In a nutshell

A brilliantly designed travel cot. It's hassle-free to set up and can also provide insect/sun protection when outdoors.

What we tested

  • Ease of assembly
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Portability
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Comfort
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Style
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Quality
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.

Pros

  • Built-in UV protection, pop-up construction, lightweight, portable

Cons

  • Fairly expensive, toddler can unzip and get out

The NScessity Sun Essentials Deluxe UV Tent / Travel Centre is an extremely versatile product. Not only is it a travel cot for under 4s, it also can be used on the beach as a sun shelter and as a play tent.

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There are actually two models of the Sun Essentials UV Tent / Travel Centre, with the “Deluxe” being the larger of the two, suitable from birth to 4 years (the standard is suitable from birth to 2 years). The Deluxe weighs 3.4kg, and is 130cm x 70cm x 65cm when in use. When it’s folded down, it’s 10cm thick and has a diameter of 46cm. For the standard one, which is £69.99, the weight is 2.2kg, and it is 120cm x 65cm x 50cm when up. Once packed away, it’s still 10cm thick, but 40cm in diameter.

A machine washable sleeping mat is included, which Velcros onto the base. The self-inflating mattress can be removed and used separately.

Although I didn’t test the NScessity Sun Essentials Deluxe UV Tent / Travel Centre in summer, it would be extremely useful on the beach. The fabric has built-in sun protection (SPF 25) and mesh sides to protect from insects and the sun's rays. The fabric on the Travel Centre is flame retardant

The NScessity Sun Essentials Deluxe UV Tent / Travel Centre is extremely simple to put up - you just give it a shake and up it pops! With a bit of practise it's also easy to put away, too. The pop-up design is a major advantage for anyone who has struggled with more traditional travel cots. It would be especially useful for camping with a baby where headspace is often restricted when you're struggling to get the kids' beds erected before it goes dark.

What we love

This is an extremely high quality product.

The cot is spacious. I found it was brilliant space-wise for either my toddler Jack, 30 months, or my baby Ted, 3 months, to sleep in.

The mattress is thick and both Ted and Jack looked comfortable sleeping inside, as the base is nice and padded.

The pop-design is fantastic – no more struggling in the dark with a tired baby on your arm!

The NScessity Sun Essentials Deluxe UV Tent / Travel Centre is very portable as it’s so light.

Jack also loved playing in it!

What to watch out for

The self-inflating mattress takes a while to inflate, so it's quicker to blow it up yourself.

A slight drawback was that Jack was able to zip himself out and escape, which is not the case in his more traditional travel cot. However, over time the novelty of this will (hopefully) wear off!

Who is the NScessity Sun Essentials Deluxe UV Tent / Travel Centre best for?

Travelling parents after a fast, no-fuss sleep and sun solution.

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MadeForMums verdict

A brilliantly designed, extremely versatile no-hassle travel cot, which can also be used on the beach to protect your baby from insects and the sun's rays.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandNscessity
ModelSun Essentials Deluxe UV Tent and Travel Centre
Price£79.99
Suitable for
Child age (approx)Birth to 4 years
Dimensions & Weight
Weight3.4kg
DimensionsH:70cm W:130cm D:65cm
Dimensions (folded)H:46cm W:46cm D:10cm
Features
Features
  • Fast pop-up assembly
  • Self-inflating mattress (can be used independently)
  • Washable sleeping mat
  • Insect mesh
  • Build-in sun protection
  • Can be used for sleep/beach/play
  • Lighweight
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