The best travel cot, tested by real mums and babies for great sleep on the go

This travel cot represents good value for money, especially because it can be used from birth up to approximately three years of age. Our mum tester, Carly, said, "With a newborn insert and a place for a flat mattress at the bottom, this will easily last my little one through their toddler years, I’d say, until I’m comfortable with them being in a proper bed!" It's also very sturdy, which means it doubles up as a playpen for smaller babies. Reviewer Will described it as "Surprisingly sturdy" and also found that it folds away easily and doesn't take a lot of time to set up, thanks to the zip at the side and the easy fold-away touch points.

We love that the fabric is made with recycled plastic bottles, making it more sustainable but still stylish. It is also extremely practical with an integrated newborn insert, ideal for having little one close to you. One reviewer said, "As soon as we assembled this cot, we loved it. Sturdy, easy to put up and incredibly stylish and lightweight. The newborn insert is perfectly snug for little ones, and it can be gently rocked, which is a bonus. I took it abroad on a family holiday, and it was easy to travel with at only 7kg."

Another tester was impressed by the mattress which they felt was thicker than usual travel cots. As she also pointed out, it performed well as both a cot and a playpen; "My little one slept really well on it, and it was perfect for him to play in while we unpacked."

While there are no wheels for moving it from room to room when assembled, this shouldn't be an issue, as it's very light. Our mum tester, Carly, loved how lightweight it was and commented, "There are no heavy parts to get it set up, nor is carrying it around in its travel bag an issue. We’ve got a lot of weddings next summer with our little one, so this is going to come in handy!"

Read our full Silver Cross Slumber review

A practical travel cot that also doubles as a playpen and cradle, the SOFI is a great purchase. It is suitable for babies and toddlers from birth to 15kg, and is lightweight and easy to fold. Plus, it includes a storage bag, which makes it even easier 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 would fit past the age of two years.

The fact that this cot is so easy to fold and comes with a bag means it can be stored away easily when not in use. It also offers additional storage underneath if used on the top level, so you can pop nappies and toys underneath (which can be helpful if you're staying in a hotel room with limited space!). 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 the purchase."

Read our full Kinderkraft SOFI review

Suitable from birth to approximately three years old, the FoldLite was hailed by parents for its lightweight frame and won a Bronze award in the Mother&Baby Awards 2023.

The FoldLite has a mesh lining and two wheels for easy manoeuvrability, making it a useful portable cot for travel, but tester Sarah also found that the wheels made it a versatile option for using at home. "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.

While testers noted how easy it was to unfold - only two of the sides need to click together - reviews were mixed on how easy it was to put away, noting that the Home Fold feature helps it fold away within seconds, but it's trickier to fold away fully for storage. "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" said Archana. However, Sarah found that when it was worth folding up fully, as this made it very light and compact. "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."

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 had to pull it quite tightly to then fit it in the bag." Overall, our testers love the convenience of having a pop-up cot at home. One thing to be aware of, though, as our mum tester Joanna pointed out, is that it has quite high sides, so it can be difficult to reach over and get baby out if you have a bad back.

Read our full Graco FoldLite review

This stylish, contemporary travel cot takes seconds to put together and is reasonably quick and easy to fold back up again, 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 found that the bassinet makes it easy to lift her baby 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 takes 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 Nuna Sena Aire review

For ultimate convenience, this travel crib is so compact that it can be carried as a backpack. While this makes travelling with a small baby super easy, it does mean it's only suitable from birth until baby's around 9kg or starts to roll. Our mum tester, Nicole, says, "This crib is not only ideal for moving around the house and garden during newborn daytime naps, but it also shines as a travel crib. Whether camping or packing it into a suitcase for international travel, it's a convenient choice."

We love the net to protect your baby from mosquitoes too. One reviewer said, "We used this for our son’s first camping trip. He is currently three months old, and this travel cot was perfect. He actually had the best sleep he’s had so far! So easy to pop up and take down. Super slim, so can be stored away neatly."Our mum tester, Nicole, added, "Setting up and taking down the crib couldn’t be easier - it takes a matter of seconds. Aside from the mosquito net, which is a separate piece, the entire crib folds in one motion."

Another reviewer commented, "We love this bassinet! We’ve been using it since we brought our daughter home from the hospital. It’s perfect for safe naps during the day for our little girl. We can easily bring it with us to the park, friends' houses etc. In my opinion, it’s a better, safer (and cheaper) than a lot of others." However, some reviewers mentioned that it is hard to keep clean. Overall, Nicole said, "the superior quality and thoughtful design make it a worthwhile investment for families who are frequently on the go."

Read our full ErgoPouch Easy Sleep Portable Crib review

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 in 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 the baby in and out.

Read our full Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot review

Not only is this versatile travel cot a 3-in-1 cot with a full-size bassinet, changing unit, and portable bouncing seat, but it also comes with lots of extra accessories, including sound and light features, a soothing sound vibration, and 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, Lauren, said, "The changing mat has a nice flat design that can easily fit when packed into a car boot and is very portable. Also, considering the various items included in the travel cot set they are all built to a lightweight design, that's easy to carry for the family on the go!"

However, one reviewer, Kathryn, did find it quite difficult to assemble. "I had to enlist my husband's help," she says, adding that it's sturdy and almost as big as a normal cot.

Another reviewer, Nicola, was also impressed and liked 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 with Kathryn that the extra accessories aren't really suitable past 12 months, and unlike Lauren, she found the cot to be quite heavy, noting "I would struggle to move it from room to room without help".

Read our full Joie Excursion Change and Bounce review

The Bugaboo Stardust makes the bold claim that it has the fastest unfold, taking just one second to unfold and three seconds to fold it up. It might be a bold claim, but it's one our tester found to be true. "I thought they were exaggerating, but nope! You literally pop it open in one second. You just clip the sides and boom, it’s ready to go. My mind was blown."

Not only is it quick and easy to fold up and take down, but our tester was impressed by how comfortable and spacious the Bugaboo Stardust was. She also found that the newborn insert helped her to lift her baby out easily, saving her from the back pain many people report from bending down into the cot.

The Stardust is one of the more expensive options on our list of the best travel cots, but our mum tester felt this price was justified given how easy it was to use and how well her baby slept in it. "The Bugaboo Stardust is pricey for a travel cot, but I honestly think it’s worth it if you travel or need something quick and easy to set up. It’s super lightweight, comfortable for baby, and really easy to clean. If you’re sick of fighting with your travel cot every time you go away, this one is a total game-changer."

Read our full Bugaboo Stardust review

The Littlelife Arc 2 was described by our tester as a 'game-changer' thanks to its lightweight design, backpack-style carry-bag and simple assembly. It's a tent-style travel cot that can also be used as a play pen and a beach tent so it's a great option for parents who like to camp or head to festivals, while also being a useful bit of kit to have in the house.

At 2.5kg it's one of the lighter travel cots on the market but as it lies on the floor, it doesn't have an upper age limit which others do. The mattress is a 70x121cm which is the same as a normal cot.

The mesh panels provide ventilation and good visibility, while also keeping bugs and mosquitoes away from the baby if you're in a place where this is a problem. If you are going to use it as a beach tent, you'll need to buy the sunshade separately.

Our tester found assembly was easy, though she did not that the poles are long which requires a fair amount of space to put it up. She also felt that the mattress was quite thin but her son slept well so this didn't seem to be an issue (and is generally the case with travel cot mattresses).

On the whole, our mum tester felt the Littlelife Arc 2 was "probably the best bit of travel kit we have" as it makes you "feel like you’re a traveller who happens to have a baby, not a parent lugging an entire nursery around whenever you leave the house."

Read our full Littlelife Arc 2 travel cot review

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. Our mum tester, Clare, said, "I opted for the Joie Kubbie Sleep travel cot because it has a similar ‘next to me’ style of bassinet to her bedroom crib. Sleeping side-by-side with my baby since birth has allowed me to check on and feed her without leaving my bed, so I really liked the idea that I would be able to do that when not at home too."

We love the clever design, which makes travelling simpler. One reviewer said, "Lovely travel cot, a good size but not too big - should last a while as you can move the mattress to the bottom, but can be used for storage first." Another added, "It was easy to assemble and perfect for what we need, compact style, so will be really useful for travelling, which is what we wanted! I love that it has the raised option for a more "next to me" style." Our mum tester added, "The Kubbie is simple but stylish, has a removable bassinet and mattress, and it can double up as a playpen. Eva is too young to use the cot as a playpen, but I’m sure it will come in handy once she starts to crawl."

It is a sturdy and compact travel cot, ideal for travel; however, some parents thought it was smaller than expected. We love the carrycot to make it easier on your back, and reviewers agreed. One mum said, "I initially bought it as an alternative to the crib next to me, and travelling. It has worked great for both of us. We love that we can lower the side to easily watch the baby from bed during the night. It's easy to put up, take down, and pack it up for travelling." She added, "As the baby gets a bit bigger, we also use the crib as a playpen when travelling." However, while it is compact, reviewers did find it heavy with one reviewer commenting, "It's a little bit heavy to carry for a small person." Another reviewer was disappointed there were no handles on the case to make carrying it easier. That said, it is easy to move from room to room with one reviewer saying, "the wheels and brakes made it easy to move from room to room."

Read our full Joie Kubbie Sleep review

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 a 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 being kind to your baby's sensitive skin.

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. Our mum tester, Nicolle, said, "The travel cot was very easy to assemble and also to put away. It is lovely and lightweight, so you will not need to worry about carrying it to the car or elsewhere. Artie really enjoys the vibrations and music as it settles him, but also it’s great to put him into play so I know he is safe. The light is also handy if I need to use it at night to check on him. It is also great that it has wheels to move it around easily to make more space."

However, another 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, 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.

The Chicco Next2Me PopUp is an ideal travel bedside crib that ensures safe co-sleeping for both parents and babies. With its quick-fold system and six height adjustability, the PopUp offers the perfect balance of safety and ease of use for holidays. As our Mother&Baby Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert shares, “It folds open and closed in just three seconds and fits neatly in its travel bag—perfect for nights away.”

Designed for use from birth to around 5-6 months (9kg), the PopUp can be used as a standalone crib or a travel cot, making travel in those first six months easier. For co-sleeping, the side can be lowered and securely attached to the parent’s bed, allowing for easy monitoring and accessibility. The mattress ensures proper posture support, with airflow to reduce sweating, and the tilting feature provides comfort for babies with digestion or nasal congestion, though it is unavailable when in co-sleeping mode.

Manoeuvrability is another strong point, with two wheels making it easy to move from room to room. “The casters make it incredibly easy to move without lifting, making nighttime feedings and checks simpler”, shares Emily. The simplicity of the design and setup means this crib could easily become the only bed you need for the first six months.

Read our full Chicco Next to Me Pop Up review

Ideal for use on the go and at home, this 3-in-1 playpen is perfect for sleeping and playing. It can be used as a bassinet, a playpen and a travel cot. We also love that it is extremely lightweight, so it is ideal for travel; it can be assembled in seconds. One reviewer said, "It's light enough so I can travel with it on a train, but I wish it was a bit lighter. Design isn't as ugly as others. Overall, really happy with it."

Reviewers like the zip design, which makes it easier to put baby inside the cot if they fall asleep outside of it. One reviewer commented, "When the 12-week-old is staying with grandparents, the standout feature for me is the zip side. So much easier to put baby down if she falls asleep outside of the cot, and to pick her up too."

It is convenient to use at home, and away with one reviewer saying, "I have been using this crib for my 12-week-old when staying with grandparents and it’s brilliant. It’s easy and quick to put up and down and stores flat for putting in the car. Most importantly, my baby is really cosy and comfy using the newborn bassinet part for naps and nighttime sleep. I wish I had just bought this instead of the next to me crib for our house as I don’t keep the side down anyway." However, some reviewers were frustrated by the velcro at the sides, commenting the "only downside is that you can’t put a cot sheet around the mattress due to Velcro strips that secure it and it doesn’t fold down compactly."