When should I buy a travel cot mattress?
Short answer: Buy in time for when you will first use it: whenever the travel cot is used for sleep. For newborn essentials, many parents order in the second trimester to allow for delivery and assembly.
- Buy only one sized for your travel cot.
- Never stack a second mattress or folded blankets in the travel cot.
- Check it is firm and flat with a waterproof cover.
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.
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition, with no raised or cushioned edges, that fits the cot or Moses basket with no gaps.
Related questions
What is a travel cot mattress?
A mattress made for a specific travel cot base.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Ickle Bubba Scout Travel Crib, Cot and Playpen Complete Mattress
- Obaby Foam Travel Cot Mattress 95 x 65 cm
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
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Sources
- The Lullaby Trust: Baby mattresses and bedding (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.