Can grandparents use a travel cot for my baby?
Short answer: Yes. Set it up exactly as at home: rigid frame and base, its own firm mattress, no extra padding, baby on their back.
Here is the detail behind that answer, taken from current UK guidance from the NHS and the Lullaby Trust.
Things to check
- Use only the mattress made for that travel cot. Never add folded blankets or a quilt underneath.
- Practise putting it up and folding it before you travel.
- Check the weight and height limits.
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.
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep, in the feet-to-foot position (feet at the bottom of the cot, Moses basket or pram).
Related questions
What is a travel cot?
A folding cot with a rigid frame and base, used for trips, grandparents' houses or small rooms.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Fiesta Pop-Up Playpen
- CoZee Go 3-in-1 Bassinet, Travel Cot & Playpen
- Scout 2-in-1 Travel Cot & Playpen
- Tutti Bambini Hexa Playpen Ecru
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Moses basket vs crib: which is better?Cribs buying guide for UK parentsWhat bedside cribs does Baby Kingdom sell?Can my baby nap in the living room?Moving your baby into their own room after six monthsYour 18 month's sleep space: a safe-sleep guideAll 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.