When inside, was the little one comfy? Did they like it and was there enough room to sleep and to play?

Many travel cots are designed for newborn babies to sleep in, often with raised bassinet attachments that can be fitted inside the travel cot. However, for any travel cot you’re considering, it’s important to make sure it’s suitable for your little one. Travel cots will say what age, size/and or weight they’re designed to hold – such as from newborns up to 15kg. Make sure the travel cot you buy matches your baby.Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun. The Lullaby Trust also advise that portable cribs aren’t placed against radiators and remain out of reach of blind cords. How much does a travel cot cost?

Sleep positioners and pillows must not be used and there should also be no loose or bulky bedding inside the crib as this can cause a baby to overheat. Each product was tested in rooms with both carpet and laminate flooring, then scored on six key areas: Ruth scored each product based on each criteria below, with the highest scoring coming out on top as the overall winner. Honourable mentions were then given to nine other top-performing beds. Safety and stability The likes of mud, sand, peanut butter, milk and orange juice were smeared and spilled onto the interior and exterior to see how easy stains were to removeWe tested products with a variety of price tags and compared the more expensive models to those that were cheaper

Even if the mattress feels thin, don't be tempted to place folded blankets underneath your child. Go for a baby sleeping bag or a well-fitted swaddle instead.This type of cot is usually used from the newborn stage up until toddlerhood – or until the little wriggler can climb out by themselves. Do I actually need a one?

During the research process, she looked at the types of products available, scoured the Mumsnet forums for recommendations and spoke to baby sleep experts from The Lullaby Trust, an organisation that provides advice on safer sleep for babies.Ruth tried out each bed with her youngest child, who was 18 months old at the time of testing. She tested each for at least three nights, both at home and at the grandparents' house, which meant that all the models were subject to the same environmental factors and held a child of the same age and weight. About the author Five products were then awarded a Mumsnet Best badge – these are the products that we feel offer the absolute best value for most parents. We also gave honourable mentions to four others. Was it heavy to carry and did it fit comfortably in the boot of an average-sized family car? Could it be taken on public transport easily? If you already have a co-sleeper, Moses basket or carrycot that you use with a travel system, you might be able to use that when you're away from home with a smaller baby.It’s vital you use this mattress with the cot, as the mattress is designed to fit the cot properly and safely. Travel cot mattresses often serve as a structural support too, and taking the mattress out can make the travel cot less stable and even a risk to your little one. Always use a travel cot with the mattress it comes with. Can you use a travel cot long term? Use the bassinet for a new-born in the standalone travel cot or in the co-sleeping setup. For older babies remove the bassinet for a deeper protective side panel.