Some travel cots are difficult to set up and fold away and some feel flimsy or they might even be too heavy to travel with so it is important to shop around and find the right travel cot for your child. Many travel cots do not come with a mattress however you can buy fold up travel mattresses from Mothercare and Amazon. Baby Elegance does an eco friendly, fully breathable travel mattress which is also very comfortable.
If you are travelling abroad, many airlines offer to carry two items for under 2’s free of charge and a travel cot can be included in the list of items (see Airline Policies for more information) so if you are travelling by plane and renting a car or not moving around too much at your destination, a travel cot might be worth bringing so that you know your child will sleep comfortably each night. Just make sure you get used to folding and unfolding it before you go to avoid having to figure it all out when you and your child could be tired from your journey. Below are Kinder Travel Guide’s list of best travel cots.
- The Chicco Travel Cot Lulla Go (Suitable from birth – 6 months)
The Chicco Travel Cot Lulla Go is the ideal companion for travel and is suitable from birth up to six months. The travel cot has a light frame making it easy to carry and slip-resistant feet ensure a stable and safe hold. The mesh-inserts provide for optimal air circulation and the stable bottom-panel and the padded mattress offer extra comfort for your baby. The Chicco Travel Cot Lulla Go is 7kgs. It is easily and quickly mounted and demounted and can be stowed in the practical transport bag. (£93.17, Amazon / €134.39, Boots)
- Samsonite Pop Up Cot (Suitable from 6 – 18 months)
This is one of the lightest travel cribs on the market. It quickly pops up and comes complete with mattress and zip-up mosquito net making it perfect for holidays.This pop up cot is available from birth to 6 months and is ideal for travel as it folds up small enough to fit in a shoulder bag and even when assembled, it takes up very little space. The mattress is a metre long so bear this in mind if your child is nearing 18 months as they could outgrow it. (£49.99, Amazon).
- Babyway Baby Travel Cot (suitable from birth to 15kg or when your child can stand unaided)
The Babyway travel cot is a stylish travel cot which is also suitable for use as a playpen. It comes complete with mattress and carry bag and is quick and easy to assemble with easy to clean padded handles. Step by step instructions included The base is a bit hard, so you might want to buy an extra mattress, although you can always just tuck a couple of blankets around it. (£50, Amazon/ €59.99, Boots)
- Graco Contour Electra (suitable from birth to 3 years/ 15kg)
The Graco Contour Electra is more of a portable nursery for babies on the go than a mere travel cot. It has an integral bassinette and removable changing table, toy bar and lullaby box to help your baby nod off. It’s nice and spacious, so should last until your child is three. It also comes with a travel bag. The only downside to this cot is that it weighs 12.7 kgs. This might be too much if you are travelling overseas or moving around a lot without a car. (£89, Amazon/ €149.99, Mothercare)
- Nuna Sena (Suitable from birth to 18 months)
This fantastic travel cot doesn’t come cheap, but it has an innovative pop-up design and one-handed fold, ideal for when you’ve just arrived somewhere and have a crying baby. The company prides itself on producing eco friendly, organic and chemical free products however it is rather expensive and may not be worth the money if you will not make good use of it. (£150, john lewis/ €160, Tony Kealys)
This travel cot has a soft, comfortable mattress with a built-in base plate that keeps the cot standing firmly on the floor, making it extremely secure. It can be set up in record time, in one easy movement. It weighs only 6kg and is light and easy to carry in its carrying case. Soft fabric makes it snug and cozy for your child and both the mattress cover and the bed fabric can be machine-washed. (£180, john lewis/ £191.45, Amazon)
7. Chicco Next2Me (suitable from birth to 6 months) 
- This cot is great for parents who like sleeping with their child next to them and when they’re olde, one side of the cot zips down allowing it to be pushed next to your bed, allowing you to see your baby and easily move him or her towards you for midnight feeds. It can be turned into a four-sided crib when your child is older. The crib comes with a bag but it is quite bulky and weighs 8kgs so it is only useful for travel if you will not be moving around too much. Make sure you practice assembling and dismantling the co sleeper before you go as it can be tricky! (£150, Amazon/ €190 Mothercare)
- Joie Allura (suitable from birth to 15kg)
This travel cot has a reassuringly secure frame, with larger-than-average mesh sides, so you can easily keep an eye on little ones when they’re playing. Its quick and easy to assemble, lightweight build perfect for use with the shoulder carry bag (£70, Amazon)
This air mattress is comfortable and suitable for toddlers as it has a side lip preventing your child from rolling out. There are no railings however so for younger toddlers, there is nothing to stop them exploring while you are still asleep! (£19.00, Amazon)
- Littlelife Arc 2 (suitable from birth to 3 years)
A good option for camping, this goes up quickly and packs away into a 2.5kg, easy-to-carry rucksack. The foam mattress is comfy enough and you can buy an additional sunshade for £15, which enables you to use it outside during the day, as well as inside at night.( £90, Amazon/ £89.99, Tesco Direct)
