Do I need a travel cot?
Short answer: It depends on your plans. A travel cot is a folding cot with a rigid frame and base, used for trips, grandparents' houses or small rooms, used for occasional or regular sleep, set up exactly like a cot.
Think about your space, budget and how long you will use it.
- 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.
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.
- If a full cot will not fit, the Lullaby Trust suggests a travel cot, set up with the same safer-sleep advice.
- Keep the cot clear: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets, soft toys, pods, nests, wedges or anything to keep your baby in place.
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
- Tutti Bambini Hexa Playpen Ecru
- CoZee Go 3-in-1 Bassinet, Travel Cot & Playpen
- Fiesta Pop-Up Playpen
- Scout 3-in-1 Travel Crib, Cot & Playpen
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Can a 10 month old sleep in a toddler bed?Can a 7 month old sleep in a cot bed?Can my baby sleep in a swing or vibrating chair?Can a 6 week old sleep on their tummy?Winter sleep safety quizTravel cots buying guide for UK parentsAll 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.