11 best travel cots for babies who are going places

Score: 98/100

Designed to make travelling with your little one effortless and stress-free (music to our ears!), this three-in-one design can do it all – it’s a bassinet, travel cot and playpen. It also delivers on form and function. There’s a neat carry bag that you can lift onto your shoulder or carry in your hand, and it’s easy to set up – just click the legs into place – while the non-slip feet and frame that angles out at the bottom make it incredibly stable, even if you have an active little one!

The included newborn insert is easy to add in and visibility is great all the way around in cot mode, thanks to the mesh panels. Once you know how, folding the cot away is also straightforward (the legs have a push button at the top that’s concealed under the padding.) “It's easy to erect, easy to wipe down and well made,” was our at-home tester's verdict. It may be pricey but this is a popular buy.

Score: 96/100

There’s a lot of hype around this travel cot thanks to its ‘instant unfold’ claims and it definitely delivers, according to our expert. It’s really simple to use, lightweight and, yes, it unfolds in seconds. It also comes with a neat carry case, complete with handle (although a shoulder strap would be a handy addition).

"True to its claims, it took seconds to open and set up!” agreed one at-home tester. “Within minutes, our baby was getting comfortable and ready to sleep!”

The included bassinet for newborns is easy to add – just zip it into the cot, taking care going around corners. The mattress is then secured with Velcro straps. The cot can also be folded with the bassinet in place.

The bassinet is a good size for babies up to around six months and could also be used as a bedside crib. The mattress is firm and flat with a machine-washable cover, while the cot has non-slip feet to stop it moving around on hard floors. Overall, this is a great bit of kit that would make a lovely gift for first-time parents. It’s super easy to travel with and takes up minimal space when not in use.

Score: 93/100

This cot comes with its own well-designed carry case and mattress, which our expert felt made a stylish, neat package. The case is easy to carry in your hand and isn’t too deep, so it doesn’t touch the floor even if you’re quite short. It’s easy to unfold – just take it out of the bag, give it a flip and the legs pretty much lock themselves into place (although do check to make sure). Our at-home testers agreed that it was super easy to use and loved how compact it was.

There isn’t a bassinet section, so this is better suited to a child over six months. The outer mesh wall and mattress cover can both be zipped off and popped in the machine for easy cleaning. It also has a generous sleep space, is incredibly stable, and can be used as a playpen as well as a travel cot. A smart, simple buy.

Score: 93/100

This is a compact, contemporary cot that can be used as a bassinet from birth and then as a travel cot up to three years, switching easily between the two modes. It comes with a comfortable carry case and the instructions and washing guidelines are handily attached to the inside of the cot, so you won’t lose them.

It’s intuitive to assemble and the bassinet position is nice and high for putting your baby down. It also looks and feels cosy and snug, something that was backed up by our home testers. "My little one slept great in it and it was safe place to put them down to play while getting ready,” said one.

It isn’t the biggest, so may not be suitable as a playpen longer-term, but it does make it a good bedside crib option in your bedroom due to its compact size. It’s also made with 100% recycled materials.

Overall, this is ideal for smaller homes and for babies from birth, with a stylish finish that uses touches of wood and eco-friendly materials.

Score: 90/100

This is our pick for breathability as it allows plenty of air flow through all surfaces thanks to its innovative mesh fabrics, which also extend to the mattress, helping to keep your baby cool in warm weather. The mattress is made up of three layers of mesh material, which also makes it really comfortable and its cover can be removed for cleaning. As the bottom of the cot is raised off the floor, it should also help keep them cosy on cooler nights.

There’s a bassinet that zips inside the top, which can be used for newborns, and the cot can be folded with this in place, making travelling with a tiny baby easier. Our at-home testers were a big fan of this “innovative” feature and found the cot “very sturdy and well designed.”

While it is an investment, it's a quality travel cot that should last you a long time. A great choice for trips to warmer climes!

Score: 90/100

This combines the best of a travel cot, bassinet and bedside crib in one easy-to-use, lightweight product. Weighing in at under 9kg, it looks at first like a traditional style travel cot inside a neat carrying case. (Sadly, there are no slits for the wheels, so you have to carry it rather than being able to wheel it along.)

It’s relatively compact, so while your baby will be able to sleep in it happily for around three years, it may not have the same longevity as a playpen. The bassinet is zipped inside the cot and the mattress fabric feels soft and luxurious.

One of our panellists said it took them a few attempts to fold the cot into place, but they loved the multipurpose design and said the wheels made it easy to move around their house.

What really sets this design apart, though, is that you can use the bassinet as a travel bedside crib thanks to the drop side and webbing straps that clip onto the cot and attach around your bed's frame, making it secure and safe. This is a good price for a product that does three jobs.

Score: 85/100

If you don’t think you’ll use a travel cot that much or just don’t want to spend a lot of money, this Sleep Tight model from Red Kite fits the bill. It’s relatively quick and easy to unfold by clicking up all four sides, then pushing down the base (although it took our at-home tester a few goes to get the hang of it). There’s a mattress that slips inside and the cot’s four mesh sides offer great visibility and airflow.

The mattress is fairly hard, but it would be fine for occasional use. The top rails are well padded to avoid knocks and bangs and it’s large enough for a toddler to use as a playpen or as a spot to sleep. It also slips easily inside its carry case, which has a simple elasticated opening.

Our at-home testers found it lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport for one person. There are no bells and whistles, but it does the job for occasional trips and you can't argue with the price.

Score: 85/100

This is a great buy for anyone who wants something easy that they can take on holiday, use in the garden, or take out to the park or festivals.

It comes with a handy case you can wear like a backpack and is very light at just over 2kg. To set up, simply open it out and click in place. The washable mattress is firm and flat and attaches to the base with a Velcro strip. Our at-home testers found the portable bassinet "extremely lightweight” and praised the "beautiful” design.

There’s also a mosquito net to keep your baby safe from insects outdoors, which means you can have it outside in the evening when you're away – although note that there’s no sun protection (something our at-home testers would have loved). It’s fully breathable and you can see your baby at all times; it is also a safe place to lay them for tummy time.

It will only have a short lifespan due to its size, but if you have a lifestyle where you will use this a lot, it's a good buy. The carry case also has storage pockets, which means you can slip some extra clothes and nappies in, and it will even go into the overhead locker on the plane.

Score: 85/100

This is another affordable travel cot from Red Kite and there are a number of bonus features that make it more than worth the price. It can be used until your child is three or four and doubles as a playpen with an opening panel in the side that little ones will love crawling in and out of.

It is on the small side, so would be best for occasional use or for those with smaller homes, but this also makes it ideal if you’re staying in a hotel or rental where space may be at a premium. It’s light and easy to carry in its case, which also has wheels so you can pull it along.

If you have a newborn, you can also use it as a bassinet by attaching the internal higher crib section, and you can even use it as a bedside crib, as it comes with a strap to attach it to your bed and a side that drops down.

“Our baby slept well in it and it was easy to get him in and out in the night,” said one parent with a newborn. “There’s also a handy pocket that we stuffed with nappies, wipes and muslins." This is a decent product with lots of extras for the price.

Score: 84/100

There’s very little this cot doesn’t claim to do. As well as coming with a bassinet section for newborns, it also has a built-in changing table and, thanks to the high sides, it’s good for older toddlers to use as a playpen.

It is large and heavy and our parent testers said it took two people to put it together, but it has a really generous sleep space, making it a good option for tall babies. You can even rock it slightly to soothe your baby to sleep. The changing table does take quite a lot of assembly so you’ll probably want to leave it up when it’s not in use.

Handily, the cot has two wheels and there’s a slit in the travel case, so you can wheel it along. If you travel a lot and want a from-birth solution to last several years, it's a good option.

Score: 81/100

This is another large and fairly heavy cot, but it provides a sturdy, versatile sleeping, changing and entertaining space for your little one from birth to around three years, so it’s great for frequent travellers who want reassurance they’ll have everything they need when they get to their destination. It’s best for those travelling by car – with a big boot! – or if you’re travelling with plenty of help.

There’s a vibration unit under the mattress, which will give them the sensation of travelling in a car, as well as a nightlight with three brightness levels, and a music centre that plays soothing sounds. Finally, there’s a changing table that clips to the top of the cot and a toy arch to keep them entertained while you change them. It's tricky to fit all the accessories into the travel case, so we suggest practising before leaving home.

Overall, our panellists said that, while it is heavy, they would definitely recommend this travel cot to others and they praised the "great accessories”.