The Lullaby Trust says that all cots need to comply with British Standards Institution (BSI) safety standards regardless of how old they are. Not only is there a full-size bassinet, which will save your back when reaching down to your child, but the cot also comes with a changing table which handily clips onto the top. While many travel cots either come without a mattress or ship with a thin, uncomfortable bit of material, the Bugaboo Stardust comes with a built-in, multi-layered mattress that’s lightweight and comfortable. Although this cot doesn't have an all-in-one pop-up assembly, it's still easy to put up and down, so much so that some of our home tester parents didn’t need the instructions. It’s not recommended to use a travel cot regularly for a long period of time, as they’re not designed to support your baby’s development.

It's a lovely feature if you're travelling with a tiny baby, it provides extra peace of mind and easy access for changing and breastfeeding. After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. A travel cot can also function as somewhere safe to put your crawling, or walking, whirlwind while you grab a snack or go to the loo. There's a newborn bassinet that fastens in to keep tiny babies close, and the whole unit is on wheels so it can be moved easily. The angle of the legs deliver good stability, even if your toddler leans on the travel cot’s sides as he grows.The newborn insert sits at the top of the cot, meaning your baby will be at the height of your bed - although these is no option to drop the side in this mode as with some bedside cribs. If you have a little extra to spend, then the luxury and comfort of BabyBjörn's Light will make sleepovers fuss-free no matter where you go.

At the end of each review, you’ll find a quick-view set of details including the age range for which a cot is suitable, its weight, assembly time and cleaning instructions. Whichever style you choose to go with for your precious little one, remember to use a firm mattress and a fitted sheet to keep them comfortable but nothing else until they are around 12 months old, to make the space safe. Lightweight and perfectly portable, these are easy to pack and just as easy to pop up once you reach your destination. If you're looking for an all-rounder for occasional use during the first couple of years of your child's life, it's a good value option that performs well.Overall, the cot is smaller in size than some other options, but that means it folds up smaller too. Obviously, it needs to be appropriate for the age and size of your child, but you’ll also want to take note of how portable it is, how quickly it can be assembled – and how much you want to spend. It’s safety-tested, comes with a carry bag, is easy to assemble and it has mesh sides, to give you a clear view of your child as they rest or sleep. It feels nice and padded and had a solid firm base underneath to secure into the cot," said home tester Bridget, who tested this with her 4 month old. The foldlite from Graco is up to 30 per cent lighter than most other cots, which we definitely noticed and appreciated – you can easily lift it one-handed.

For all those scenarios, a good-quality travel cot guarantees that your baby gets a comfortable night’s sleep.Which of course means that if you’re sleeping side by side with your baby at home, with the Joie Kubbie Sleep travel cot, you can do this on trips away, too.

Many larger models double up as a playpen which is great for keeping your child safe at all times no matter where they are.

Babies are at a higher level in this cot, too, so you can pick them up and settle them down without pulling a muscle. The travel cot takes mere seconds to assemble: the legs drop and lock as you open it, after which the mattress drops in. The zigzag leg-folding design is super easy to use; folding it up is particularly satisfying, requiring a simple lifting of the strap in the centre of the cot. They then helped me pick the right car seat that would fit on my pram – again I had no idea but Gemma (I think her name was), was really helpful. The travel cot itself sports an ultra-secure frame with exposed tubing, plus two built-in wheels to help you easily move it around a room.