Bedtime away from home
Getting the right travel cot will certainly aid a good night’s sleep for your baby. It can also cut down on what you’ve got to pack! Before buying a travel cot, there are a few things you should check:
1. Age suitability – this varies from model to model, and it’s important you follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.
2. Weight – if you’re going to carry your luggage far, you’ll want a travel cot that’s as light as possible. If you’re travelling by car and got a bit of boot space, the added features of a heavier cot option may be worth the extra weight.
3. Size – once folded down, is the cot really travel-friendly? Again, this will depend on your mode of transport.
4. Mattress – do you need to buy one? If one’s included, is it thick enough? Our buyer's guide to baby mattresses is the place to head if you need to purchase one.
5. Stability – once erected, does the travel cot feel like it can cope with the various midnight movements of your baby?
6. Ease of assembly – if you’re a family that’s barely in one place long enough to sit down, a more involved assembly process will drive you mad. This also goes for those of you who tend to arrive at your destination past bedtime, needing a sleeping spot for your baby rapidly.
7. Cost – the more often you travel, the easier it is to get your money’s worth out of an expensive travel cot. If you’re a homebody who ventures out rarely, don’t go spending the earth on a travel cot that’ll see the light of day just once.
Click through to see 10 of the best travel cots on the market, and don't miss our essential travel cot buyer's guide and secondhand travel cot buying advice...
