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’ve decided that your family will benefit from owning a travel cot, then there are a few things worth considering before you buy. But if you often stay over in people’s homes or if Granny and Grandad have the kids to stay occasionally, then a travel cot will most definitely come in handy. It feels very similar to the slightly cheaper Red Kite — easy to assemble, feels sturdy and folds up somewhat compactly. Much like the Red Kite, we’d recommend investing in another mattress as the one that’s included doesn’t feel particularly comfortable. Age Suitability

Here are some travel cot features to look out for when deciding on which travel cot is best for you and your baby.Contains two height-adjustable levels — a top one for newborns and a lower one for toddlers (great for recent c-section mums who can’t bend down too far!) Ruth also considered how easy it would be to access spare parts and whether each cot came with a warranty

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. 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 Like the Maxi-Cosi, it has the two different height levels and comes with a good mattress and a travel bag. One of the things we really like about it is that it can be transformed into a playpen for toddlers and even has padded sides so they won’t get hurt if they’re bouncing around! It’s not quite as lightweight as some of the others on this list but still folds down to a compact size. Age SuitabilityPoppy 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.

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. If you decide to go for a super budget version or one that isn’t well made, you might find that the cot doesn’t reach that point and you’ll need to replace it before your toddler has outgrown it. 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? A good travel cot, on the other hand, will be safe and inviting for your little one to fall asleep in and will keep them contained.Another tester commented, "Our baby is five months and therefore would have benefited from bassinet option. 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." The Graco travel cot is another good low-budget choice that would also work as a playpen due to its spacious feel and transparent mesh sides. 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 The cots on our list are all suitable to be used until around 3 years of age/15 kg/when they decide they want to climb out of it, which is a good lifespan for such a product. Choking hazards are also something to look out for so make sure that small parts, like zips, are well covered

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. 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. When we say ‘ease of use’, we mean how easy it is to assemble, pop up and then collapse down again. Regardless of how much you have and want to spend, however, we’re certain you’ll be satisfied with the travel cots on our list. 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.

Quickly and easily assembled in minutes!

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.