Best Travel Cot 2020

If you spend nights away with your young children then a travel cot is a really good investment. There are so many choices out there so we’ve narrowed it down to the best travels cots available. Whether you want something that is really lightweight if you need to carry it around an airport, or something that is quick to put up, or you just want something that is cheap but still does a good job then we’ve got a travel crib for you.

If you’re spending some days in another house – on holiday or visiting friends and family – a travel cot is the perfect solution, especially if the house you’re staying in isn’t properly baby proofed. You can have peace of mind that your little one is safe when they sleep or even can be used as a playpen during the day.

If you’re gearing up for a trip in 2020 and are looking for the best travel cribs, this guide is for you.

The Best Lightweight and Pop-Up Travel Cots

1. BABYBJÖRN Travel Cot

The BabyBjörn travel cot is a hefty investment for something that you might only get a couple of years use out of, but boy does it get the best praise over on Amazon!It boasts being able to put up straight from the bag- open the bag, lift out the travel crib and it will erect itself in that moment.

With stylish design and looks reflecting the Swedish company that makes the travel cot (their ethos is all about child in mind design and creating functional products that will also appeal aesthetically to parents), this is definitely a travel cot that could grace the stylish of homes.

The practical aspects of the cot continue after the huge selling point of how ridiculously quick it is to put up.

• The travel crib is also lightweight- weighing only 6kg including the bag.
• It can be used straight from newborn until around 3 years so it is the only travel cot you will have to buy.
• The airy side mesh, whilst making the cot lightweight, also means that your child can breathe freely if their face is pressed against the side, and you can easily see them through the sides to check how they are sleeping.
• The mattress cover and cot fabric is easy to remove and wash- a plus if your baby or toddler is prone to accidents or spit ups.
• The material used is free from harmful substances and shouldn’t aggravate any allergies.

Here are some of those really positive reviews from Amazon customers:

“I love this travel cot from one mum to another you will not be disapointed with this if you can stretch to the cost its the best! I have had 3 children and tried 5 travel cots in their time this is the only one i love.”

“This travel cot costs more than some beds! But I can see why. I’ve had two other travel cots and they are heavy and such a faff to put together and to take apart. This one is very light and comes up so easily, takes about 10 seconds!”

2. NSAuk Deluxe Travel Crib

If you are all about style and comfort while travelling with your baby, then you’ll certainly love the NSAuk Deluxe Travel Crib. The lightweight, versatile and multifunctional travel centre provide a premium sleeping solution for your child.

You can pop it up and take it down in a matter of minutes, making it the perfect travel companion. Whether enjoying a fun time at the beach, at a friend’s house or experiencing a delay at the airport, you can ensure your little angel sleeps in peace. The lightweight and compact design of the travel centre makes it ideal for hand luggage.

The NSAuk Deluxe Travel Cot is all about style and comfort. A self-inflating mattress eliminates bulkiness without sacrificing comfort for your sleeping child. Additionally, the mattress fits snugly in a zippered compartment on the base for excellent crib stability and safety. Doubled layered windows keep annoying little bugs looking to create trouble away as your child sleeps on the beach or in the garden.

You can zipper down the external window flaps to create an ideal sleeping atmosphere even in the harsh glare of the sun when venturing outdoors. Rolling up the window ensures a constant flow of fresh air to create a well-ventilated environment for the sleeping child. Each flap opens independently help you keep the baby safe from strong winds and sun.

For greater safety, each travel cot ships with handy tent pegs to help you anchor the unit secure outdoors.

A simple release mechanism eliminates the need for brute force when setting up the cot. You will not have to put your back into it when looking to take down the coat. Luckily, you have a detailed and accurate owner’s manual to help you set up safely.

The pop-up travel cot measures 47 x 44.2 x 15.2 cm when folded and 130 x 70 x 65 cm when popped.

Happy customers on Amazon have this to say about their purchase:

“After 4 years this works and looks like new. Good quality product.”

And

“I was a bit skeptical about this cot, but I needed one to take on holiday for my 1-year-old to sleep in. I need not have worried as she loves it! She uses it to play in and come nap/ bed time she had no problems falling asleep. The cot itself is very light and fit inside our suitcase for the aeroplane, though I imagine you could take it as hand luggage if desired. It is incredibly easy to put up as it literally springs out of the bag.”

3. Koo-di Travel Crib

The Koo-di Travel Crib is pretty affordable when compared to others. However, this handy travel crib is still small, compact and foldable not to mention it weighs only 1.4 kg. It is the ideal travel companion for parents with babies of between 6-18 months. Made of Polycotton, this crib is extremely easy to set up and take down after use.

The trendy and compact design gives the travel crib a unique look while keeping your little baby safe and secure. A clear netting front on the travel crib makes it easy for you to keep an eye on your little angel. As such, the crib makes a perfect baby accessory when you are out visiting friends and family. It provides you with a comfortable place to rest your baby as you catch up with your buddies.

The padded, baby safe mattress provides your little one with cushy sleeping space to ensure they enjoy every little bit of their nap. An integrated zip-up mosquito net keeps bugs away from your precious angel. As such, you can take this handy travel crib with you when heading out to the great outdoors and your little one will emerge unscathed.

This travel crib suits parents looking to travel light without compromising the safety and the wellbeing of their babies. The crib will fold into a small compact bundle that hardly adds any bulk to your baggage.

The travel crib measures 100 x 60 x 58 cm when unfurled and 61 x 35 x 15 cm when folded.

Happy customers on Amazon have this to say:

“One of the best things we’ve bought for our baby. A lot more spacious than we imagined, the standard mattress that comes with it is also better than we expected, our 5 months old looked very comfortable. Very light, very easy to open or put back in the bag.”

And

“Works perfectly & baby sleeps sound. Very lightweight & easy to assemble. Highly recommend.”

4. AeroMoov Travel Cot

The Aeromoov travel cot is expensive for a travel cot, but similar to the BabyBjörn, it will be up in under 5 seconds and the company also say that it will go down in the same amount of time as well. Phew, no wrestling the travel cot back into a bag when you’re dashing about trying to pack everything and get to the airport in time.

This cot is great for camping and outdoor adventure but you can use it anywhere away from home without a worry. It is safe and has a sturdy design that meets the highest safety standards. Your baby will always find comfort sleeping in the AeroMoov.

Take a look at the promotional video made by AeroMoov to see just how quick and easy the cot sets up:

The Aeromoov offers a number of enticing reasons to buy:

• Extremely lightweight- only 5 kg so easy to carry around along with your baby
• This travel cot handily has an extra level that you can put the mattress higher up in the cot until your baby is 2 months so no more leaning over to get your little one in and out.
• The company are proud of how versatile the cot is- you can buy an extra sunshade to use the cot outdoors, and a mosquito net for travel to different countries (obviously this does bump up the overall cost of the cot).
• See-through mesh sides make it easy to see what your little one is getting up to, although the ends aren’t see through.

The Best Click and Lock Travel Cots

5. BabyDan Travel Cot

This stylish and lightweight travel cot comes from the renowned BabyDan brand that specialises in the safest baby gear. The cot measures 60 cm (width) by 120 cm (length) by 78 cm (height). Your baby can use this cot right from birth until around 4 years old if required.

The BabyDan folds in a snap and comes with a handy carry case so you can easily pull it along when travelling. It’s easy to assemble too.

In addition to offering a relaxing environment for your tot to sleep, the BabyDan also doubles as a playpen. It gives your little one enough space to jump and jiggle while its clear mesh sides allow you to peek at him anytime you wish. You can stay worry-free knowing your baby is always safe in his cot.

Recent buyers at Amazon have showered praise on this cot:

“Great big cot. We use it every day. Nice and sturdy. You will need to buy a proper cot mattress for it, but all in all it’s a great quality product.”

And

“This cot is easy to transport, simple to put up and take down and is really sturdy.”

6. Red Kite Travel Cot

Winner of the Prima Baby award, the Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot is a handy travel companion for parents who love to take their babies with them. Whether going over to a friend’s house, on vacation or visiting family, this travel cot keeps your baby safe and cosy. Airy mesh on the side ensures that baby is never out of your sight and vice versa.

The padded railing top eliminates any hard or sharp edges on the travel cot that doubles as a playpen to keep your young explorer safe. The travel cot is robust enough to support the weight of a toddler learning to walk. The sturdy construction means that you can use the cot from birth up to when your little one is about three years old. This is especially useful for babies that have a hard time falling asleep in an unfamiliar environment.

Due to the good size of the travel cot it can double as a playpen for when you need to keep your child contained during the day. Just pop in a few of their favourite toys or books and they will be entertained in safety while you can get on with any tasks.

The Red Kite Travel Cot is easy to set up, fold away and to transport. The strong mesh sides make the cot lightweight. You only need to refer to the instruction manual when setting up for the first time as after that it becomes easy to set up and take down. Each travel cot includes a free carry bag and ships with frustration free packaging to ensure it gets to you quickly and in perfect condition.

Although the covering is not removable, it is easy to keep the travel cot clean and tidy. Simply clean the trims, fabric covers and the carry bag with warm water and a mild detergent. Be sure to dry it in the open position in an airy place but away from direct sunlight.

The travel cot measures 20 x 20 x 76 cm when folded and 103 x 73 x 76 cm when open.

Happy customers on Amazon have this to say:

“I very rarely write reviews, something has to really impress for me to do so, this product lives up to all hype and ticks every box, does exactly what it promises, worth every penny and what good value for money it is.”

And

“Excellent, exactly what I needed…sturdy enough to use as a playpen and comfy to sleep in it.”

7. Hauck Travel Cot

The Hauck Dream N Play Travel Cot comes in black with green and light blue colours accentuating the rails, corner paddings, and the stands. Yellow is the other available colour option you can choose.

This multi-colour combination gives the Hauck a distinctly attractive look that nicely blends with any type of modern decor.

The two sides running lengthwise are mesh while the ends are solid. This way, you can see what your baby is up to at any time.

The Hauck Dream N Play Travel Cot comes with a foldable mattress measuring 120 cm by 60 cm. It also comes with a carry bag with handles that make it a breeze to move the cot.

A standout feature of the Hauck Dream N Play Travel Cot is its length; it’s longer than typical travel cots, making it perfect for taller babies.

Many parents who’ve purchased this cot have commented positively about it:

“Awesome. Large, easy to fold and unfold (like most things related to babies, there is a learning curve, but once you get it, it folds and unfolds fast), secure.”

And

“Lovely, sturdy travel cot. Bought a cot mattress to go with it for when we are away and it makes a very comfortable bed.”

8. Babyway Travel Cot

The Babyway classic travel cot with mattress and carry bag is the perfect way to keep your child safe during your travels. At 9 kilos, you can tote this handy travel cot anywhere without breaking a sweat. The cot also easily doubles as a playpen for your baby when you have a million things to attend to around the house. With this handy cot, you get to keep your little one occupied without compromising their safety or your chores.

The cot boasts a padded top railing that is sturdy enough to support children who weigh up to 15 kilos. That makes it safe for use with infants and toddlers who are about three years of age. The robust albeit baby safe construction enables the cot to weather many miles with unsurpassed grace.

A pop and go assembly makes using the travel cot super easy and blissful. It boasts a rigid frame with a central locking mechanism to provide a safe and secure environment around your child. The frames are padded to eliminate any hard surfaces. The airy and transparent mesh on the sides ensures proper air circulation while letting you keep an eye on the baby as they play or take a nap. After use, the travel cot conveniently folds into a bag to let you stash it away quickly.

This travel cot is easy to clean, and ships with a thin base mattress to keep your baby safe when playing and sleeping.
The travel cot measures 119 x 60 x 78 cm when unfolded and folds to 81 x 22 x 25 cm.

Satisfied customers have this to say about their purchase:

“Lovely product. Easy to open/close with a couple of practice goes. Good size and comfy. Baby is happy with this!”

And

“Really useful part-time cot for grandparent’s house! Easy to put up and dismantle with a useful carry bag. Good value for money and good quality.”

Do you need a travel cot mattress?

All travel cots (especially the more traditional click and lock ones) come with a usually quite thin and hard mattress that does the job for the odd night but really won’t do for a full holiday. In the past we’ve resorted to folded duvets/ blankets to make it a bit comfier and Grandma has even cut a piece of foam to fit for when we are stopping with them!

When Kid Transit went to the Kind und Jugend international trade show (for kids first years) in Cologne we took along our daughter. At the lovely Airbnb we stopped at, they offered us a travel cot (and put it up themselves saving us the swearing) and then busted out a folding travel cot mattress that fitted perfectly. Why oh why hadn’t we thought of this previously?! Our daughter is getting a bit on the big size for travel cots now so we haven’t invested but we thought we should share the find with all of you lovely readers.

Folding travel cot mattress

Not altogether unexpected, we found a great company at the tradeshow selling some of the best travel cot mattresses around. Obviously, with our interest piqued we had our eye out for this particular product!

Kit for Kids

The company started back in the early 90’s with an idea of innovating new products that would improve the lives of babies and children around the world. Their first products were cot mattresses so they have spent a lot of time and research on developing and refining their products to those that are available for the market today.

The mattresses are based on a durable sealed design instead of the standard foam style mattress which really lends itself to an easily portable and lightweight product- two of the key things for a good travel cot mattress.

Tri-fold travel cot mattresses

Kit for Kids has a number of different versions of the travel cot mattress including tri-fold design ones. The Eucalyss is their newest product which also has a natural treatment on the fabric designed to repel biting flies. A good extra for when you’re travelling to different places that might have midges or mosquitos.

The Kidtex^TM folding travel cot mattress has a water repellent cover so you can be reassured that any spillages or accidents won’t damage your mattress and make it easier to clean up.

The Ventiflow^TM folding cot mattress is the final version and has a highly breathable top cover for great airflow around your baby and a good choice for hotter countries.

Flat travel cot mattresses

Each of these mattresses also come in a flat version. This is useful if you’re using the travel cot as a more permanent bed for example everytime you visit grandparents. They can have the extra mattress easily stored somewhere and pop it in the travel cot when you visit. They are also thicker than the folded versions so will provide even more comfort to your baby when they are using the travel cot.

Customer reviews

Kit for Kids sell their travel cot mattresses over on Amazon, and they have some happy customers judging by the reviews for the Kidtex^TM versions of both the folded and thick travel cot mattresses.

“Perfect for my travel cot that we keep at my mums house. A lot of travel cots advertise that they come with a mattress, but they’re only about an inch thick. This is perfect and my son gets some wonderful sleep on this :)”

“Needed a mattress for travel cot, this fits the bill, cover removable for washing, good product for the price”

Best Travel Cot and Travel Cot Mattress Round-Up

Choosing the best travel cot for your little one is a sure way to keep them safe and comfortable. After all, babies need enough sleep and rest to grow healthy and strong. If you need a perfect travel companion that keeps your child happy without taking up too much space, each of these cots fit the bill.

Our top pick is the BABYBJÖRN Travel Cot. It’s very light and made with high-quality materials. It’s very portable, easy to put up and has machine washable sides that ensure the best hygiene for your lovely tot. While it’s a bit pricey, the quality is worth every penny if you’re not on a small budget.

If you’re looking for a budget cot with all the basics then we recommend the BabyDan travel cot or the Babyway Classic. They are both traditional style travel cots, easy to use, a reasonable price and have loads of room for your child to sleep or play in.

For those of you wanting a really lightweight, easy to put up travel cot for when your baby is small then give the Koo-di travel cot a go. It isn’t as versatile as other options but does deliver for price and is a genuinely small travel cot that will fit in the smallest of spaces.