Travel cots on holiday: a safe sleep checklist
Short answer: Use the travel cot's own mattress only, keep it clear, and site it away from heaters, windows and blind cords.
Step by step
- Practise folding before you go.
- Pack the sleeping bag your baby knows.
- Take a room thermometer.
What the guidance says
- Travel cots need the same safer-sleep set-up as a cot: a rigid frame and base and a firm, flat mattress. Do not add folded blankets or a quilt under the baby.
- Place the cot away from radiators, direct sunlight and blind cords.
- Keep the room between about 16C and 20C and check it with a room thermometer.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Scout 3-in-1 Travel Crib, Cot & Playpen
- Fiesta Pop-Up Playpen
- Tutti Bambini Hexa Playpen Ecru
- Scout 2-in-1 Travel Cot & Playpen
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Can a 1 year old sleep with a soft toy?Baby product standards quizCan an 18 month old sleep in a cot?Can I put a cot next to a radiator?Bath time safety quizCan my baby sleep on my chest?All safe sleep and sleep spaces advice →
Sources
- The Lullaby Trust: Baby mattresses and bedding (accessed 2026-10-21)
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
General information only, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, health visitor or 111. In an emergency, call 999.