Advice wanted please - Travel Cots

[Ko]

Morning all

could anyone recommend a got travel cot? we will be using it quite a lot as we often go away for the weekend.

the little one is 4 months old and i would wnat one that i can keep on using as long as possible.

i have heard that some can roll right over when baby gets older, so would like to get a sturdy one.

any advice very much appreciated. many thanks in advance xxx

[melbourne groover]

My advice is get a bog standard job from Mothercare etc. We bought a more expensive one the first time and had no end of trouble with it, 2nd time we now have a more basic model (bought off the forum!) and it has been perfect. No trouble to put up and down and robust.

[lorraineliyanage]

We use a Graco travel cot for our toddler who is now 16 months. Very sturdy and easy to put up - but heavy!

[helena handbasket]

Yep, Graco basic model. As mentioned, heavy and not cute, but folds well and can take a beating during travels. Ours travelled a lot, and it was on it's third child (given to us by friends). Also doubles as a safe place to park baby at home if (I mean when!) you need a shower etc.. Even my big bruiser lasted about 2 1/2 years in his. Couldn't have lived without it.

Would recommend buying a little travel cot "mattress" at Mothercare though, it's a pretty hard sleeping surface I think. It just folds in with the cot so not at all a hassle.

[crystal7]

We have a the phil and teds one. Expensive but is a full sized travel cot with a frame that folds up very small (we have a small car). Baby seems comfortable in it too.

[melbourne groover]

The Phil and Ted's does look good - am v seduced by the lightness and tinyness....

[damzel]

We use this one now (wish we had from the start) http://www.thatcuteage.com/p1347-Sun-Essentials-UV-Travel-Centre--Cot. It isn't cheap but very portable and she hasn't outgrown it yet (and she's quite tall) so it would have been good value for money if we had got one straightaway.

upto 4yrs old apparently

editing to post corect link.

[Ko]

many thanks for all the replies. i feel like i am looking at prams again - so much choice and i don't want to end up buying something i don't find practical. thanks again for all the advice x

[helena handbasket]

The Sun Essentials one is fantastic, have looked at it many times, but it doesn't multi-task. It won't double as a playpen/ cage ::o for those days you are on your own and need a safe place to put the baby down. Also I would worry that a determined one year old could get out in the night? Mine would have. On the other hand it looks incredibly light and easy.... hmmmm

[randomv]

Hi

We use the Graco compact for our now toddler. I got a extra mattress to make it nice and comfy as he's always been a big boy. I did initially buy a liter life tent style travel cot but found it too back breaking getting him in and out when he woke at night. Also would agree with Helena Handbasket on the added practicality of being able to use the traditional travel cot as a playpen or safe place to leave baby - been invaluable to me in that sense once mini Random started crawling.

[damzel]

helena handbasket Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Sun Essentials one is fantastic, have looked

> at it many times, but it doesn't multi-task. It

> won't double as a playpen/ cage ::o for those

> days you are on your own and need a safe place to

> put the baby down. Also I would worry that a

> determined one year old could get out in the

> night? Mine would have. On the other hand it

> looks incredibly light and easy.... hmmmm

I don't think any amount of determination would get them out as there are no zips on the inside. As for playpen - for short spells it would still work. It looks dark looking from outside in, but if you stick your head in, it's quite light looking out (I know, I tried!) My daughter loves it in there but then she is one for climbing in cupboards and other small spaces.... (sometimes I'm worried I'll find her squashed in the washing machine!)