Best Travel Cots & Portable Cribs 2023 For Family Travel

• Safe, durable, lightweight travel pod for infants                             
• Breathable mesh panels, removable and locking steel frame provide comfort and security     
• Folds flat for storage and weighs less than 3 lbs. for easy transport                                          
• Assembled dimensions: 30” x 21.25” x 11.75”                                 
• Discontinue use once infant begins to push up on hands and knees or has reached 15 lbs.
• Care and cleaning: spot or wipe clean; sheets are machine washable                                       
• Maximum weight: 15 lbs.       
• Weighs: ‎4.43 pounds                

Designed to be easy to fly with the compact, light backpack carrying case. Set up is simple in 15 seconds and only weighs 15 lbs packed. Full-height mesh guarantees best, breathable airflow. The soft foam mattress is approved for newborns & infants for overnight sleep (0-3 years old)

The Lotus Travel Cot is in the familiar style of a pack n play or playpen with mesh sides. It's designed to be easy to fly with the compact, light backpack carrying case. Set up is simple in 15 seconds and it only weighs 13 lbs packed. The Lotus Crib comes with the crib, mattress, and bag (with convertible backpack straps)

• WHAT’S INCLUDED - You get a complete travel crib with the compact backpack carrying case. Two Year Warranty and great customer service. Sheets not included. Setup Crib Length: 42”, Width: 32”, Height: 25”. Folded (in Backpack) Length: 24”, Width: 7”, Height: 11”.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Easy to setup
• Comes with a backpack carrying case

Cons:

• Have to bend over
• Harder to take down

At A Glance Details for the Lotus Travel Crib:

• Weight: 11lbs/4.9kg
• Mattress size: 20" by 28".
• Cot size: 42”, Width: 32”, Height: 25”.
• Folded up measurements: Length: 24”, Width: 7”, Height: 11”
• Age suitable for: 0-3 years old

The KidCo Peapod also has great features for camping outdoors, including UV protection and anchor straps. A mattress is attached to the bottom of the tent and folds up with it. It is a bit too big for a backpack, but could probably fit in rolling carry on style luggage. It is a very lightweight travel cot.

Flying With A Baby readers add: "We use the KidCo Travel Pod. Packs light and looks like a minute baby camping tent."

Pros:

• Very lightweight
• Easy to setup

Cons:

• Suitable for 6 months and over

At A Glance Details for the KidCo Peapod travel cot

• Weight: 2.5lbs/1.1kg
• Mattress size: It is inbuilt.
• Cot size: 46 x 28 x 14 inches
• Folded up measurements: 16.5"L x 16.5"H x 3"D
• Age suitable for: 6 months-3 years old

For more information and latest prices  on the PeaPod see here.

4-in-1 solution from newborn right up to toddler years – for use at home or away, indoors or outdoors. Phil & Ted’s Traveller Portacot is a popular choice. Options cary from 3.5 - 5 kg so it’s a little heavier than its predecessor .  However, It’s a compact travel cot considering the space it provides. and offers varying positions. Perfect for small car boots/trunks & suitcases.

What Flying With A Baby readers say, "We use a Phil and Teds travel portacot. It fits easily inside a suitcase (takes up less than a third of our big suitcase). It's durable also. The mattress is one you blow up so it just rolls up when you don't use it. It's pretty comfy. We've used it for all our trips with our first (she was 4 months when we first used it), the longest time she's been on it was for 3 weeks and she slept really well.

Another Flying With A Baby reader adds, "I second the Phil and Teds portacot.  I wore it as a backpack, took it on airplanes all the way to Europe and back and unpack in 3 minutes during stopovers. Bubba slept in there for 6 weeks in wintery European weather and was OK."

Yet another fan adds, " fits in case easily, quick to put up. Only downside is zips are noisy if putting little one in through the side, tended to wake my son up but I just put him in from the top instead. Not great for my back but better than waking him up. Doubles as a play pen too! Love the self inflating mattress.

However this reader thought it was tricky to set up, "We have this one too, but struggle with getting it setup compared to the Lotus crib one. And we almost lost a piece when it rolled under a bed as we were packing it up. Other than that we love it!"

Pros:

• 4 sleep options
• last til child is 4 years old
• self inflating mattress
• Comes with a  carrying case

Cons:

• Can be tricky to set up the first couple of times

At A Glance Details for the Phi & Ted's Traveller Cot:

• Weight: all modes in travel bag: 5kg / 11.5lbs cot mode in travel bag: 3.5kg / 7.5lbs bassinet mode in travel bag: 4kg / 8.5lbs bedside mode in travel bag: 4kg / 9.5lbs
• self inflating mattress included.
• Unfolded dimensions bedside bassinet: 130 x 77 x 63cm / 51” x 30” x 25”cot & bassinet: 113 x 90 x 63cm / 44” x 35” x 25”sleep space: bassinet / bedside co-sleeper70 x 45cm / 28” x 18”; cot 92 x 70cm / 36” x 28”
• Folded dimensions: all modes in travel bag:68 x 22 x 22cm / 27” x 7” x 7”

• Age suitable for: 0-4 year old.

Sturdy Travel Bassinet and Safety Certificate::Certified to ASTM F2194-16e1 standard,Lockable frame and durable side walls, with a soft recliner ​for baby. Curved side walls with soft cushions provide a safe and comfortable sleeping space for babies.

The Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light is lightweight, easy to set up and washable.  It is a similar shape to many pack n plays or small portable playpens with mesh walls so it is easy to keep an eye on your little one. It is simple to set up and fold up in one simple movement.  The breathable mattress cover is machine washable.

Once it is packed it up,  it can not be carried as hand luggage for flights but it does fit into a suitcase and will easily fit into the trunk/boot of a car.

Flying With A Baby readers add; "Love the Baby Bjorn travel crib. Lightweight, portable, sturdy. Ours has traveled all over with us. Feel it's better than the lotus because of the cushion depth. and another reader adds, "We really liked this one as well. Nice and compact for moving around, easy to put up and our little one slept really well in it."

Pros:

• Very lightweight
• Easy to setup (done without reading instructions)

Cons:

• Have to bend over
• Harder to take down

At A Glance Details for the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib:

• Weight: 13lbs/5.8kg
• Mattress size: 23.5 x 41 x 1.2 in/60 x 105 x 4 cm
• Cot size: 32 x 44 x 24 in/82 x 112 x 64cm.
• Folded up measurements: 19 x 23.5 x 5.5 in/49 x 60 x 14 cm
• Age suitable for: 0-3 years old

• Mesh
• Simple to set up and fold up
• Easy to take with you
• Soft and comfy mattress
• Airy design for good supervision
• Removable and machine washable crib textiles
• Mattress: High-resilient PU foam

• DIMENSION: Open size is 31.5"L x 16˝W x 10˝H, suitable for babies 0-5 months (22lbs). This travel bassinet can be used at bedroom, living room, outdoor, etc. even for travelling.
• BREATHABLE MESH AND SOFT MATTRESS: 100% Ployester Mesh keeps good airflow and makes parents observe their own babies better. The soft mattress contains four layer, Peach Skin Velvet, Natural Sponge pads, PP Rigid Plate and Water-resistant Linen, helping the babies have a comfortable sleep.
• FOLDABLE AND PORTABLE DESIGN: This portable bassinet can be easily folded up in 1 second by pulling out the hook on the both side of the cabin. The folding dimensions are only 19.7"L x 18.9"W x 3.9"H, 4lbs, with handle on it and storage bag. It is convenient to carry or store in a suitcase to be taken out.
• WASHABLE AND EASY TO CLEAN: Both the bassinet and mattress are washable with damp cloth or by hand wash.