm x H 68cm
• Weight : 6.78kg
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to 15kg (approximately three years old)
• Lightweight
• Easy to erect and collapse
• Strong base

The foldlite from Graco is up to 30 per cent lighter than most other cots, which we definitely noticed and appreciated – you can easily lift it one-handed. You might even find it lighter than your nappy bag, which is a win if you’re carrying a lot of other luggage for your trip.

Erecting this cot was a joy – taking less than 30 seconds. All you need to do is unwrap the mattress, push up the sides, put the mattress in the bottom and it’s ready to go. Collapsing it is just as simple – it folds up super thin, too. We also liked the sturdy material and strong base. It’s a great price at £80 and it’s made to last.

Red Kite sleep tight travel cot

• Best : Budget travel cot
• Dimensions : L101cm x W72cm x H71cm
• Weight : 7.1kg
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to 15kg
• Budget-friendly
• Mattress quite stiff

This is the cheapest travel cot we tried but it’s perfectly functional. It’s safety-tested, comes with a carry bag, is easy to assemble and has mesh sides, to give you a clear view of your child as they rest or sleep.

It doesn’t win any prizes for design, as there are no frills – it’s simply a place to sleep. Plus, the mattress is a tad on the stiff side, so you may want to spend some of the money you’ve saved on the cost of the cot on a plumper mattress. However, it’s still a very good choice if you’re only going to use it now and then throughout the year.

Mamas & Papas joie commuter travel cot change and bounce

• Best : For entertaining baby
• Dimensions : L106cm x W70.5cm x H80cm
• Weight : 14.8kg
• Excellent value for money

This is a travel cot, changing table and bouncer in one, so you can create a home from home for your baby when you travel. The bouncer is a decent size, providing a place to relax and play for babies too young to sit up. It even has cuddly toys for little ones to reach and grab.

The starry print, which is exclusive to Mamas & Papas, gives the smallest babies something to look at to help them make sense of the world, and this also helps older kids relax. We suggest counting the stars on the mattress to encourage early numeracy skills in a fun way.

This cot is taller than most others we tried, which is great if you have a mini Houdini. It makes for an excellent play and sleep solution to keep at grandparents’ house and works out at excellent value for money, when you consider it’s three useful items in one.

BabyBjörn travel cot light

• Best : Lightweight cot
• Dimenions : L 112cm x W 82cm x H 64cm
• Weight : 6kg
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to three years
• Easy to set-up
• Kind to sensitive skin

This gets top marks for ease of setup. There’s no need to bend down or fiddle with anything on the floor – all you need to do is shake it out and then secure the sides. There’s a handy YouTube video showing how to put it up in just 25 seconds, and the presenter demonstrates it isn’t even going at top speed.

Weighing just 6kg, including the carry bag, your back will thank you when you’re taking it in and out of cars or planes. Our toddler tester approved of the mattress, which makes for a cosy sleeping place. But what we liked most about this cot is knowing that its fabric is OEKO-TEX-approved, which means all materials coming into contact with your baby’s skin are kind to sensitive skin.

Nuna sena aire

• Best : For breathability
• Dimenions : L107cm x W73.5cm x H74.5cm
• Weight : 12.26kg
• Soft and sturdy

If you’re all sharing a bedroom when you travel, it may get stuffy very quickly, especially if it isn’t an air-conditioned room. We like how the Nuna sena aire addresses this issue with its mesh sides, floor and mattress providing 360 degrees of ventilation, for ultimate airflow. The better a child can breathe, the deeper they sleep, giving everyone a more relaxing trip.

We were really impressed by the feel of the triple-layered mattress, which is designed to pull away heat and humidity, and will come in useful if you’re jetting off to tropical climes.

Its clever zigzag leg design pops open easily into a soft, sturdy dreamland and it’s one of the easiest to collapse – we found we could do it one-handed.

Silver Cross slumber carbon travel cot

• Best : For style
• Dimensions : L 112cm x W 80cm x H 67cm
• Weight : 6.25kg
• Newborn inserts

The first thing to note is this comes with a premium duffle bag carry case, so you’ll look stylish when you arrive at your destination. Open the cot – with ease, as it weighs just 6.25kg – and you’ll notice the material on the top and sides feels very high-quality. The decently padded mattress caused our two-year-old to exclaim, “I like ’dis one!”

We really liked the newborn insert, which raises very young babies to typical bed height, so you don’t have to break your back lifting them in and out of the cot. It also makes it easier to nurse a baby and transfer them back to a cot. If you’re using this as a playpen, you’ll also appreciate that one of the sides unzips, so tots can crawl in and out.

Kinderkraft lovi 3-in-1 baby crib

• Best : For fussy babies
• Dimensions : L 88cm x W 61cm x H 85cm
• Weight : 5kg
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to 9kg
• Rocking motion
• Time-consuming to set-up
• Newborns will outgrow it

While it takes a bit of time to erect this travel cot and rocker, there’s a very good YouTube video to show you the process. You can access it via a QR code on the instruction leaflet included, and it’s very simple to follow along.

The rocking motion is brilliant for little ones that need movement to settle, mimicking the gentle swaying motion of the womb. Babies are at a higher level in this cot, too, so you can pick them up and settle them down without pulling a muscle.

The only slight downside to this cot is that a baby will outgrow it within the year. That said, our youngest tester loved playing with the toy bar and three adorable hanging toys that come with it, so, while their time in it may be short, it will also be very sweet.

Bugaboo stardust travel cot

• Best : Two-in-one cot and playpen
• Dimensions : L 64cm x W 98cm x H 85cm
• Weight : 6.7kg
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to two years old
• Keep its shape well
• Newborn insert
• Mattress is a little fir

Setting up this pop-up travel cot was a total breeze, despite how tall and strudy it is once erected. We were surprised by how much the mattress kept it’s solid shape, with no crease or fold from being flat-packed within the cot and travel bag.

Mums will be grateful for the newborn insert, which raises babies to bed level. The breathable mesh is ideal for all seasons to keep baby’s temperature regulated.

The mattress is nicely padded for playtime but feels a little firm for bedtime. When topped with a matrress protector and Bugaboo’s breathable fitted sheet (£27.95, Bugaboo.com ), we nailed baby’s recquirements for a peaceful snooze. You really do get more bang for your buck with this travel cot, as it doubles up as a playpen and lasts until your little one is two years old.

Halo flex portable bassinet

• Best : Portable bedside crib
• Dimensions : L75cm x W100.3cm x H108.6cm
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to five months

A lightweight and portable bedside crib is hard to come by, so, we were very grateful Halo’s offering ticked a lot of boxes for parents to get that reassuring ‘home away from home’ feeling when on the move.

It can be a daunting experience taking a little one away for the first time, especially when they are used to co-sleeping at home. We were delighted that this bassinet meant babies could feel just as close to their parents as they do at home. The mattress is extra soft when wrapped in Halo’s 100 per cent cotton fitted sheet (£16.64, Halosleep.co.uk ), and the cot is surrounded by breathable lining to suit all temperatures, and enable parents to keep a 360 view of baby.

We have to admit, we did use this more at home than on our travels, as it was so easy to adjust the height of the crib for when you’re sitting on the sofa during the day or when you’re sleeping at night and want to comfort your baby quickly. The side of the crib lowers easily, with no need to stand up or hunch over. This is particularly helpful for mums recovering from C-section delivery as well as for night feeds.

An over-the-shoulder carry bag comes included but it is less sturdy than other holdalls we’ve tested, and one side is partially open, due to its drawstring closing, which didn’t feel as secure. The packing away was a simple enough four-step process.

Fisher-Price on the go travel baby dome

• Best : For on-the-go parents
• Dimensions : L80cm x W76cm x H71cm
• Weight : 2.5kg
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to five months (until babies can sit unaided)

This travel cot combines the perfect solution for on-the-go parents and tired babies. It’s lightweight, easy to set up and allows babies to nap or play wherever they are.

We love that this cot can be used indoors and outdoors, to encourage the whole family to get more vitamin D. The canopy keeps your little one protected from the sun as well as keeping out creepy crawlies.

As it folds up flat, we found it easy to keep it stored in the car for spontaneous day trips and overnight stays with the grandparents. However, it doesn’t come with a carry bag, which would have made it easier to keep clean and compact. Two overhead linking toys are included, to keep your baby entertained and relaxed.

ergoPouch easy sleep portable crib

• Best : For summer use
• Dimensions : L80cm x W49cm x H27cm
• Weight : 2.2kg
• Age limit : Suitable from birth to 9kg (or when baby starts rolling over)
• Ideal for summer
• Short-lived usage

You can’t get any more portable than this lightweight pop-up cot that folds up as a small rucksack and weighs just 2.2kg. The mosquito net is ideal for summer babies, if you want to get some fresh air and let them have a safe daytime nap outdoors.

If you are travelling with a baby less than three months old on a flight, we recommend taking this one for sleeping on-the-go, if you get the luxury of seats with extra leg room. The backpack will fit neatly under your seat or in the overhead lockers.

The only downfall is this bassinet is only suitable until your baby shows signs of rolling over, so it’s quite a hefty price for short-lived use.

Travel cot FAQs

What age is a travel cot for.

This will depend on the cot you buy – bassinets are designed for newborns up to three months old, while larger options are available for children up to five years old.

Can a baby sleep in a travel cot every night?

It’s not recommended to use a travel cot regularly for a long period of time, as they’re not designed to support your baby’s development. Instead, limit their use for short trips away and daytime naps.

What to look for when buying a travel cot

You already have enough to think about while travelling with your baby, so the best cots are hassle-free. They should be easy to assemble, collapse and store, while the addition of wheels and a carry bag should make cots easier to transport from A to B. If you’re shopping for a newborn up to three months old, a bassinet is the way to go – these are raised, to give you a clearer view of your little one during the night, while you can lift them up without the risk of throwing out your back.

Do travel cots need a mattress?

Yes – the cots themselves are thin and hard, so a mattress is essential, though most of our top picks come with a mattress included.

The verdict: Travel cots

The Graco foldlite is excellent value for a lightweight cot that’s easy to erect and collapse, and we felt both our seven-month-old and two-year-old testers were safe in there. It will grow with your child, and provide a secure place to sleep and play for up to three years.

The BabyBjörn travel cot light also deserves praise for ease of setup and for the comfort of its mattress, while the Mamas & Papas joie commuter travel cot solves three of a baby’s needs – sleep, play and hygiene – in one neat package.

Provide extra comfort by investing in the best cot mattresses

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Best Travel Cots For Babies And Toddlers

Traveling with little ones in your family often means having a few must-haves for families immediately accessible and travel-ready everywhere you go at a moment’s notice, including a portable cot. Nap time or sleep can strike at any moment, and having a safe place for your baby to sleep is a requirement. These portable cots are easy to carry, set up, collapse, and store, making them helpful for setting up your baby’s sleeping spot on vacation.

Portable travel cots are perfect for when your little one needs a break to sleep or calm down after an exhausting day. Portable travel cots also help your little ones stay safe during sleep (they won’t have to share a bed with you or someone else) and provide a germ-free environment to play, rest, and sleep. On day trips, cabin stays, or other excursions, portable travel cots are a true lifesaver for families packing for a baby . These reviews cover some of the best travel cots on the market, creating the best option for families and babies everywhere.

Table of Contents

Best Portable Cots For Traveling With A Baby Or A Toddler – Our Picks + Reviews

Lotus comfortable travel crib.

This popular travel cot is a favorite pick for the best travel cots by parents everywhere. This multipurpose travel cot is sturdy and certified baby-safe, offering a comfortable play-yard and mattress that is lightweight and backpack portable. Each crib is a safe and non-toxic certified rest and play place that features full-height mesh with best, breathable airflow to cool off your baby.

The Lotus Travel Crib is designed to withstand all kinds of travel. It fits into a compact, light backpack carrying case and set up takes less than fifteen seconds to complete. Featuring an innovative quiet side zipper door that you can use to lay down your baby without waking them up. The easy-to-adjust mattress folds and is full of thick, soft foam that’s been approved for newborns and infants to sleep in safely. At $209, this is a fairly priced crib that will last you and your baby a lifetime.

4Moms Breeze Plus Portable Playard

This all-in-one care station is designed to set up with one hand as a portable playard with removable bassinet and changing station that’s the perfect solution to moms and dads’ needs. This easily accessible and collapsible design creates instant comfort and sleep as well as a place to take care of all of your baby’s needs. The playard is easily transportable and packs into a travel bag for carrying and packing in cars, airplanes or other stowaway containers.

Your baby can sleep, play, or bounce around in this sturdy portable playard that sets up anywhere. Drop them off at a caretaker, bring it on vacation, or set it up in the living room to hold your kiddo while you do your chores. Made from strong, durable polyester and heavy-duty support beams, this is the best travel crib for flying with, as it packs up conveniently for travel and set up. Priced at $600, this is an extremely expensive option, but its durability and flexibility as well as its removable bassinet and changing table make it a good investment.

BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light

Made for simple and busy parents on the move, the BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light is designed to be adventure-ready and convenient to set up and collapse at a moment’s notice. Made of soft and sturdy polyester fabric, the lightweight, water resistant fabric of the BABYBJORN Travel Crib light can handle any kind of spills or stains and makes the crib perfect for any kind of restless baby. Designed with travel in mind, the BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light is definitely the most comfortable travel crib there is.

The BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light is a multifunctional and versatile baby play pen that’s a game changer for parents of active babies. Your baby can play, rest, stand, toss, and turn within the safe and comfortable confines of this travel crib that packs up into a light bag that transports safely everywhere. Ergonomic and stable, the BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light is designed to provide comfortable support and supervision of your baby from wherever you’re traveling. The BABYBJRON Travel Crib Light has a price of $300, a fairly midrange price for the durable and reliable crib you’re getting.

Flisko 2 in 1 Travel Crib & Bassinet

Known as the baby play yard that does it all, the Bassinet and Travel Crib is constructed with a supportive structure and solid frame that keeps your baby safe at all times. Built with high-quality rugged materials that prevent collapsing or folding and completely non-toxic. This lightweight and easily portable crib has a comfortable lifting weight and small size that’s perfect for when you’re on the go. A sleek design and foldable build are perfectly sized to fit anywhere.

The crib doesn’t require extensive setup and can be set up or disassembled in just a few minutes. It folds into a simple bag and can double as a bassinet and a full-sized playpen or crib, making it a 2 in 1 travel set that’s great for flexible and versatile families. Super soft and comfortable, the travel basset is lined with soft fabric that pads and protects your baby, as well as a plush, insulated foam mattress pad and sheet. For just $110, this is a great bargain on a versatile and multifunctional travel cot that’s the best travel crib for 2-year-olds or other children as they age.

Graco Pack and Play on the Go with Bassinet

The Graco Pack and Play on the Go is designed to function everywhere with flexible and durable use around the clock. With dual-function sleep and play as well as an insertable bassinet for holding younger children or changing diapers, the Graco Pack and Play is a useful and multipurpose construction that works well for every family. If you are traveling, you might also want to invest in a good portable diaper changing kit to make things easier and change your baby on-the-go wherever you are. Travel has never been simpler than with the Graco Pack and Play, which is extremely affordable at a price of just $75.

The Graco provides comfort and support for all your baby with sturdy mattress pads that support firm sleep and rest. Breathable mesh side panels let you supervise your baby’s play from a distance allowing for you to get some work done while still keeping an eye on your little one. Your baby can fall asleep gently and comfortably in this padded and supported playpen that provides levels of comfort, changing, and sleep for best results for you and your baby, making it one of the most comfortable travel cribs on the market.

Funny Supply 3 in 1 Pack and Play Travel Cot

This Funny Supply 3 in 1 Pack and Play is convertible, functional, and designed to grow with your baby. Converting from baby bassinet to playpen and play tunnel, children of all ages can enjoy and use this fun pack and play. Each travel pen can be assembled in less than 15 seconds without any tools, creating an easy fold inside a carrying case you can haul with you anywhere. It also features comfortable and ergonomic carrying options and can tuck into trunks or stowaway containers, making it one of the best travel cots for flying.

The Funny Supply Pack and Play creates hands-free convenient baby support that will let you take baby along on vacations or set them up while you run errands without having to worry about cradling or protecting your baby at every moment. Set them down for a nap in the bassinet as a baby and once they grow out of it, set it in a larger play pen. As toddlers, unfold the wall to create a play tunnel you can crawl through or use as a fort. Create opportunities for bonding and developmental benefits at all times with this adjustable and magical play pen that will engage your baby at all times.

Baby Delight Deluxe Portable Crib & Playard

Promising multifunction, user-friendly, and flexible sleeping and play spaces for babies and caregivers, the Baby Delight Deluxe Portable Crib & Playard is a comfortable and actively designed travel crib made with soft mesh and a thick and comfortable foam mattress pad. Simple to set up and easy to disassemble, the travel crib creates a comfortable and soft place for your baby to rest, play, and sleep. Safe and useful for newborns and toddlers alike, the Baby Delight Deluxe Portable Crib & Playard is a versatile and convertible space for sleeping and playing alike.

Made to last through the childhood of active and growing babies, the Baby Delight Deluxe Portable Crib & Playard converts into a bassinet for smaller babies, a playard, and a crib. A shaded hood allows for easy sleep and hanging mobiles for baby’s entertainment. A removable sun and insect canopy means you can even set this playpen up in your yard or outside. Your pen packs up neatly and is a great travel cot for toddlers for a very affordable price.

Pamo Babe Lightweight Portable Travel Cot

Comfortable, functional, and built for versatile use by parents and babies alike, the Pamo Babe Lightweight Portable Travel Cot creates a comfortable rest and play space for wearer and baby. Offering a comfortable mattress pad for additional support while your baby sleeps, your cot is a restful and relaxing place for your little one. You can also convert it into a trampoline for diverse and exciting entertainment. Four supporting feet at the bottom of your crib maintain balance and stability while your baby moves around and prevents the crib from tipping over.

Equipped with a movable mattress to provide the most comfortable sleeping environment for the baby, your mattress can also be easily removed and washed depending on stains or damages. The breathable mesh allows your baby to breathe easily and lets you keep an eye on your baby from afar. Adjustable, comfortable, supportive, and versatile, the Pamo Babe is a budget choice and all yours for a very affordable price, a portable and convenient travel cot for babies and parents.

Skip Hop Portable Playard And Travel Cot

This gentle and comfortable baby cot is designed to swaddle and cradle your baby to sleep with a gentle mattress pad and comfortable space for sleep or play on their own. This soft and sturdy travel cot offers airy mesh fabric sides for visibility and ventilation and expands from a travel crib to a play yard in mere seconds. You can also tuck this cot into its travel bag and carry it with you anywhere for additional on the go sleep support for you and your baby.

The expanding base grows as your little one does, expanding from small to large based on the size of your child and the space they need to sleep or play. Because the travel cot is so portable it’s easy to swap between caregivers or other people looking after your little one. Easy to maintain and machine washable, the Skip Hop is also washable, stain-treatable, and packs tightly into a storage pouch to sit in your car. At $100, this is a sturdy and trustworthy purchase your baby will feel safe in at all times.

BABY JOY Baby Foldable Travel Crib

Gentle, soft, and comfortable, the BABY JOY Foldable Travel Crib features simple and spacious sleeping and playing space for babies from newborns to three years. The mattress is protected with a soft and thick mattress pad that allows your baby to sleep comfortably. Machine washable fabric and sheets keeps your baby warm, swaddled, and comfortable while also easily treatable for spills, and other stains that naturally accumulate over time. The travel crib is designed with full-height mesh cloth that allows full visibility, breathability, and protection for your baby.

The comfortable and firm structure is built with sturdy aluminum and iron tubes that are safety certified. The four feet are evenly balanced to prevent your playard from tilting or tipping while your little one is in it. With a comfortable and cooling design and a secure base for support, your baby will rest easy as you go about your day thanks to this affordably priced $80 BABY JOY foldable crib.

A Buyer’s Guide to the Best Baby Travel Cots

Purchasing a travel cot is a great way to secure your little one no matter where you’re visiting, but there’s a few different things you’ll want to keep an eye on as you shop around for the perfect fit. Your baby needs to be able to sleep and play in a secure and safe environment so make sure your cot meets all of these important requirements to be a good fit!

Flexibility and Versatility

Babies are an exciting but expensive addition to your family, so a flexible and versatile travel cot that will last you through your baby’s initial growth spurt, their changing sleep and play needs, and even a few different babies is a great choice. Look for a cot that converts from bassinet to play pen to larger sleeping pen for the best value!

Stain-Resistant yet Soft

Babies are messy, and accidents happen. A cot that can withstand quite a few accidents from your baby is a great choice. Look for a mattress pad that can be removed or washed and a polyester material that wipes down easily. A cot that can comfortably handle the outdoors, stains, sweat, rain, and more will be a versatile and functional part of your family routine, but you’ll also want to make sure it’s still soft enough that your baby can rest comfortably inside.

Travel cots for babies are a big part of ensuring your baby is comfortable sleeping and at play r while you go about your day whether you’re at home or traveling. Picking a sturdy, soft, secure, and reliable travel cot that lasts your child a long time is key to easing your transition into new parenthood and ensuring a happy and healthy sleep and play balance in your baby’s life.

I'm Angela Corrias, an Italian journalist, photographer, and travel writer located in the heart of Italy's capital. Welcome to my website, your comprehensive source for your travels and expert guidance for crafting your dream travel experience.

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Complete Guide To The Best Portacot Australia 2023 Reviews

We have always travelled with our children, even when they were just little babies, and quickly discovered how valuable a portable baby cot is. Even when we aren’t travelling, having a baby portacot on hand is very useful.

We found the best travel portacot was perfect for staying with grandparents, visiting friends and even doubling as a playpen or a sleeping space in our living area.

There are a lot of top portacots for sale making the most difficult part working out which one is right for you. You only need to read some portacot reviews to see the range of different portable travel cot options available – all with different features and with various brands claiming to have to best portacot Australia has for sale.

But you needn’t feel overwhelmed by all the baby travel cots Australia has on offer.

Click here to see the best portacot on eBay now!

To help ease the overwhelm, I have put together this best portacot 2023 guide. I not only take you through the features of the best travel cot Australia has, but also help you understand all the portacot jargon so you can work out what features you actually need.

I hope after reading these travel cot reviews you’ll be less overwhelmed and more confident in choosing the perfect cot for you and your baby’s needs.

Best Portacot Australia 2023 Comparison Chart

The best portacots of 2023.

Here’s a handy reference list – see all portacot reviews below!

• Giantex 3in1 Baby Foldable Travel Cot, Travel
• Vee Bee Commuter Portable Cot, Big, Standard
• BabyBjorn Travel Cot Light, Small, Travel
• Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot, Small, Travel
• Phil&Teds Traveller Crib, Small, Travel
• Amico Light Travel Cot Portacot, Small, Travel
• Roger Armstrong Sleep Easy, Small, Travel
• Bebecare In & Out Lightweight Travel Cot, Small, Travel
• Love N Care Playland Travel Cot, Small, Travel
• Narmay Baby Tent Pop Up Travel Bed, Small, Travel

Portacot Vs Standard Cot

What is a portacot? A portacot (also referred to as a travel cot or a folding baby cot) is a temporary place for a baby to sleep when a standard cot is not available. Portacots usually have fabric or mesh sides, a removable mattress and can easily be folded up so it can be taken to various places.

The best thing about a portacot is how portable they are. Portacots are lightweight and compact when disassembled making them super easy to transport around so your baby has somewhere safe, comfortable and familiar to sleep no matter where you are.

However these advantages of a portacot are also their disadvantages. Portacots are not as sturdy as a standard cot and so carry some risk (which is why it is vital you purchase a cot that meets the Australian standards, see below for more information).

Usually portacots are much lower to the ground making it more difficult for parents to put baby in as well as take baby out – worth considering when looking to buy portable cot options.

Types of Portacot

Big/standard-sized portacots.

The most commonly used portacot is a large, standard sized portacot. As the name suggests, a standard sized portacot tends to be reasonably bulky and weighs substantially more than a portacot designed specifically as a baby or toddler travel cot.

Standard sized portacots often include additional features such as a bassinet or a change table, often referred to as a 2 in 1 or a 3 in 1 portacot.

A standard sized portacot is better suited for quick trips, where space is not an issue, for example a sleepover at grandma’s, or a short weekend away.

We also used our standard sized portacot as an additional place for our daughter to sleep during the day so she could stay downstairs in the living room with me.

Travel Cots

Travel cots are much more compact and lightweight than a standard sized portacot, making them perfect for road trips or when travelling by plane. A light weight travel cot can weigh as little as 4kg or less!

In order to be compact and light, travel cots don’t usually have additional features such as a change table. They also tend to be smaller so they may not last your child for as long.

What To Consider When Looking For The Best Portacots 2023

Portacots come in many shapes and sizes and with a range of features. Before purchasing a portacot, give consideration to the following features to ensure you purchase the perfect portacot to meet your individual needs.

The main point of a portacot is to be portable, so your baby will have somewhere to sleep wherever you are. To be portable, you want to purchase one of the compact portacot Australia has for sale, so that when folded up the portacot is nice and compact but also big enough for your child to comfortably sleep and move around freely once assembled.

As you can see from the comparison chart above, portacots vary greatly in how much they weigh. If you are simply looking to buy a portacot to take on the odd visit to Grandma’s or a friend’s house, the weight of your portacot may not be as important as it would be should you be looking for a portacot that you can be on the move with regularly.

If you are planning on travelling with your portacot by plane of a road trip, look for a super lightweight portacot.

Quick Assembly, Disassembly & Storage

You don’t want to reach your destination only to spend 30 minutes assembling your portacot while you have a cranky crying baby on your hands. Be sure to look at portacots that are known for being easy to set up as well as pack up.

You can get one of the pop up travel cots Australia has available which takes seconds to assemble. Our travel cot reviews Australia will confirm whether a portacot is easy to assemble.

If you are planning on travelling regularly with your portacot you also want to ensure it doesn’t take up too much room to stores away.

Before purchasing a portacot, double check that it comes with everything you need, or if it doesn’t, how easy it is to purchase whatever it is you require.

Does the portacot come with a mattress or is this an additional purchase? Is the mattress inflatable and is the travel cot with good mattress? Does it come with sheets? Can you use standard cot sheets with the portacot or do you need to purchase specially designed sheets?

Don’t just assume that your portacot will include everything you need.

Colour and Design

Like all baby products, portacots come in a range of colours and designs. You may like to purchase a portacot in your child’s favourite colour or with your child’s favourite characters.

If you want to me more practical, I recommend you purchase a portacot in a neutral colour so it can easily be passed down to younger siblings or sold.

Other Special Features

There are a range of additional features that portacots may include. Features may include a portable changer, a bassinet, sleeping pod / rocker and wheels.

Usually the more features, the heavier the portacot and the less portable it becomes. So be sure these additional features are necessary before you purchase a portacot with all the bells and whistles.

Safety Features To Look For In The Best Portable Cot Australia 2023

The most important thing when purchasing a portacot is that it is safe for your child. A poor quality or cheap travel cot can carry the risk of sleeping accidents such as child suffocation or a child becoming trapped. When it comes to portacot safety consider the following:

• Certified –  All portable cots Australia wide must meet the mandatory Australian Standard AS/NZS 2195. To ensure you are purchasing one of the safest portacots Australia has, make sure the portacot has a product label clearly stating that it has passed and exceeds the Australian standards. For more information check out the Product Safety Australia’s product safety guidelines and standards .
• Durable and sturdy –  The best portacots are high quality and made with well designed materials. Ensure the portacot you purchase has a secure locking mechanism to ensure it won’t collapse as well as being free from any safety hazards such as bumps, sharp edges or protruding parts that could injure your child.
• Good ventilation –  The best portacots provide good ventilation for your child to avoid suffocation. This is why you will note that most portacots are the mesh type as this reduces the risk to your child.
• Perfect fit mattress/sheets –  It is important that you only use the mattress supplied or specifically designed to go with the portacot to ensure that it is well fitted and suited to that particular portacot. The mattress must be firm and fit snugly without any gaps between the mattress and portacot. This ensures the baby is not trapped between these gaps. Never add an additional mattress to the portacot or additional padding.
• Removable accessories –  Check to ensure that all of the accessories, such as bassinet inserts and changing tables can be removed from the portacot when not in use to avoid entanglement and other risks to the child.

Top Portacot Reviews 2023 Australia

Best portable cots australia – large, giantex 3in1 baby foldable travel cot review.

Rating: 4.5

Specifications:

• Type: Big, Travel
• Weight: 10.4 kg
• Wheels: Yes
• Dimensions: 100x70x74.5cm

Our Giantex 3 in 1 portable cot review found this to be a large option that is quick to assemble and makes a great, comfortable place for your baby to sleep away from home.

This 3 in 1 portacot includes a bassinet for newborn babies, a changing table and can be used as a play centre/cot. Once your baby has reached an appropriate size, simply insert the supplied mattress in the lower level of the full size cot. This mattress is rather thin however and you may want more reinforcement for comfort.

Parents will love the wheels with brakes and the detachable side storage bag. The mesh sides are also great for ventilation and to keep an eye on your little one. Baby will love the musical mobile with three soft toys.

At 10.4 kilograms, this cot is a fair weight, but if offers some great features at a good price.

• Bassinet, change table and cot in one!
• Features hanging toys and a music box
• Compact – easy to transport and store
• Thin mattress

>> Click here to check the price and to read more reviews.

Vee Bee Commuter Portable Cot Review

Rating: 4.0

• Type: Big, Standard
• Weight: 10.6 kg
• Dimensions: 120×77.5x77cm

For its ease of use and for one of the safest travel cot Australia options, we recommend the Vee Bee Commuter Portable Cot.

This portacot features in our best baby cots Australia due to it’s firm and strong base, supportive sides and quality material. This travel cot baby option is comfortable with airy ventilated sides, a storage pocket, a mattress fitted to the cot and an included carry bag.

Although some childcare portacot review takers have had issues assembling this cot, we had none after following instructions step by step. Once you’ve done it a couple of times, it’s easy to use as the best baby travel cot.

At 10.6kg it’s an extra large commuter cot, but one of the sturdiest and safest travel cot options for parents.

• Mesh walls with pocket – allows great air flow and visibility for parents and storage for baby’s needs
• Includes a mattress that perfectly fits and sits on the sturdy, full support base
• Comes with a carry bag 
• 12 month warranty
• None found so far

>> Click here to check the price and to read more reviews on eBay.

Best Travel Cot Australia 2023

Babybjorn travel cot light review.

• Type: Small, Travel
• Weight: 5 kg
• Dimensions: 112x82x64cm

If you are after a small travel portacot, the baby Bjorn portacot is a great option. Weighing a mere 6.12 kg, it is one of the lightest in these reviews.

This Baby Bjorn travel cot is so simple to open and fold away and, due to its design, (with the mattress being on the ground) it has no weight restrictions and so is suitable for children up to 3 years. However parents of newborns may find it challenge placing babies in and getting them out with the mattress being so low.

Assembly is easy with this pop up travel cot with the legs unfolding automatically. There are no loose parts to attach and once the included soft mattress is put in, you have a stable, travel portacot lightweight to use at home or away.

Parents will also love the removable and washable cot textiles on this mini portacot which makes for easy cleaning and maintenance.

I have seen this pop up portacot it for varying prices in our local portacot Melbourne stores, and I recommend looking online to get the Baby Bjorn travel cot light best price. You should be able to find the Baby Bjorn travel cot Australia wide.

It is our top pick for parents who want the best compact travel cot of high quality.

• Includes a soft, comfortable mattress & easy to remove, washable fabric 
• Child friendly material
• Oeko Tex Standard approved
• Portable & lightweight – 6 kg
• Can be expensive but look for good deals on eBay through our link

>> Click here to check the best price and to read more reviews on eBay.

Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot Review

• Weight: 9 kg
• Dimensions: 93x22x37cm

For its ease of use, we recommend the Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot.

This portacot features in our best baby cots Australia reviews due to it’s firm and solid construction, as well as being one of the safest travel cot Australia options. This is a versatile travel cot baby option suitable from birth with the included infant insert. It features comfortable airy ventilated sides, with one side opening up completely so it can be used as a playpen.

The infant insert can be removed quickly to transform it to a toddler cot, and it all folds up compactly into the included carry bag. Super easy to store under the bed!

As with many portacots the mattress on this one is thin and firm, but it does the job as the the best baby travel cot.

At 9kg, this is a large commuter cot, but sturdy and one of the safest travel cot options for newborns.

• Side wall unzips and opens up
• Includes a newborn insert and can be used from birth
• Includes a carry bag 
• Hard, thin mattress

Phil&Teds Traveller Crib Review

Rating: 3.5

• Weight: 13.5 kg
• Dimensions: 117x79x63cm

At 2.72 kg, this phil and teds travel cot weighs less than most newborn babies making it the perfect travel portacot.

Being extremely lightweight and compact this phil & teds portacot fits into most aircrafts overhead storage or can even fit it into your suitcase.

Despite coming in several parts, this phil and teds portacot is very fast and easy to put up. It takes no longer than 5 minutes to set up or pack away and it has instructions attached to the inside of the fabric.

Other features of this portacot include a carry bag, insulated self-inflating mattress with mattress sheet, mesh sides ensuring ventilation and visibility and a zip on one side panel provides side access which makes for a great play pen indoors or outside.

You even have the option to buy a top shade mesh separately making it great for outside use.

We have this travel cot and love it although the included bag did wear away quite easily.

• Featherlight – 3.2 kg
• Thermally insulated mattress – provides children soft & warm base
• Includes a carry bag that’s perfect for travels/trips
• Global safety standards certified
• Mattress rests on the floor
• Not super stable but it is so light and travel friendly so that’s to be expected

Amico Light Travel Cot Portacot Review

• Weight: 6 kg
• Dimensions: 165x70x60cm

This option of the best travel cots Australia offers features a side zipper that makes it easier for parents to place their sleeping kids inside. The ventilated mesh walls allow your child to see what’s happening around them.

Every parent needs a lightweight, high-quality portacot that they can bring along on all their travels. The Amico Light comes with a carrying bag for easy transport. Whether you’re taking off on a family holiday to the other side of the world or bringing your baby to the office for the day, you’ll be able to trust in the safety that this portacot can provide.

With the purchase of this cot, you’ll receive a comfortable mattress and cotton fitted sheet. The mattress and portacot have been certified for child safety, providing you with peace of mind. These details make this one of the best portacot for travel on our list.

• Easy set up & fold up
• Zip for easy access
• Light, compact for travel or transport – approx 5.2 kg
• Includes a carry bag for storage or transport
• Globally safety certified 

Other Best Portable Cot Reviews

Roger armstrong sleep easy review.

• Weight: 8 kg
• Dimensions: 101x74x78cm

If you’re on the lookout for a large travel cot with a bag for the best travel.cot, take a look at the Roger Armstrong Sleep Easy.

Assembled the cot measures 150 cm long by 80 cm wide, and has capacity for a baby under 15kg. When folded, this small portable cot is compact and perfect for use as a baby travel bed Australia, as it’s rated safe for sleeping and weighs about 8kg.

This particular porta cot Australia is comfortable for a portable cot, with a padded mattress and ventilated mesh screens. When used as a playpen, this is one of the baby portacots with a side zip for kids to leave and access the cot as they wish, which makes for fun play.

It’s also a very affordable portable baby bed Australia and great value for a light portacot.

• Soft & padded mattress provides added comfort and safety during sleep or play time
• Suitable for babies up to 15kg
• Foldable and includes carry bag
• Not the easiest to set up – the release buttons for the bars are stiff and sometimes it feels like you really have to force the cot to fold down

Bebecare Zuri Timber Travel Cot Bassinet Review

• Dimensions: 116x84x70.5cm

The next best best travel cot is the Bebecare Zuri Timber Travel Cot with bassinet.

This is a good option for the best portacot for toddler which is also one of the most compact travel cot options at only 8kg. This cot is suitable for kids up to 36 months and 13 kg, and the most comfortable portacot for kids of this age.

A travel cot with bassinet is an extremely flexible travel cot best for babies from birth, with a removable bassinet complete with a removable toy bar.

It’s constructed with solid beechwood for great support and has mesh sides for great visibility and air flow to keep baby comfortable. The portacot mattress is comfortable and among the best travel cot mattress options. It’s foldable and easy to transport

• Light and easy to assemble – great for trips, travels, etc
• Sturdy and compact
• 90 day warranty
• Polyurethane foam mattress

Love N Care Playland Travel Cot Review

• Weight: 9.6 kg
• Dimensions: 115x80x78cm

This little portacot from Love N Care offers a nice mix of stability and portability. It’s quick to assemble and disassemble, and it folds up for easy transport. Whether you need to bring it along on holiday or take it to a relative’s house, transporting this compact and lightweight cot is hassle free.

The materials used in the cot are breathable and comfortable, yet they maintain durability. You can easily spot clean the material using a moist cloth.

The only negative of this portacot is the mattress it comes with. It’s not high quality, and the material can be a bit noisy. It’s fine for a few nights, but it might not be the best choice for regular use. For that reason, this portacot is ideal for short-term travel.

• Simple to use and assemble (once you know how – read the instructions carefully)
• Provides maximum mobility, stability & convenience
• Compact, easy to fold, store, or transport – comes with a carry bag
•  A bit heavy – 9.6 kg

Narmay Baby Tent Pop Up Travel Bed Review

• Weight: 0.4 kg
• Dimensions: 42 x 37 x 7 cm

If your idea of the best lightweight travel cot is one that is super portable, the NARMAY Baby Tent Pop Up Travel bed may be what you’re after. This is among the smallest portacot portable travel cots on our list, and the most affordable.

There isn’t much to this baby portable cot. At just over 400 grams, it easily pops out from the included travel bag to provide a lightweight travel cot with a zippered mesh screen. It is quite roomy inside with plenty of room for a toddler.

You can use this small porta cot on the beach or a camping trip, but note there is no mattress included so refer to the relevant portacot Australian safety standard for appropriate use for sleeping.

However when it comes to cheap baby portable cots, this is probably the best light travel cot you can get for the price if you just want something to protect from sun/bugs.

• Very affordable
• Mesh fabric
• Super lightweight
• No mattress or real support

Looking for other baby products? Read about the best baby travel products and find all our best baby gear recommendations here .

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Charlotte is a proud Melbournian mum of 3 who blogs for a living in between parenting and satiating her travel addition.

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The 5 best travel cots and porta cots for baby

Emma castle and cara wagstaff road test these portacots designed to help baby sleep safely on the road., bugaboo stardust portacot.

The Bugaboo Stardust’s ‘wow’ factor is that it assembles in just one second, and packs down in three.

It has a built-in, comfortable and supportive mattress, making it a great replication of your little one’s home bed setup. You can use it in hotel rooms, on camping trips or even to keep at the grandparents’ house for sleepovers.

The cot comes with a handy carry bag, and while it weighs eight kilograms, which is on the heavier side for a portacot, its safety features more than make up for it. The sturdy Stardust has breathable mesh sides and is made from chemical-free fabrics.

Our favourite bit? The signature Bugaboo stylish and chic look, and choice of grey mélange or black colour palettes.

Our verdict

If fast and fuss-free is your motto, then this travel cot was made for you.

Ergopouch Easy Sleep Portable Bassinet RRP $159.95

Suitable from newborn to roughly three months, you’ll love this portable bassinet . It’s perfect for holidays as it folds to easily fit into a large suitcase or in the overhead storage on a plane. There are plenty of bonus uses too. It’s great around the house for tummy time and keeps baby safe and sound on outdoor adventures and picnics, as it comes with a detachable mosquito net and breathable mesh sides.

The bassinet is ultra lightweight (just 2.2kgs) and has a handy backpack bag so you can slip it over your shoulders as you unload the plethora of bags you need to juggle when holidaying with a baby. The mattress easily detaches and is machine washable for any accidents.

Ergopouch Easy Sleep Portable Bassinet is a great safe sleep and portable play area for you little traveller.

Babybjorn Travel Cot Light

Say goodbye to cumbersome, impossible-to-assemble travel cots. The Babybjorn Travel Cot Light comes in a suitcase-style bag that weighs just six kilograms. Did someone say hallelujah? Assembly is incredibly simple: unfold the legs and pop in the mattress and you’re done. With mesh sides that make it easy to see bubs, this travel cot will minimise the stress of settling your baby in a new location.

Double thumbs up! This travel cot was clearly designed by someone who knows what it’s like to walk through an airport with a baby, a suitcase, a pram and a travel cot in tow.

Nuna Cove Aire Portacot

When you’re walking around with a baby on your hip, it’s amazing what you can achieve with only one hand available. And guess what? You only need one hand to put up, take down and carry this travel cot. The easy-to-assemble Nuna Cove Aire Portacot comes with a bassinet level and you can purchase a change table fixture that clips onto the top.

A travel cot that can be assembled and collapsed with one hand is our idea of heaven.

Babyhood organic cosy crib + sleep positioner, RRP $189

Take the stress out of co-sleeping with this light, easily transportable, cosy crib . This 100 per cent organic cotton sleep kit is fully washable and is best used with the sleep positioner bolsters to keep bubs in place. You can also use this on the floor for naps or playtime, so it can be used day-to-day, as well as for travel.

A handy item to have on hand for day trips and visits to other people’s houses, as well as for holidays away.

This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here .

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The best travel cot for babies and toddlers

Venture UK Airpod Baby and Toddler Travel Cot

Graco FoldLite

Bugaboo Stardust Travel Cot

Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot

Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light

Joie Excursion Change and Bounce

Nuna Sena Aire Travel Cot

Graco Contour Electra

Baby Elegance Kangu Foldable Bedside Sleeper

Bizzi Growin POD Travel Crib

BabyDan Travel Cot

Red Kite Black Sleep Tight Travel Cot

Kinderkraft Cot 4 in 1 SOFI

When you're thinking of essentials for your little one, you probably already have a cosy cot picked out, but what about a travel cot if you love travelling? In addition to packing your baby's travel system and gathering all the necessities before heading off on holiday with your family, a travel cot will help your little one to sleep as soundly as possible, even when you're away from home.

You probably did a lot of research on the best cot and bedside crib for your baby but may not have considered investing in a travel cot yet. Put simply, a travel cot is a portable, lightweight option designed to fold away compactly. Its collapsible sides and storage bag are some of the features that make it the perfect solution for trips away. Like a travel stroller , it's another one of those holiday essentials that you'll want to invest in when travelling with children under 5 years old.

You most likely won't need a travel cot for the first few months, especially if you already have a Moses basket , a portable crib or a carrycot suitable for overnight sleeping. If you don't go away very often, then you might be better off borrowing a cot from a friend, as it can be an expensive purchase if you're only going to be using it once a year.

The best travel cots at a glance:

• Best travel cot overall : Venture UK Airpod Baby & Toddler Travel Cot - £109.99   • Best travel cot for compact fold : Graco FoldLite - £73   • Best compact travel cot : Bugaboo Stardust Travel Cot -  £225 • Best budget travel cot : Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot - £60 • Best stylish travel cot : Baby Elegance Kangu Foldable Bedside Sleeper - £74.99

A lot of hotels and holiday cottages may provide travel cots and other baby equipment, so check with them before you travel. If you are away from home often, then a travel cot is a good purchase, as it will last well past the newborn months and will prove extremely useful at other times, too. For example, for your baby's daytime naps when you're visiting friends or staying over with grandparents overnight. We've enlisted the help of expert mum testers to put the best travel cots through their paces, taking into account the weight, size, price, assembly, age suitability and stability. Our annual  Mother&Baby Awards  also help us bring you the best advice about current products on the market.

The best travel cot 2024

1. venture uk airpod baby and toddler travel cot, best travel cot overall, description.

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 .

• The all round mesh sides provide lots of ventilation for your little one while they rest and enable you to see and check on them from all directions
• This is a compact travel cot that's much smaller, lightweight, and less bulky than traditional ones. When folded, it measures just 60x15x50 cm
• The mattress makes this cot super cosy and comfortable for baby
• Unfortunately there's no raised bassinet

2. Graco FoldLite

Best travel cot for compact fold.

www.oliversbabycare.co.uk

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.

• Choose between two different ways to fold – this is greater quick changes at home, and also trips away from home with the extra compact fold version.
• Easy to fold and store away at home – folding this way is fast and extra flat too at just 26cm wide. It pops back up fast too!
• Super lightweight – over 30 percent less overall weight than most full size travel cots at just 6.7kg
• The carry bag is very convenient for travel – the cot itself also has two wheels for easy manoeuvrability
• Assembly not totally straightforward as one tester had trouble when dismantling the product fully
• Requires more effort to fit into the bag once wrapping the mattress around the base

3. Bugaboo Stardust Travel Cot

Best compact travel cot.

www.bugaboo.com

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.

• Includes carrycot insert and mattress
• You can fold the cot with the mattress still inside as long – as you use without the newborn insert
• Great for both experienced and first-time parents
• Easy to assemble – with a simple no-fuss pop-up design you can literally achieve a 1-second unfold
• Compact to fold in just 3 simple steps
• Unfortunately, the mattress doesn't include a waterproof cover

4. Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot

Best budget travel cot.

www.argos.co.uk

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

• The removable changer and bassinet that fits on the top is useful for nappy changing
• This cot has four airy mesh sides providing all-round ventilation and baby viewing from all angels to check up on your little one while they rest or play
• The stylish lightweight aluminium legs make it easy to fold the cot down in seconds
• With wheels you can easily move the cot around your home or a hotel room
• Comes with a handy storage bag that's also useful for travelling
• An affordable and very portable solution for travelling with a baby
• The design of this cot means it's quite low to the ground

5. Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light

Best lightweight 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

• With no extra parts this cot is super easy to assemble in just one simple movement – just open the carry bag, lift out the travel cot and pop it up
• The mattress cover and travel cot fabric are easy to remove and are machine washable at 40 degrees
• It's super lightweight at 6 kilos for moving around – but the built-in base helps to keep it standing nice and sturdy in its position.
• Made with sensitive skin in mind
• Reviewers found it harder to dry

6. Joie Excursion Change and Bounce

Best newborn travel cot.

www.very.co.uk

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".

• With one quick click you can go from changing unit to snoozing or the bouncing seat, for fast transitions and easy travel
• You can also pop the sound & lights module pop on or off with a quick click
• You get more for your money and greater versatility – the SecureClick snoozing seat doubles as a portable bouncer when used off the cot!
• The simple push button allows you to fold to pack up the cot in a snap – this makes set up and shut down in seconds super quick and convenient for busy mums and dads
• The cot packs away nice and compact in a carry bag that's included – perfect for storing at home in small spaces or travelling with
• The cot has two integrated wheels making moving the cot around a breeze
• All four sizes are lined with see-through mesh allowing plenty of airflow, plus, you can view baby from wherever you are in the room
• With an elevated base the cot is draught resistant
• Enjoy novelty sound, vibration and nightlight settings
• This cot is amazingly good value for money
• With so many features, this cot is quite heavy
• The extra accessories aren't suitable for older babies

7. Nuna Sena Aire Travel Cot

Best travel cot mattress.

www.johnlewis.com

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 cot is easy to set up and hold with one hand for when you have baby in the other
• This is the only cot available that has the unique feature of being able fold the frame with the upper cot still in it, making it super convenient
• The base of this cot is above ground, which makes it draft-proof for your little one
• The cot has skid-proof feet keeping it quiet and still ensuring your baby stays asleep
• The unique zigzag frame allows the cot to pop open quickly and easily without any fuss
• The advanced air design™, with the mesh sides, floor and mattress working in combination, allows air flow from every angle
• The cot is very easy to clean due to the mattress's zip-off design, which is machine washable and dryer safe
• The ventilated triple-layered mattress is designed to pull away both heat and humidity, meaning little one stays comfortable and asleep throughout the night.
• The removable mattress panels allow for deep cleaning to make sure it stay clean and safe for your baby over time.
• Everything you need comes with the cot – you even get organic sheets included
• The padded edges prevent pinched fingers
• Pack your cot up and travel easily with the travel bag included and easy carry handle
• Not as lightweight as other options
• Doesn't fold very neatly or small
• A bit fiddly to detach the bassinet

8. Graco Contour Electra

Best value travel cot.

www.boots.com

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

• This is a cot that is designed to grow with your child from newborn to toddler
• The removable bassinet is perfect to newborns
• There is an integrated changing station for added convenience, made from wipe-clean fabric.
• The hanging toy bar with toys provides little one with plenty of distraction as you get things done!
• There is a detachable control box to operate a night light, music and the vibration feature to help soothe little one on your travels
• Don't worry about moving from room to room without an extra pair of hands, as the two wheels make the cot easily transportable.
• Pack the cot away out of sight or transport it no hassle with the compact fold
• Some reviewers struggled to assemble it
• Very heavy and quite large for a travel cot
• The neutral cream colour is likely to get dirty quickly
• The changing unit is only suitable up to 12 months
• Mattress is on the thin side

9. Baby Elegance Kangu Foldable Bedside Sleeper

Best bassinet-style 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."

• Easily fold using one hand and use the carry handle to transport the cot around your home, even when carrying baby
• The cot folds into a storage bag, which can also be used to transport it more easily when travelling
• The legs can adjust to fix and lock in a stationery position or allow for a gentle rocking motion to soothe little one to sleep
• the vented mesh sides allow plenty of airflow to aid sleep and let you see baby more easily from afar
• The cot is lightweight for easy transportation
• Easy to clean – you can remove and wash the cover in your washing machine
• The mattress comes with the cot and it's anti-allergy
• Only able to use until 6 months

10. Bizzi Growin POD Travel Crib

Best carrycot travel cot.

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 crib is easy to assemble
• Includes a mosquito net to keep your baby protected in the summer
• Can be used as a changing bag with handy fold out for changing on the go
• Includes a padded mattress for restful nap times and comfort when changing baby 
• Extremely compact and lightweight for storing or travelling
• Easy to carry with two carry handles and an over-the-shoulder strap
• Only suitable for use up until baby can sit up or roll over by themselves

11. BabyDan Travel Cot

Best long-lasting travel cot.

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.

• Your baby will have plenty of space to stretch out and grow with this "full cot size" travel cot, measuring 60cm x 120cm
• You get great value for money as this cot is versatile and is also designed to be used as a play pen, to keeop little one contained at home or on your travels
• Feel reassured as this cot is sturdy and stable, making it safe and secure for your little one – definitely built to last!
• For your convenience this cot comes with its own lightweight folding mattress included for added comfort while baby sleeps
• We love travel cots that come with travel bags, and this one does, so it'll be easy for you to take it with you on the go or store it safely at home
• it may be a spacious travel cot, but it's also super compact when folded, so you won't have to worry about it fitting in your car boot or under the stairs at home, measuring only 20 x 21 x 77.5 cm
• Mesh sides are a must, allowing baby to see out and you to see in – plus allowing air to flow freely through for a good night's sleep
• The wheels make for easy transportation of the cot around your home, and the cot has sturdy brakes.
• With it being a large cot, it is also heavier than others
• The mattress is quite thin

12. Red Kite Black Sleep Tight Travel Cot

Best simple travel cot.

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!"

• The cot has a central locking base for extra safety
• It's easy to fold and store in the storage bag
• The see-through mesh sides low airflow and let you see baby easily
• The instructions are printed on the underside of the mattress, so you won't lose them.
• Mattress is very thin
• No waterproof sheet included for the mattress

13. Kinderkraft Cot 4 in 1 SOFI

Best 4 in 1 travel cot.

Rrp: £ 139.99

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."

• You get reallygood value for money with this 4-in-1 cot, with a normal cot, a travel cot, a playpen and cradle in one
• The cot can be used with or without the rocking function
• The mattress can be used at two different levels
• You don't need any tools to change between the functions and folding
• The cot will look stylish in your home
• Slightly narrower than standard travel cots
• Bit fiddly to fit the sheets

Travel cots – All you need to know:

Choosing the right travel cot for you and your child.

Think about where and when you'll use a travel cot. If you are throwing it in the car boot when you're going to Granny's, check how bulky it is when folded and make sure it fits along with your pushchair and still leaves enough room for your luggage. If you're buying for your holiday and you'll be travelling to your destination by plane, boat or other public transport, choose one that folds very compactly to make it easier to pack. Consider, too, where you'll keep it at home when it's not in use.

Unpacking your travel cot after a long journey with a tired baby can be stressful, so choose something quick and easy to set up. Some travel cots can be assembled and folded with one hand, which is a lifesaver if you're holding your baby.

Some travel cots are designed to double as playpens , creating somewhere safe for your baby to play when she's awake. This is useful when you're away from home, especially if you're staying somewhere that's less baby-friendly, without any baby-proofing products , than your normal environment. This type of travel cot has added value as you can get more use out of it than a standard travel cot but check the manufacturer's guidelines before you buy to ensure it's safe to use as a playpen.

Features to consider before purchasing a travel cot

Here are some travel cot features to look out for when deciding on which travel cot is best for you and your baby.

Travel cots come with a mattress supplied, but some are comfier than others. Check how thick it is and whether it provides enough support for a good night's sleep. If not, thicker travel cot mattresses can be purchased separately – but that's an extra expense and something else to pack!

Fold mechanism

As well as checking how simple it is to assemble the travel cot, make sure you can fold it away again easily. Could you do it in a hurry if you're dashing to the airport? If you have older children, make sure inquisitive little fingers can't access the mechanism for folding the travel cot when it's in use.

Most travel cots have mesh sides to encourage airflow and enable you to see your baby easily when they're sleeping. Check the quality of the fabric and how easy it is to wipe clean.

If you want to move the cot elsewhere in the house for daytime naps or playpen use, choose one with wheels for easy manoeuvrability.

Standard cot bedding may not fit your travel cot, so check what size bedding is required and factor in any extra expense. Make sure the bedding fits the mattress securely with no loose fabric.

Choose a travel cot with side panels that zip open and closed if you'd like to be able to reach your baby without bending low over the side of the cot. If it doubles as a playpen, a 'window' to crawl through can add to the fun.

If you plan to travel with your baby to a climate where mosquitoes might bother them, choose a travel cot with an insect net, and check it fits the travel cot securely.

What age are travel cots advised for?

Travel cots come in a variety of sizes and styles, and they all have different upper age and/or weight limits. Consider how old your child will be when using the travel cot, and choose one suitable for their age. Most of the travel cots in our list above can be used from birth until your baby weighs 15kg, which is approximately three years old. Keep in mind that once your baby makes the transition from sleeping in a cot to a bed, they'll probably prefer a bed to a travel cot when away from home overnight.

Can I travel on a plane with a travel cot?

Yes! Although all airlines will have their own rules on luggage allowances, but if you are flying with a baby then typically parents of infants are allowed to take at least two items - e.g. travel cot, buggy or car seat - at no extra cost.

If you're buying a travel cot to take on holiday and are travelling by plane, boat or train, choose one that folds as compactly as possible to make it easier to transport. If you're driving, make sure it fits in your car boot and still leaves enough room for the rest of your luggage.

Think about where you'll keep the travel cot when it's not in use, too. If space is not an issue, you could look into the larger options available.

All travel cots are designed to be light enough to carry, but some are heavier than others, and there's generally a pay-off between how light it is and how durable it is.

If you'll be carrying it a lot on your journey, such as through an airport, then weight may take priority, but if you've got a cruising toddler, and throwing the cot in a big boot is about the extent of your lugging it around, then a sturdier, perhaps heavier, cot would be better.

How to assemble a travel cot

Wrestling with an unwieldy travel cot and a tired baby after a long journey is stress you really don't need in your life, so choose one that doesn't require an engineering degree to set up. While how to put up a travel cot differs depending on the brand, some can be assembled and folded away within seconds, even with one hand – and that's a really helpful feature if you're going to be assembling it with your baby or other children in tow.

Where can I buy a travel cot?

Whether you need one pronto or want to spend your time researching the perfect travel cot, there are plenty of places where you can pick one. We'd recommend these trusted retailers that offer great products and plenty of reviews so you can make sure you're buying the right one for your little one:

John Le wis

Mamas & Papas

Supermarkets also hold baby events where you can often pick up travel cots and other accessories for a great price. These include:

Can I buy a travel cot second-hand?

If you're looking to buy a second-hand travel cot, there are a few things to check before you make your purchase:

• Check that it assembles and folds down correctly

• Make sure it's sturdy

• Make sure the seller provides you with the original instruction booklet

It's also worth purchasing a new mattress for the travel cot

How to clean your travel cot

If your travel cot has been tucked away in the loft for a few years and it smells a bit musty, or your child has turned it into a bit of a mess, a good tip for cleaning is to use warm soapy water and a sponge.

Make sure to leave it out in the fresh air and sunlight to dry.

Travel cot safety

There are a number of safety aspects to check on your travel cot for your peace of mind.

Stability: Be sure to use the mattress that comes with the cot, as changing it could affect the stability of the cot and could make it easier to tip.

Escaping: Swapping for a thicker mattress could give your tot more height and make it easier for them to escape.

Corners: Be wary of how smooth corners are - make sure there is no chance of your baby's clothes getting caught on them to avoid any chance of strangulation.

Flexible sides: Pop-up-style tents may be easy to erect and dismantle; however, the flexible sides mean that if you were to stumble onto the cot, there would be no ridged sides to stop your fall.

Zips: Make sure you check all zips are secure, as any loose zips that become unattached could potentially become choking hazards.

Wheels: The wheels must be able to securely lock into place or have two wheels and two legs for sturdiness.

Test it out: Make sure you try it out before you travel to check all of the above safety aspects.

Safe sleeping in a travel cot

The general consensus is that you need to be following the same sleeping guidance for your baby in a travel cot as you would at home.

Here's what The Lullaby Trust have to say:

"The same 'safer sleep' rules apply to a travel cot, which should have a rigid frame and base, and a firm, flat mattress, covered in a waterproof material. Travel cot mattresses are often thinner and feel harder than those in a permanent cot, but don't be tempted to place folded blankets or a quilt under the baby to make them 'more comfortable'. If you are very tight for space, you may have to consider re-arranging the furniture in the room to ensure that the travel cot isn't against a radiator, in direct sunlight, and is out of reach of blind cords and hazards."

How we tested and chose these travel cots

Every year, our panel of real mums tests and reviews parenting products such as travel cots for the annual Mother&Baby Awards.

Our list of the best car seats for travel cots comes recommended by like-minded parents – who have experienced these car seats personally.

The Mother&Baby Awards parent testers are provided with some guidelines while testing, so that they take into consideration four key areas: usability, design, quality and value for money. We ask them to score each of these out of 10, as well as give their overall impression of the product.

Find out more about how we test and what considerations we take into account in our testing process.

A number of the travel cots in our list are also previous  Mother&Baby Awards  shortlisters and winners.

E mily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.

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The Best 6 Portacots + Travel Cots In Australia In 2024

How do I find the best portacot?

When it comes to looking for a portacot, there are a many things to keep in mind. One of the most overriding concerns is whether or not your baby will continue their sleep routine in a portacot that they're not used to. What you want is something that mimics the bed they're used to sleeping on at home. So that means premium comfort in a bed that's transportable. No easy feat, right? Well, maybe it's not so hard to find as we thought. 

What should you be looking for in a portacot?

1. comfort:.

When you're looking for a portacot for your baby, the thing many people look for is comfort, above all else. A stiff, hard mattress may mean that your baby doesn't sleep as well as they would in their own bed at home, and that's enough to turn most parents off - sleep is key! Look for a portacot designed with extra cushioning so your baby doesn't feel as though he or she are sleeping on the floor.

2. Multi-level function:

In terms of bang for your buck, a portacot that caters to newborns all the way through to toddlers is certainly valuable. This means that you can put newborns on the higher sleep setting until they can sit upright, at which point it's integral to lower the base of the portacot so the child is unable to climb out.

3. Sturdiness:

A flimsy portacot is not ideal for any family, especially as a child grows older, you don't want to risk the chance that will be able to push the cot over from standing in the inside. Likewise, you want to ensure that children are unable to push down the sides of the travel cot or climb out.

4. Easy set-up:

When travelling with your family, you certainly don't want to spend time setting up a difficult portacot while trying to wrangle kids. Many travel cots are now able to be popped up within a matter of minutes - even seconds - and are as sturdy as they come.

The Best Portacots And Travel Cots in Australia In 2024:

1. babybjorn travel cot, rrp: $499.00.

Real Review : Erin R, productreview.com.au

"We do lots of travelling, after reading the reviews for this travel cot, I bit the bullet and got it. It's light, compact and most importantly it's comfortable. I've used it with 2 kids now and both have slept incredibly in it compared to others."

The best features:

The Babybjorn Travel features an extended mesh lining for maximum breathability, perfect for those hot sunny climates. This portacot provides a safe sleeping area for your baby with a comfortable mattress.

When you buy a travel crib from BABYBJÖRN, you can rest assured that the quality is high, the construction is stable, and all materials that come in contact with your child’s skin are kind to sensitive skin and safe to taste.

Travel Crib Light is ideal if you’re looking for a safe, simple and lightweight travel crib! You set the crib up in one movement, and the comfy mattress makes it a cosy sleeping place – at home or wherever your family goes.

2. Kmart 3-in-1 Portacot, $89.00

Real Review : Artika P, kmart.com.au

"I'm so happy I bought this for my baby. Very easy to assemble. Great to take with you if going away for a couple of nights. Takes limited space in the vehicle."

The Kmart 3-in-1 Portacot is an essential cot for travel. Simply let up this portacot anywhere and let your little one relax whilst still keeping an eye on them.

- Supplied with padded mattress for comfort, bassinet, change table and carry bag

- Mesh sides for ventilation and observation

- Compact fold for easy storage and transport

3. Phil And Teds Traveller Travel Cot V4, Rrp: $409.99

Real Review : Matt Fish Choice.com.au

"We have travelled extensively with this and selected it on being compact and lightweight, which it has excelled in. We have travelled for a total of 4 months in our daughter's first two years and when you have to carry it everywhere and set up the cot every 3 - 5 days, you want light and fast. funky features were not desired by us and the ability to open up the sides etc have never been used. The cot is quick and easy to setup for me, less so my wife, largely as I'm the one doing it most. Can highly recommend it"

Phil and Teds Traveller is the only full size travel cot that’s lighter than the baby! The travel cot has mesh walls and is direct to the floor. Super compact, traveller™ unpacks to become a comfy and breathable portacot for home and away, sleep & play, every day!

traveller™ is a breeze to assemble and is super adaptable for indoors and outdoors, with its unique zipped side which you can open as a fun playpen or close up for sleep.

Fully breathable mesh sides & global safety certification means you can rest easy while your kids snooze. Your bub can rest easy too on the thermally insulated & self-inflating mattress, which is covered with an included fitted sheet made from OEKO-TEX® certified fabric, free from health-hazardous substances for peace of mind.

Plus, you can assemble in under two minutes!

Shop These Travel Cots And Earn $$ At One Fine Baby!

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Choose from thousands of products from hundreds of brands. We have your best baby products all under one roof!

4. babystudio 3 in 1 Portacot Grey, $199.00

What makes the babystudio 3 in 1 Portacot Grey different?

The babystudio 3 in 1 Portacot has been designed for parents on the go. This is perfect for varied sleep and play times with a soft mattress for additional comfort while sleeping or playing.

Why try the babystudio 3 in 1 Portacot Grey?

The babystudio 3 in 1 travel cot is lightweight, portable and easy to assemble and pull down. The see through mesh allows for easy viability when your baby is inside.

Safe for sleeping and playing!

5. Babyhood Travel Bassinet, Rrp: $159.00

The Babyhood Travel Bassinet is the perfect luxury bassinet for compact spaces or parents on the go.

It offers you the convenience of a safe sleeping pod for your baby, with all the comforts of a luxury sleep space – for compact spaces or parents on the go.

The bassinet can be used throughout your home and is especially convenient for compact spaces, like beside your bed for those first few newborn months. It has a unique breathable aero mesh mattress which is safer for your baby and the luxury woven textiles come off for washing, making it a more hygienic option. The cocoon shaped bassinet has greater breathable zones with mesh sides and a safer zip-off mesh mosquito net, which can be removed when used indoors.

It is lightweight and the easy fold system ensures you can fold it down quickly, to fit into its heavy duty carry bag and transport it easily including as carry on luggage on most airlines as the folded dimension are within the allowed cabin size as per IATA regulation (we recommend you check with your local airline prior to flying as airline cabin space do vary).

Suitable from newborn

Safer, with a breathable aero mesh mattress cover

Washable breath eze mattress

Luxurious woven textiles that can be removed for washing

Safe zip off mesh mosquito net

Compact easy fold and assemble

Ultra light aluminium frame for extra stability

Suitable for travel

Conforms with IATA cabin baggage requirements so suitable for carry on luggage

Includes heavy duty carry bag easy transportation

6. Aeromoov Portacot, RRP: $399

Real Review : Jessica C Verified buyer

"Insanely easy to set up and fold away. It is worth the money for the quality, functionality and ease of use. Very happy with this portacot"

We love this portacot as it pops up in seconds, has a high quality comfortable mattress and is great for babies and toddlers. The great thing about the Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot is that it has two levels. One for newborns and one for toddlers. The range comes in two different colours; a 'Sand' and 'Rock'. It also has accessories such as a mosquito net, fitted sheet and sun shade. This portacot is perfect for indoors and outdoors, whether for playtime or sleep time. With it's strong, sturdy frame, toddlers cant push it over or climb out. 

The portacot is easy to take with you wherever you go and meets the strictest safety standards. You can set up and pack up the AeroMoov instant travel cot in seconds!

The AeroMoov Instant travel cot weighs less than 5 kg! No more lugging around a heavy travel cot, even the big brother or sister can easily carry the travel cot.

• Set up and dismantle in just 5 seconds
• Lightweight, weighs under 5kg
• Intermediate level for babies up to 2 months
• Use it everywhere, both inside and outside
• High quality mattress
• Available in 3 different colours
• High-quality, total package for the best sleep and play on the go!
• The high-quality PU foam mattress is 3 cm thick and offers optimum back support.

Check out the Aeromoov  Travel Cot Bundles!

Available in 'Rock' and 'Sand', this  bundle gets you the incredible Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot,  as well as over $120 worth of accessories, including the Fitted Sheet, Mosquito Net and Sunshade for $449.00!

Travel Cot in Bundle Rock

Travel Cot in Bundle Sand

Still confused that’s completely fine..

Buying a travel cot or portacot is a big commitment, so you probably want to do your research.

Want to see the best baby products in Australia up close? Come to our next  Sydney baby expo  or  Melbourne baby expo  by visiting our  Sydney baby expo page here  or our  Melbourne baby expo page here.

Disclaimer:

The One Fine Baby team are first and foremost mums - between us we have 14 children, and decades of experience in all things bump, baby and beyond. We regularly bring together our tried, researched and recommended products in a review style format such as this post. The articles include some paid inclusions which goes to helping us keep our audiences informed on the top products happening right here, right now in the parenting space. Please be sure that no product will ever be included in our articles, paid or otherwise, if it doesn’t deserve to be there.

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Portable cots

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Based on intensive lab testing across 200+ product and service categories.

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When tested to the latest portable cot safety standards, we've found that the majority of portacots have multiple safety failures. But we do find ones to recommend.

Our lab test results will show you the portacots that:

• pass important safety tests that look for mattress firmness and good airflow as per the Australian standard for folding cots (AS/NZS 2195:2010)
• are the lightest to carry
• are easy to fold, unfold and pack away.

Check our list of the  latest portable cots we've tested that fail our key safety tests , and read more about our call for stronger product safety laws .

While we recommend portable cot models that score a CHOICE Expert Rating of 70% or higher, it's still worth considering models that score at least 60%, as these have passed our key safety tests (generally involving mattress firmness, suffocation or head entrapment risks).

Our interactive comparison tool will help you find the portacots that come with a bassinet, a change table and wheels.

Shopping links on the CHOICE website

CHOICE is an independent, nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping consumers. Clicking a link will take you to a retailer's website to shop. While we make money if you buy through some retailer links, this doesn't influence any of our rankings. 100% of the money we make goes straight back into  our nonprofit mission . We're currently testing this service and will consider providing more shopping links in the future.  Tell us what you think .

List of brands we tested in this review.

• Baby Björn 1
• Baby Love 0
• Bebe Care 1
• Childcare 1
• Elite Baby 0
• Ingenuity 0
• Love N Care 2
• Mamakiddies 0
• Micralite 0
• Mother's Choice 0
• Phil & Teds 0
• Roger Armstrong 2
• Silver Cross 1
• Star Kidz 2
• Steelcraft 0

Recommended or typical retail price.

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• Passed key safety tests

Whether the portacot passed the most important safety tests of the voluntary Australian Standard, AS/NZS 2195:2010, which goes above mandatory requirements. Tests include having breathable mesh on all sides, and no suffocation or strangulation hazards. Some models that pass key tests still have some minor failures and therefore aren't fully recommended, but are still worth considering.

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• Weight (kg)

Total weight in kilograms including any supplied accessories.

• Performance score

Based on tests to the latest Australian standard for portable cots, AS/NZS 2195:2010, which goes above mandatory requirements. Supplied accessories such as bassinets and change tables are also assessed and factored into the score. The lower the score, the more significant the safety failures we found. Check the 'Bad points' for each portacot in our comparison table for details of any failures and manufacturer responses.

• Ease of use score

We assess how easy the portable cots are to set up, pack away and store.

Wheels or castors make the cot easier to move, though some are light enough to move short distances without them.

The base can be set to a higher position, suitable for a sleeping infant up to about six months of age.

• Change table

An accessory that attaches to the top of the cot frame, creating a small surface for nappy changing.

A pocket on the cot end for storing small items.

A mesh cover to keep insects away from your baby.

Availability

A Similar model is identical in most aspects except for a few. This means that a majority of its test results are identical so you can reasonably expect to get the same results from the model we tested, but for those aspects which aren't identical, we'll note these as "Not Tested" in the Compare tables.

A Tested model refers to a model that is still current and available in the Australian market. You should be able to order this model through your local retailer, or find it online.

These models can't be found in retailers or online or are no longer manufactured. You may still find these models on second hand websites, or in second hand dealers. Test methods may change over time, so criteria which can't be directly compared will contain an N/A. 

An Identical model is exactly that. Performance characteristics will be identical and the only difference will be something trivial such as colour, which won't have an impact on performance.

These are models we haven't yet tested but that are available.

Included in this review

Choice expert rating.

• Recommended
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• In-use dimensions (cm, H x W x D)
• Packed dimensions (cm, H x W x D)

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This score is made up of a combination of performance (70%) and ease of use (30%). Our observations are based on the latest voluntary Australian standard AS/NZS 2195:2010. Recommended portacots pass all safety requirements such as suffocation risks. Lower-scoring models (in the 60&ndash;69% range) are worth considering if they meet all key safety requirements. They may fail some minor points such as finger entrapment hazards.

4Baby Clouds 2 in 1 Portacot EA12117

This score is made up of a combination of performance (70%) and ease of use (30%). Our observations are based on the latest voluntary Australian standard AS/NZS 2195:2010. Recommended portacots pass all safety requirements such as suffocation risks. Lower-scoring models (in the 60–69% range) are worth considering if they meet all key safety requirements. They may fail some minor points such as finger entrapment hazards.

4Baby Liteway Travel Cot EA11816

4Baby Vacation Portacot EA12116

Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot

Baby Björn Travel Cot Easy Go

Babyhood Bambino Dormire 2 in 1 Portacot

Babyhood Uno 2 in 1 Portacot

Bebe Care Zuri Timber Travel Cot 079130-018

Bugaboo Stardust 954001

Chicco Lullaby Easy Portacot

Childcare Ariel 4 in 1 074300-411

Jengo Travellite Wooden 2 in 1 Cot EA11591

Joie Commuter Change V2 Travel Cot P1028JALGR600

Kmart Anko 3-In-1 Portacot 43-139-804

Love N Care 3 in 1 Sleep N Go HK 993G

Love N Care Playland Travel Cot HK 999

Nuna Cove Aire TC13800FRTAU

Roger Armstrong 3 in 1 Portacot RA2228

Roger Armstrong 8 In 1 Portacot RA2232

Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot SX8138.00AU

Star Kidz Amico Super Light Travel Cot EA11816

Star Kidz Vivo Super Light Travel Cot

Target Adventure V2 3-in-1 Portacot BRT022A1 (2022)

Target Cleo Vogue Portacot 6702 7552

Target Holiday Portacot BRT023A

Vee Bee Amado Travel & Play Cot N9560

Vee Bee The Sierra N9338

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Comparing Travel Cots

• Buying Guide
• Most Popular
• Nursery Buying Guide
• Toddler Sleep

Compare our range of portacots with this easy to follow guide. We get lots of enquiries about which is the 'best'! In reality, which is best depends on what you'll use it for most. Here's a summary to help you decide which travel cot is best for you. Watch the videos to see how quick and easy assembly is.

Our travel cot selection features options designed for use with babies and toddlers up to around 2.5 years, 89cm tall (check each portacot for specifics) or when they attempt to climb out of the travel cot, whichever is earlier.

Travel Cot Comparison Chart

TRAVEL COT ADVICE

Watch our Videos:

Drift travel cot.

Our Drift Travel Cot has been designed with parents in mind. Quick to assemble and easy to pack down, the Drift takes away some of the stress of holidays with babies! It comes with legs attached, you just need to open and click the legs into place. The mattress has a firm base and lightly cushioned top, just pop it into the travel cot. There are 6 velcro tabs to secure the mattress in place to make it extra safe. The sides are mesh to the ground, which is a requirement of the safety standard to ensure it is fully breathable. The Drift meets the NZ/AU Safety Standard for travel cots.

The Quest Travel Cot

Our very stylish Quest, it's a Portacot & Bassinet in one! It has been designed with parents in mind...quick to assemble and easy to pack down, the Quest takes away some of the stress of holidays with babies and toddlers. The mattress has a firm base and lightly cushioned top, just pop it into the portacot - there are velcro tabs to secure the mattress in place to make it extra safe.  Designed for use with children up to 15kg, 90cm tall or when they attempt to climb out of the portacot, whichever is earlier. The sides are mesh to the base of the Quest, which is a requirement of the safety standard to ensure it is fully breathable. The bassinet is simple to set up - insert the support tubes in the sleeves, attach the bassinet into the cot with the zip then simply add the mattress (the same one used for the portacot) and secure it to the portacot using the velcro tabs.

Phil and Ted's Traveller V5

Assembly is still straight-forward and relatively quick with the V5 Traveller but give yourself an extra 5-10 minutes or so to get the Traveller unpacked. The Traveller packs up small and has the added benefit that you can choose to take just the bassinet or just the cot options, to lighten your load.

Shop All Travel Cots

Recommended Articles

Sleep & holidays

You've been looking forward to your holiday for ages and can't wait for the rest and relaxation! But if your baby doesn't sleep well while you are away, your holiday experience may be far less enjoyable!

Travel cots & beds buying guide

We have a great range of travel cots, and we get asked "which is best?" an awful lot. The answer, in short, is it depends what your needs are. We only choose travel cots for our range that meet our standards for quality and value as well as the voluntary and mandatory AU/NZ safety standards. So you know it has to be really really good to be in our range.

Making your baby's cot

Suffocation from the baby having its face covered by bedding is one of the main SIDS risk factors. So if you are using blankets and sheets rather than a baby sleeping bag, it's very important to make the cot up as safely as possible.

Comparing the Best Travel Cots & Beds | Baby Sleep Advice

Quest & Drift Travel Cots Side by Side - Comparing Travel Cots

Unboxing The Drift Travel Cot

We unbox the Drift Travel Cot at The Sleep Store for the very first time. So excited to see how long this will take to assembe from start to finish. Watch our marketing manager and Dad of three unbox and build our new travel cot.

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The Quest Portacot - designed by The Sleep Store

Introducing and unboxing our very stylish Quest. It's a Portacot & Bassinet in one! It has been designed with parents in mind...quick to assemble and easy to pack down, the Quest takes away some of the stress of holidays with babies and toddlers. The Quest has been independently tested & meets the NZ/AU Safety Standard for portacots. Designed for use with children up to 15kg, 90cm tall or when they attempt to climb out of the portacot, whichever is earlier. The sides are mesh to the base of the Quest, which is a requirement of the safety standard to ensure it is fully breathable. The bassinet is simple to set up - insert the support tubes in the sleeves, attach the bassinet into the cot with the zip then simply add the mattress (the same one used for the portacot) and secure it to the portacot using the velcro tabs.

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Phil & Teds Traveller 5.0 Assembly and Instructional How-to

This video relates to the 2022 version of the Phil and Teds travel cot, also known as the Traveller, (version 5.0) 4 in 1 lightweight portacot and bassinet. Some of the features of this version (V5) of the traveller aren't available on older models, such as the V4 - so refer to older videos in our Travel Cots playlist here for particular instructions for that model. The V5 replaces the V4 moving forward. See how to assemble the 2022 version of the traveller and how to use the bassinet mode. Your V5 Traveller should include the following parts: 1 x carry bag 1 x cot fabric 1 x bassinet fabric 1 x sheet for mattresses 2 x mattresses (packed together) 4 x side tubes 4 x legs 2 x bed attachment straps with corner covers attached 2 x end tubes Refer to the instruction manual linked on our product page at The Sleep Store for further information and safety warnings. You can find the Phil and Teds Traveller V5 plus our full range of travel cots and travel bassinets online at The Sleep Store, use the link below. We are New Zealand's best online baby retailer as voted for by Kiwi parents. We ship nationwide in New Zealand, and selected styles nationwide to Australia aswell. Plus you can earn loyalty points and redeem rewards when you purchase through your account at The Sleep Store.

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Ultimate Guide To The Best Portacot Australia 2023

Finding the best portacot, Australia 2023 can feel overwhelming – it’s hard to know which product is perfect for you and your baby when there’s such a range of different types, styles, material, and prices. This guide will talk you through all the portacot types and features so that you can make an informed choice and find the best portacot to buy.

The best portacot 2023 should look great, not be too heavy, be sturdy, durable, comfy, and most importantly, safe. The problem is that if you type “buy portacot in Australia,” you’ll be given so many thousands of results that you might not know where to start. Read this guide and you’ll be well on your way to find the best travel cot Australia has to offer.

Click here to see the best portacot now!

I’ve written travel cot reviews for the top 9 portacots that are available on the web so that you don’t have to trawl the internet for hours. Whether you’re looking for a small portacot, extra large portacot or just a cheap portacot, this guide will ensure you find the best portable cot for your needs.

• 1 Compare The Top 9 Best Portacot Australia 2023
• 2 Top 9 Best Portacots 2023 Australia
• 3 Standard Cot Vs Portacot
• 4.1.1 Standard Sized Portacot
• 4.1.2 Travel Cot
• 4.2 Size, Child Age, and Capacity
• 4.3 Weight And Portability
• 4.4 Quick Assembly And Storage
• 4.5 Durability And Safety
• 4.6 Inclusions And Accessories
• 5.1 Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Review
• 5.2 Phil and Teds Traveller Travel Cot Review
• 5.3 Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot Review
• 5.4 Roger Armstrong Sleep Easy Portacot Travel Cot Review
• 5.5 NARMAY Baby Tent Pop Up Travel Bed Review
• 5.6 Love N Care Playland Travel Cot Review
• 5.7 Star Kidz Amico Plus Light Travel Cot Review
• 5.8 Bebe Care Zuri Timber Travel Cot Review
• 5.9 Giantex 3-in-1 Baby Foldable Travel Cot Review
• 5.10 Related posts:

Compare The Top 9 Best Portacot Australia 2023

Top 9 best portacots 2023 australia.

Handy reference list of the best travel cot Australia offers – see all full portacot reviews below!

• Baby Bjorn Travel Cot, Small/Travel
• Phil and Teds Traveller Travel Cot, Small/Travel
• Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot, Small/Travel
• Roger Armstrong Sleep Easy Portacot Travel Cot, Small/Travel
• Narmay Baby Tent Pop Up Travel Bed, Small/Travel
• Love N Care Playland Travel Cot, Small/Travel
• Star Kidz Amico Plus Light Travel Cot, Small/Travel
• Bebe Care Zuri Timber Travel Cot, Small/Travel
• Giantex 3-in-1 Baby Foldable Travel Cot, Big/Standard

Standard Cot Vs Portacot

What exactly is the difference between a standard cot and a portacot and why should you consider getting the best portacot for travel, rather than just bringing your standard cot?

• A standard cot is usually heavy, while a portacot is much lighter. When it comes to travelling, a portacot is definitely better than a standard cot – nobody wants to be lugging around a great big and heavy standard cot.
• A portacot can be easily stored and carried because it’s designed to pack down compactly – take them along in the car or even on planes. A standard cot, on the other hand, may not fold down at all and be difficult to pack in the car (forget about taking it on the plane).
• The mattress of a portacot is typically removable vs a standard cot mattress which may not be. This allows you to pack it down more compactly.
• Standard cots are designed for everyday use whereas a portacot can only be used on a temporary basis. This is because the mattress of a portacot isn’t suitable for long term use – think of it as how you wouldn’t sleep on a camp bed every night when at home.

Choosing The Best Travel Portacot 2023

The best travel cot for babies should have a number of qualities such as being lightweight etc. Bear in mind, the best product for your needs might not be the best product for another mum or dad. Here are some quick tips on how to choose the perfect portacot for your baby.

The two most common types of portacot include standard sized portacots and travel cots. They’re quite similar and you may find that some brands refer to them interchangeably but there are some key differences.

Standard Sized Portacot

Standard sized portacots are usually bulkier than travel cots because they are sized to ordinary home cots and are essentially large travel cots.

• Suitable for trips where you’re travelling in the car, and for destinations where space is not an issue, for example when visiting relatives.
• Often includes bassinets and changing tables, so your baby can be protected from bright lights and insects.
• Full sized — baby has plenty of room to stretch out and they can be comfier than portacots.
• Bulkier — may not be suitable for plane travel.
• May take a bit of time to set up.

A travel cot is smaller, lighter, and more compact. The smallest travel cots are very easy to transport from one place to the next, as you would expect.

• Lightweight — made for flights and road trips where space is an issue.
• A small travel cot is very easy to set up and very convenient to store.
• Does not come with extra features like bassinets and changing tables.
• Smaller — baby has less room and they will outgrow them quicker.

Size, Child Age, and Capacity

The size the cot is really important to think about — how long will your child be able to use it for? If you get a very small one, they will outgrow it quicker than if you get a bigger one where there’s room to grow. You’ll need a large portacot if you’re looking for the best travel cot for toddler aged kids. For newborns, and if space is a big concern, you might want to consider a small one, since this will fold down more compactly.

Always make sure your child’s weight doesn’t exceed the maximum weight limit as this will be unsafe. In each review of the following products, we’ve made sure to include the dimensions of each product, so you can choose the best suited one for your baby.

Weight And Portability

When it comes to travelling, the lighter the better — the best lightweight travel portacot takes a load off (literally) of your journey. If you’ll only be carrying it to and from the car, then weight isn’t such a big concern. However, if you’ll be carrying it through airports, on trains, and across cities, then think carefully about the product’s weight.

Most travel cots nowadays are built with portability in mind, so they often come with a travel bag to transport the cot which can be a great help too.

Quick Assembly And Storage

One of the best things about travel cots is that they’re often easy and quick to assemble and put away. Being away from home with a baby can be stressful, so an easy to set up cot is definitely the best travel cot for newborn babies.

Durability And Safety

You’ll of course want to choose a product that is durable and is going to last you. Portacots tend to last longer because they are designed more sturdily. Travel cots may not last as long — this is a trade-off for being more lightweight. Always replace the cot when it becomes damaged.

Safety is likely at the forefront of your mind when deciding which travel cot to buy. All cots, including travel cots, sold in Australia must pass very strict regulations, so they are generally very safe. Always check that the cot you buy has been certified safe – check for the appropriate tags on the product.

It’s strongly recommended that you use the mattress that comes with the cot. If it doesn’t come with one, or you need to buy a replacement, ensure the mattress fits exactly in the cot – an ill fitting mattress can be dangerous. The mattress should also be firm so that it doesn’t mould to their face — this can interfere with their breathing (SIDS). Read more about safety when using a travel cot.

Inclusions And Accessories

Some cots may come with additional great features that can make your trip go smoother and make baby’s time in the cot even more comfortable.

• Mattress and Sheets – Cots that come with their own mattresses and sheets will be the perfect fit — you don’t need to spend time looking for the correctly sized sheets and mattress.
• Portable Changer – Some cots have a changer that fits on top of the cot. Place your baby on the changer and they’re at the perfect height for nappy changes. No more needing to use sometimes unhygienic public changers.
• Pockets – Some cots come with pockets that hang on the edge of the cot. These are great to have to keep all baby related items organised.
• Bassinet – A portacot with a bassinet provides you with another place to rest your newborn that’s at waist height — a nice feature for daytime naps.
• Rocker or Wheels – Wheels make things more convenient when moving baby around the house you’re staying at. They should include stoppers too, so the cot can’t move on its own.

Best Travel Cots Reviews Australia 2023

Baby bjorn travel cot review.

Rating: 5.0

Specifications:

• Type: Small, Travel
• Weight: 6kg
• Dimensions: 112 x 82 x 64 cm

This Bjorn cot is intended for newborn babies up to three years old. A comfy mattress is included along with a soft cotton sheet. The walls are made with mesh so that you can always see your baby as they sleep and allow them to look out. You can set it up so easily, with just one move to get it ready.

A great feature of this cot is the ability to machine wash the fabrics — the cot fabric on warm/40C and the mattress cover on hot/60C. Assembled, the cot measures 112 x 82 x 64 cm and when packed down into the provided travel bag, just 60 x 49 x 14 cm. It weighs only 6kg. Be sure to compare on eBay to get the Baby Bjorn portacot best price and also to read another Baby Bjorn portacot review from happy mums and dads.

What I like:

• Easy to set up cosy crib (just one move!)
• Child friendly material
• Approved with Oeko-Tex Standard
• Lightweight, portable, perfect for travel – 6 kg

What I dislike:

• Pricey from some sellers but good deals do come up frequently on eBay

>> Click here for the latest prices.

Phil and Teds Traveller Travel Cot Review

Rating: 4.5

• Weight: 2.8kg
• Dimensions: 117 x 63 x 79 cm

You can buy Phil And Teds traveller portacot if you’re looking for babies under two years. It comes with a mattress as well as a polyester sheet. The frame is made with aluminium and the mesh sides are built for breathability and for you to watch over your baby. Assembly only takes 2 minutes of your time.

The fabrics can be sponge cleaned with warm water using a mild natural soap, but it’s not advisable to machine wash or use detergents. It measures 117 x 63 x 79 cm when assembled and folds down really compactly to 65 x 20 x 20 cm when stored in the included travel bag. It only weighs 2.8kg.

The mattress is built to be firm in order to prevent SIDS. Be sure to check out the Phil And Teds traveller portacot price (very reasonable) as well as read another Phil And Teds portacot review on eBay.

• Lightweight – 2.8 kg
• Self expanding mattress & snap crib assembly 
• Comes with a carry bag for storage/transport
• Global safety standards certified 
• Fabric can be sponge cleaned but not washable — no soap, solvents, detergents or bleach

>> Click here for the latest prices on eBay.

Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot Review

Rating: 4.0

• Weight: 9kg
• Dimensions: 93 × 22 x 37 cm

If you’re looking for a safe, reliable and strong portacot, I recommend this one from Silver Cross. The Slumber Travel Cot is really a 3 in 1 – it can sleep newborns in the removeable insert, toddlers as a cot, and with a zippered side which opens up, it can be used as a playpen.

This is one of those few portacot options that feels strong and sturdy. There is additional padding on the sides and plastic feet which allow it to be used outdoors. It offers a safe, secure feeling owing to it’s durability and folds up compactly into the included bag – albeit on the heavy side.

However as with many portacots of this style, the mattress isn’t the most comfortable and would benefit from some additional padding. But for strength and reliability, you can’t go wrong.

• 3 in 1 – newborn bed, toddler cot and playpen
• Strong and durable with padded sides
• Can be used outdoors
• Among the heaviest options

Roger Armstrong Sleep Easy Portacot Travel Cot Review

• Weight: 8kg
• Dimensions: 101 x 74 x 78 cm

We couldn’t leave off this Roger Armstrong portacot review. This cot is for babies under 15 kg or up to two years old. It comes with a soft padded mattress and the mesh sides provide great ventilation. The cot has a handy side zip so you don’t always need to bend over into the cot.

It measures 101 x 74 x 78 cm — plenty of space for stretching babies. When folded, it’s only 60 x 15 x 49 cm, combining comfort, support and portability. This one’s a little heavier since it’s a full sized cot – it weighs 8kg. You get a handy carry bag. Check out the Roger Armstrong portacot price on eBay to be pleasantly surprised.

• Soft, padded mattress for safe, comfy sleep or a play space
• Max capacity of 15 kg
• Includes a carry bag – compact folding design & easy to store
• A bit heavy – 8kg

NARMAY Baby Tent Pop Up Travel Bed Review

• Weight: 0.4kg
• Dimensions: 42 x 37 x 7 cm

When it comes to affordable baby travel beds it doesn’t get much cheaper than the NARMAY Baby Tent Pop Up Travel Bed.

This is an incredibly lightweight pop up tent for babies and toddlers to relax, play and sleep in (with additional support). It comes with an included bag and instantly pops out with minimal effort. There is a single zippered mesh access compartment to provide some protection from sun and bugs. Folding it back down into the bag is a little more difficult but still easy.

Make no mistake however – this is not really an alternative to many of the portacots above, but a fun and convenient option on the beach or while visiting.

• Super lightweight
• Easy to pack/unpack
• No mattress or support for sleeping

Love N Care Playland Travel Cot Review

• Weight: 9.6kg
• Dimensions: 115 x 80 x 78 cm

This cot is for babies under two or less than 14kg. It comes with a comfy mattress. The mesh material provides plenty of ventilation and allows you to see through. Cleaning this cot is easy – just wipe it down with a damp cloth and mild soap.

When standing, it measures 115 x 80 x 78 cm, and when folded in the included travel bag, it measures 78 x 28 x 25 cm. Weighing in at 9.6kg, it’s a bit heavier than some competitors but this is because it’s designed to provide premium support. You might be pleasantly surprised by the Love N Care portacot price on Amazon.

• Easy to use and assemble
• Delivers great stability, mobility & convenience 
• Compact, simple to fold, transport or store – carry bag included
• Not lightweight – 9.6 kg

Star Kidz Amico Plus Light Travel Cot Review

• Weight: 5.2kg
• Dimensions: 106 x 70 x 60 cm

The Amico Plus is suitable for children under three or up to 13 kg. It comes with a padded mattress and cotton fitted sheet. The fabrics are luxurious and certified safe — made from OEKO-textiles free from harmful substances.

It measures 106 x 70 x 60 cm when set up and when folded into the provided travel bag, it’s only 60 x 15 x 49 cm. Weighing in at 5.2kg, this is a light and convenient cot for travel but at the same time also ensures support for your baby. The side zip feature is great for preventing bad backs too.

• Simple set up and fold up process
• Light & convenient to carry – about 5.2 kg
• Comes with a carry bag for transportation/storage
• Globally safety certified 
• Getting the “feet” attached to the legs can be a bit of a pain as it’s a tight fit but this is definitely not a deal breaker

Bebe Care Zuri Timber Travel Cot Review

• Dimensions: 116 x 84 x 70.5 cm

Another solid baby portacot option is this one from Bebe Care. An attractive beechwood design offers strong support, and with mesh fabric on all sides, portacots don’t really get more ventilated than this. This also has the benefit of providing more visibility for parents.

Included with this portacot is an infant bassinet, making it suitable from birth. Further, there is a removable toy bar with 3 (quite cute) hanging toys. The included foldable mattress is also quite soft.

This isn’t the most lightweight option, however I wouldn’t call it heavy and it does fold compactly, but note the weight limit is 13kg. This is a good option for baby’s early years.

• Infant bassinet with removeable toy bar
• Attractive beechwood design
• Ventilated mesh sides
• Low weight limit

Giantex 3-in-1 Baby Foldable Travel Cot Review

• Type: Big, Standard
• Weight: 10.4kg
• Dimensions: 100 x 70 x 74 cm
• Wheels: Yes

This 3 in 1 baby playard by Giantex is made for kids under 10kg. Built with convenience in mind, it’s very easy to set it up and fold it down with an included carry bag and two lockable wheels for easily moving it around.

When assembled, it stands at 100 x 70 x 74 cm which makes it spacious enough without being bulky. Included are three cool toys and a music box. Similar to the previous product, this one also comes with a bassinet and a changing table, as well as a side storage bag so you get a range of uses out of the cot. Given the extra features it includes, its weight of 10.4kg isn’t bad at all.

• Includes a changer, bassinet & the travel cot
• Quick and easy to assemble/disassemble
• Compact and simple to fold, transport & store
• Designed with 4 mesh sides 
• Thin plastic mattress

I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best portacot. F ind the best baby rocker here or the best baby nest guide here . Otherwise you can find all our guides to the best baby products here .

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Cassie is a study-at-home mum to two kids in Melbourne. She loves sharing her experiences of life plus kids with you here.

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- A Travel Cot that is simple to set up and fold up - Easy to take with you - Soft and comfy mattress - Removable and washable cot textiles - Can be used for babies and children aged 0–3 years. The Travel Cot is easy to set up and fold away Open the bag, lift out the travel cot and set it up in one simple movement. There are no loose parts to attach. The legs unfold automatically and once you have put the mattress in you have a stable travel cot to use at home or on trips. When you’re not using it, simply fold it up and store it in the practical bag. Easy to take with you Travelling with children typically involves a lot of luggage, so it’s good to know the travel cot only weighs 6 kg. It’s easy to move around once set up, and the bag’s smart design means that the travel cot is easy to store, carry and stow in any baggage space – perfect for all kinds of trips. Soft and comfy mattress The Travel Cot Light comes with a soft and comfortable mattress, making it a cosy place for your baby to sleep. The mattress has a built-in base plate that keeps the lightweight travel cot standing firmly on the floor, so your child can always sleep securely. A natural part of everyday life The lightweight and cleverly designed travel cot is perfect for both small and great adventures. It’s as ideal for paying a short visit to a friend’s home as it is for longer journeys. You can also use the travel cot as a comfy extra cot at home. A safe place for a travelling baby Travelling can be both fun and exciting, but, at the same time, it’s comforting to have a familiar place to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings. The Travel Cot Light is a safe place for small children to sleep and feel at home. Airy design for good supervision The sides of the travel cot are made from soft and airy mesh fabric. As this allows the baby to breathe through the fabric, you need not worry if the baby’s face is close to the sides of the crib. The see-through mesh lets you keep an eye on your baby and allows your baby to look out. All fabrics close to your child are gentle against your child’s skin and safe to chew or suck on. They have been tested and approved in accordance with Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 Class I for baby products. This means that the textiles are free from health-hazardous substances and allergens. Both the mattress cover and cot fabric can be easily removed and washed in the machine. Travel Cot Light was awarded Best travel cot 2015 in the design awards carried out by the stylish UK magazine Junior. Product specifications Age: From newborn to approximately three years, or until your child can climb out of the travel cot. There is no upper weight limit. Weight and dimensions: Weight (including carry bag): 6 kg Mattress: 60 x 105 x 3 cm. Assembled: 82 x 112 x 64 cm. Folded up in bag: 49 x 60 x 14 cm. A fitted mattress is included. Note! Do not place any other mattresses in the travel cot. Tested and safe Travel Cot Light complies with the EN 716 safety standard for folding cots and national fire safety requirements. It also fulfills the mandatory CPN No.4 of 2008 as well as standard AS/NZS 2195:2010.

All fabrics close to your child are gentle against your child’s skin and safe to chew or suck on. They have been tested and approved in accordance with  Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 Class I  for baby products. This means that the textiles are free from health-hazardous substances and allergens.

Cot fabric: 100% polyester Mattress cover: 70% polyester, 30% cotton Mattress: 100% polyether foam.

These 5 Arizona hotels were just named among the world's best. Here's why they stand out

Five Arizona hotels were just named among the best in the world for 2024.

Travel + Leisure unveiled its 2024 T+L 500 list of the world's best hotels, compiled based on ratings from its readers, in its May issue. The list includes five Arizona hotels, including four that made T+L's 2023 best hotels in Arizona ranking .

Readers evaluate based on their levels of quality, luxury, service and amenities. Here's a look at which Arizona hotels made the Travel + Leisure 2024 best hotels list.

For more hotels recognized as being among the best of metro Phoenix, read about the honorees in  U.S. News & World Report's 2024 ranking ,  Forbes' 2024 Star Awards , and  Esquire's best new hotels in the world .

Five Arizona hotels selected by Travel + Leisure

Readers of Travel + Leisure, America's largest travel media brand, selected five Arizona hotels on its 2024 ranking of the world's best hotels:

• Castle Hot Springs, Morristown.
• The Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley.
• Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley.
• Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney's Resort & Spa, Paradise Valley.
• Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson.

“We’re honored to be recognized on the highly coveted T+L 500 List,” said Andrew Chippindall, general manager of Mountain Shadows Resort. “It’s a true testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional experiences for our treasured guests.”

How Travel + Leisure World's Best hotels 2024 were chosen

The T+L 500 list is derived from T+L's annual World's Best Awards, selected based on reader reviews and feedback. Readers were surveyed about their travel experiences around the world, including hotels, cities, islands, airlines, cruise ships and other experiences.

Readers rated hotels based on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and overall value. They scored each category on a scale from "excellent" to "poor."

The hotels recognized this year are favorites among the publication's readers, who named Castle Hot Springs the best Arizona hotel of 2021 and 2022 and the Hermosa Inn the state's best of 2023. All except for Tanque Verde Ranch were included on last year's list of the 10 best hotels in Arizona.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at   [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:   @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today.

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Cruise Ship Theft Can Happen — Here, 12 Safety Items a Former Cruise Employee Says You Should Pack

Peace of mind starts at just $15.

Kelsey’s writing has appeared in outlets like Condé Nast Traveler, TripSavvy, Edible Magazine, and TimeOut. Some of the most standout experiences in her travels include living in Tokyo, abseiling in Vanuatu, surfing in Costa Rica, and cycling through the Pyrenees mountains.

If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Travel + Leisure / Daisy Rodriguez

As a former cruise ship crew member (and current travel writer), I’ve spent a lot of time on cruise ships. I’ve sailed the winter season between Australia and Fiji, the summer season in the Med, and spent over 100 days on a World Cruise. Unlike airplanes, buses, cars, and trains, where a traveler must remain alert (and usually upright) during transit, cruises allow travelers the luxury of going to sleep in one country and waking up in another; and enjoying a sunset cocktail in between. As calm and relaxing as cruise travel can be, it can still set the scene for a slew of unique (and unexpected) theft possibilities. Hence why it's essential that travelers be aware of their belongings and surroundings.

Cruising presents two different opportunities for theft: onboard and ashore. Although it is rare to be a victim of theft while onboard, it still happens. According to the US Department of Transportation’s Cruise Line Incident Report , there were 20 reported thefts of more than $10,000 on cruise ships that docked in the US in 2023. When you compare that with the 18 million passengers of 2023’s North American cruise market , the likelihood of theft onboard is low. But, as highlighted by CNN , current legislation does not require the cruise lines and US Coast Guard to report more minor instances of theft. And as such, pinpointing global statistics for cruise ship incidents can be tricky. 

“Cruise ships cross so many jurisdictional lines during their travels; where the theft occurs may impact its reporting and resolution,” says Anna Redmond, founder of Braav, a platform that matches top security talent with businesses on demand. Regardless of which country you’re sailing through, an onboard theft should be reported to the ship’s staff security as quickly as possible to accelerate action. And, your travel bag should be equipped with smart accessories to help ward off would-be thieves. 

If you’re headed out on a cruise and you want to be prepared for anything, both onboard and ashore, investing in some budget-friendly travel accessories can provide invaluable peace of mind. Below, you'll find this longtime cruiser's go-to, anti-theft travel essentials to keep your valuables secure, as well as my tips on how to ensure a safe cruise experience. 

Portable Lock Box

Most cruise ship cabins come equipped with a personal safe. But, these electronic safes all have master codes that unlock them. If this makes you nervous, you might feel better bringing your own safe to lock up things like watches, electronics, or jewelry. This portable lock box takes up little space in your luggage and uses a four-digit combination lock that you set, which many consider safer than the digital safes that have reset codes and master keys. 

It's also a genius gadget to have handy when you're hanging around the ship, especially if you'll be enjoying the cruise's itinerary and leaving your essentials in your beach bag as you hop from activity to activity. And, it'll give you peace of mind to pack in your tote when you're docked. 

Apple AirTag 4-pack 

A traveler’s best friend, the Apple AirTag is a must for any kind of travel as it keeps a close eye on your valuables, suitcases, and so on. To prepare for a cruise, tuck an AirTag in every piece of luggage, including your purse or wallet. Always turn on the “Find My” app on your Apple devices so you can monitor your AirTags from anywhere. When you leave the ship to explore ashore, always leave one Apple device onboard safely in your cabin so you can use it to ping another device if it gets stolen. 

When traveling ashore, never bring high-value items with you; they’re safer in your stateroom. Nevertheless, you should still have some emergency cash and your passport on you. I recommend keeping these essentials as close to your body as possible, ideally in a zippered pocket. Pickpockets are called that for a reason; they’re adept at snagging items from open, accessible pockets. If your clothes aren't stocked with zippered pockets, a money belt or lanyard wallet (looped through a belt loop), secures belongings to your person discreetly.

Personal Safety Alarm

Most theft occurs when a traveler isn’t paying attention. But on rare occasions, thieves can get more confrontational, especially if they’ve cornered you alone. In these cases, it helps to make as much noise as possible to attract attention to the bad actor. A loud personal safety alarm may be enough to send the thief running for fear witnesses may soon appear. Shoppers say that they feel "safer" just by "being in possession" of this useful gadget, which emits a loud siren-level alarm and a bright LED light. 

A Dummy Wallet

If you’re a victim of a mugging, always act with your safety in mind first. If a mugger is demanding your wallet in a hurry, you could play the part of the cunning traveler and hand over a decoy wallet. This is a wallet you carry with a few expired credit cards and a small amount of cash. The act of handing over a wallet and running away could be enough to distract your mugger until you make it to a safe place.

A Cell Phone Lanyard

When I spoke with Panache Cruises founder, James Cole, he shared his own story of theft while walking and using his cell phone. The thief was on a motorbike and “snatched my mobile phone and promptly sped away — I should have known better. But it goes to show that even experienced travelers can be lured into a false sense of security when on holiday.” 

A mobile phone lanyard like this luxe one from Casemate could help you keep a firmer grip on your phone and make it harder to snatch quickly from your grasp. For something a little more rugged, opt for this adjustable nylon one from Amazon-loved brand Outxe ; it can be worn around your neck or on your wrist. 

Luggage Lock

If you’re wary of the security of your cabin, then you’ll have peace of mind by locking your luggage while you’re out of your room. Cruise ships don’t allow door locks due to ship safety (in case of fire, etc.), but a luggage lock is your next best bet for securing your belongings in your room. 

Many travelers forget that some of their most valuable travel belongings are invisible. Our personal data is at risk any time we connect to a public Wi-Fi network ashore. A private VPN protects your network and the activity you conduct on your phone, such as checking bank account balances. As a cruise ship crew member, I was always seeking out public Wi-Fi when ashore because the ship’s Wi-Fi was spotty or too expensive. A VPN will provide you peace of mind for surfing the web safely no matter where you are.

Portable Charger 

Phones are a traveler’s no. 1 safety tool. If you’ve been a victim of theft, you don’t want to be stranded with a battery-sapped phone. You may need it to call for help, or to navigate the nearest police station. And if your phone itself has been stolen, you’ll want it to have some charge so you can ping it using “Find My iPhone” or its inherent location tracker. That’s why it’s essential that you keep it full of charge.

Anti-theft Backpack

Backpacks are a great bag to take ashore for all-day exploring. But, be careful wearing a backpack in a busy, crowded destination. It’s hard to feel when someone is slipping into your pack's pockets when crowds are pushing against you from all sides. The chaos of crowds makes it easy for an opportunist to dip into your bag. To avoid backpack theft, wear it on your front as you head into busy areas (you’ll look goofy, but it’s worth it). Alternatively, invest in a backpack with little to no accessible exterior pockets and zippers. This Nordace backpack has a secret security pocket that sits against your back, making it good for passports, money, and wallets. You could also use luggage locks looped through your backpack’s zippers for extra safety.

Slash-proof Bag

I’ll never forget the story my mother told me of when she was walking down the sidewalk in Rome with a girl friend and a motorbike zipped by, swiftly cutting the strap of her friend’s bag right off her shoulder without ever slowing down. Although this is the only account I’ve ever heard of motorized thieves with scissors, perhaps you can never be too careful. A bag strap that’s hefty and hard to slash through could save you from motorbike trickery.

Travelon's RFID-blocking, slash-proof crossbody bag is specially designed to prevent four common points of theft (grab-and-go theft, pickpockets, slash-and-grab theft, and electronic identity theft), which is why it's one of Amazon's top-selling travel purses (more than 2,000 of them were sold in the last month, according to the retailer). Also, practice wearing your bag on the side of your body away from the street. 

Extra: Travel Insurance

Travel insurance on a cruise can come in handy for a number of scenarios. Look into plans that will specifically reimburse you for the value of your stolen items. For example, if the item stolen is a pricey cell phone, then the minor expense of travel insurance could end up saving you a lot. 

Now that you know what to pack, read on for more useful tips before you cruise that will give you peace of mind. 

More Ways to Prevent Onboard Theft: 

Safety on a cruise ship.

Safety on a cruise ship is comprehensive. In all of my years of cruising, I have never experienced (or even heard of) any accounts of onboard theft. Cruise passengers have their locked cabin to stow luggage, and most staterooms have in-room safes for high-value items. Every cruise ship also has a team of designated safety and security officers. These officers monitor public areas while at sea and remain at the gangway for the entire duration of the ship’s docking in port. Everyone leaving and entering the ship is scanned using an electronic system. This scanning ensures no passengers are left ashore before a ship departs, but it also registers all activity entering and leaving the vessel. No unrecorded people can enter the ship. At any one time, the ship’s Bridge (the captain and their officers) know the names and quantity of passengers onboard. 

Whatsmore, most ships are equipped with video surveillance in public areas. “Every public space [is] constantly monitored by CCTV cameras,” Cole tells Travel + Leisure . Video surveillance helps the Bridge quickly monitor things like a fire, but it’s also in the best safety interest of passengers to help security officers investigate reported incidents. 

Theft When Ashore

Theft that occurs when a cruise passenger is ashore is much harder to track as those crimes are reported to police in the country of port, not the cruise line. As you can imagine, petty theft in crowded destinations (though still infrequent) is more likely than on a secured cruise ship full of other holidayers. Pickpockets can be found milling in bustling destinations where the chaos makes it easy to get close to someone. 

If you are a victim of theft while ashore, your first point of contact should be local police. It is unlikely that you’ll resolve the issue before you need to head back to the ship before it departs. This time crunch makes the next tip all the more critical: never bring or wear high-value items with you ashore, and try not to travel with a significant amount of cash on you at one time. 

Busy tourist destinations are also hot spots for street scams, which can fool travelers into handing over their money using tricks and elaborate setups. Before leaving for your cruise, do a quick search on common street scams in your ports of call so you’re not caught off-guard.

Anti-theft Traveler Tips

Whether sipping a daiquiri by the ship’s pool or wandering ashore in the old town of Dubrovnik, you should always be aware of yourself and your surroundings. Redmond reminds travelers: “Common sense rules still apply. Most theft is theft of opportunity." This means that crimes occur when travelers are negligent of their personal items. Onboard, this could look like leaving your room key on a bar while you walk back to your table to grab something. Ashore, this could look like slinging your purse out of sight on the back of your chair instead of keeping it in your lap. 

I remember when my crewmember roommate came back to the ship as we departed Barcelona, exhausted from spending the afternoon speaking with Spanish police after she set her purse down on a restaurant’s sidewalk table, only to have it deftly stolen when she wasn’t paying attention. Even savvy full-time travelers can be victims of theft. 

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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• Key Street: Michigan Ave. Leads to 7 Key Hotels in Chicago

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Travel Hotels Chicago MICHELIN Keys

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