The best baby and toddler travel cots tested by real mums

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 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 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 Graco FoldLite 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 gives a seamless experience on the go. 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 removal 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, "initially bought it as an alternative to the next to me crib and travelling. It has worked great for both of us. We love that we could lower the side to easily watch the baby from bed during the night. It's easy to put up and 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 breaks made it easy to move from room to room."

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 Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot 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. 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 BabyBjörn Light Travel Cot review.

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 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. Our mum tester, Lauren, said, "The entire unit is neat, compact and fits neatly together, so they are efficient for saving space. The overall design is a simple grey colour with cartoon animals on the entertainment system; the design is simple and modern, suitable for girls and boys, so perfect for those planning on a growing family."

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 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.

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 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".

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 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.

The Graco Contour is a good-value travel cot with lots of extra features. Our mum testers love that it's quick, 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 it settles him, but also it’s great to put him in to 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.

Read our full Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot review.

For ultimate convenience, this travel crib doubles as a backpack. Suitable from birth until 8 weeks, or when babies start to roll, this makes travelling with a little one really easy. 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 other loungers." 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."

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, "The12-week-old when staying with grandparents, 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."

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 said, "Surprisingly sturdy. This travel cot folds away really nicely; it doesn't take a lot of time to set up either, which is a bonus. I'm really grateful for the design on this one, from the zip at the side to 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 only 7kg."

Another reviewer was impressed by how comfortable it is, commenting, "Mattress feels thicker than usual travel cots. My little one slept really well on it, and it was perfect for him to play in while we unpacked." However, while it is easy to travel with, there are no wheels for easily moving it from room to room when assembled. 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!"

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. Our tester, Joe, said, "We tested the product while we were on a family holiday in Cyprus. We were slightly nervous when looking for a travel cot as our daughter loves sleeping in her own cot at home! The Red Kite travel cot is a fantastic product. Straight from opening the box, you can tell the quality of the product. Even though it is priced competitively, it feels like it is made from premium products_._" 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 it 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!" Joe also commented that it is very stable, saying, "Our daughter moves quite a lot during her sleep, and the travel cot didn't move whatsoever, even being on a titled floor."

Overall our tester, Joe, said, "The product served its purpose as our daughter had fantastic sleep whilst on holiday and the transition back into her cot at home was a lot easier due to the familiarity of the product." However, he did comment that "the travel cot comes supplied with a mattress which is great for travelling, but if I was to use the cot within the UK, or had more space to travel with, I would invest in a separate mattress to put in the travel cot as it is not the thickest - especially for young babies." Our tester, Joe, said, "The product served its purpose as our daughter had fantastic sleep whilst on holiday."

A practical travel cot that 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 the purchase."

Read our full Kinderkraft SOFI review.