What we love
Having used a few of the heavy old-fashioned ‘travel’ cots which double up as play pens, the Bushbaby Nestegg was a revolution. It genuinely is a travel cot as it’s so light, weighing in at 2kg and can easily be checked in or even carried as hand-luggage if you’re flying anywhere. We’ve carried ours as hand-luggage a few times and have always been waved through check-in with no problems.
To erect it just unzip the bag, pull it out and it pops up into shape in three seconds so no assembly required. The mattress self-inflates in seconds too so it really is the ultimate instant bed for baby.
My bug-bear as a parent is having to buy things which have a really short shelf-life and, unlike most pop-up tents which are suitable until 6-9 months, the Nestegg is suitable up to the age of 5 years.
It can also double up as an SPF30 beach tent, plus the mesh casing is mozzie-proof so it’s a great all-rounder if you’re travelling to warmer climes and are restricted by baggage allowances.
What to watch out for
The saying ‘it’s all in the wrist action’ really does apply here! Helpfully, the manufacturers have made an online instructional video to demonstrate how to collapse the cot. You’ll need to watch it quite a few times, and then try out the folding mechanic yourself… and then try, try, try again! Half an hour and a few swear words later, you’ll hopefully have wrestled the Nestegg back into its carry bag. It seems so simple once you’ve got the knack of it. However, unless you use it regularly, you may find you’ve forgotten how to collapse it in between times.
The cot is suitable from 6 months, but a 6 month old does look a little lost in there (we first used it when Isla was 4 months old)…one downside of it being so spacious. It comes with ‘carpet pegs’ to stabilise it but an adventurous older child could ‘zorb’ the travel cot around the room unless you sandwich it between your bed and a wall, for example.
Who is the Bushbaby Nestegg Pop-up Travel Cot best for?
Families who travel long-haul regularly
A brilliant, and genuinely lightweight travel cot, with other practical uses too. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.
