Bassinet Travel Cot

When planning their first family trip, new parents often wonder: “Where will the baby sleep?” One of the most useful items to bring along on a trip with a young child is a portable bassinet or cot.

However, which travel cot should you get given the abundance of lightweight alternatives?

In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about selecting a travel bassinet for your infant. By reviewing the top-rated portable cribs available, we hope to have narrowed your options.

Here, you’ll find a detailed analysis of the features offered by a variety of portable cribs for infants, along with a rundown of their advantages and disadvantages.

First, we’ll give you a rundown of the features and benefits of the best portable baby beds on the market today. Check out the full reviews of each of our bassinets for travel below.

What Is a Travel Bassinet?

However, a bassinet is more suitable for newborns and very young infants because it is smaller, more compact, and more suited to their needs. Babies who are unable to sit up unassisted will feel secure and comfortable sleeping in one of these spaces next to you.

Most bassinets designed for travel are lightweight and foldable, with sturdy handles for portability. The bassinet insert for your stroller can be lined with some of these blankets.

What to look for in a travel bassinet

When shopping for a baby travel bed, it’s important to think about the bed’s portability, how much it weighs, how easy it is to set up and take down, whether or not it’s appropriate for your child’s age and size, and, of course, how comfortable it is.

Size and weight

The size and weight of the actual product matter greatly when making a decision on a portable baby cot. This is especially important if you need to carry the portable travel cot by hand while traveling or if you plan to bring it on an airplane where weight restrictions apply.

Large travel cots can weigh up to 10 kilograms, which is a significant portion of your airline’s luggage allowance and makes transferring between trains and taxis a challenge. A compact, lightweight travel cot is essential if this is how you plan to travel with your baby.

Size and weight may not be as important if you are just looking for a cheap travel cot for occasional use, such as throwing it in the trunk of your car for the occasional weekend away with family and friends.

Ease of use

Try to find a foldable and collapsible baby travel cot. When everyone is exhausted from a day of traveling, it’s time to set up the travel bassinet. And then, when it’s time to pack up and leave the hotel or hit the road, you’re usually in a hurry as well.

There are many pieces to some travel playards that must be assembled in a jigsaw fashion. Look for something that can be quickly and easily popped open, unfolded, inflated, or set up.

Age range

You could be on the hunt for a travel cot for a newborn or a travel bed for a child of six months’ age right now. But you should also think about whether you will still need your travel cot in three years.

You should check the safety features of any portable bassinet you buy, but if you want to save money in the long run, look for a bed that can grow with your child.

Keep in mind that once your child reaches a height of 35 inches, you should no longer use the travel crib.

Comfort

Your baby needs to be able to sleep soundly in the infant travel cot you choose. Keep in mind that you’ll want to be able to easily put your baby in and take them out of the cot, so make sure that the height is appropriate.

Getting a baby in and out of a cot can be difficult if the baby travel cot mattress is placed directly on the floor. This should be kept in mind whenever a cot’s sheet needs to be changed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until your child is at least one year old before adding any additional padding to a mattress. Sleeping safely is discussed further here.

Our Best Travel Cot Reviews

Without further ado, here are our picks for the most reputable lightweight bassinets and foldable baby cots for traveling.

Baby Bjorn vs Guava Lotus vs Phil & Ted’s

The Baby Bjorn travel crib, the Phil & Ted’s travel cot, and the Guava Lotus crib are all very similar in design and the first three to be reviewed here.

However, they differ in important ways, and the best baby travel bed for you will depend on your personal preferences and needs.

The Baby Bjorn cot, for instance, has the most convenient folding design and, in our opinion, the most comfortable mattress. It’s the biggest and bulkiest when folded up, so it won’t fit in the overhead bin. It is also unique in that it does not have a zippered side.

The zippered side allows for easy access when putting the baby to sleep or removing them for nursing or comforting.

The Phil & Ted’s portacot is an incredible 7 pounds of lightweight convenience. When collapsed, it’s also the smallest and the only one that’ll fit in a standard suitcase. However, it was the most difficult to assemble because it needs more work than just popping it up.

If you have a newborn but would prefer that he or she not be lying flat on the floor, you may find the Guava Lotus crib or the Phil and Ted’s travel bassinet to be useful. These bassinet adapter kits are available for purchase independently.

Below, we take a closer look at each of these portable mini-cribs.

Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Review 

Baby Bjorn’s Travel Crib Light has been a top pick for lightweight cribs among parents who frequently travel.

The Baby Bjorn travel cot is a best-seller because it can be assembled in seconds and used with a standard crib mattress. The mattress was very plush and pleasant to sleep on.

With its dimensions of 44 by 32 by 24 inches, the Baby Bjorn travel crib is small enough to fit in a standard hotel room but roomy enough for a baby. Ages 3 and up can enjoy it. This Baby Bjorn travel cot is lightweight because the mattress rests on the floor.

Putting away the Baby Bjorn cot was a little tricky at first, but after a few tries, it became second nature. This portable crib collapses to a compact 23.5 by 19 by 5.5 inches when not in use.

This is roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase and will need to be checked as luggage because it cannot be stored in an overhead compartment. The mattress gives a soft cushioning, and its light weight of 13 pounds allowed us to pack heavier items like books and toiletries (and even the occasional bottle of wine) in the carry bag.

The mesh sides provide ventilation and visibility without requiring you to peer over the side, while also allowing the baby a view of their surroundings. The fabric and the waterproof mattress cover are both detachable and washable in a standard washing machine.

Please be aware that a fitted sheet is not included with this Baby Bjorn portacot and will need to be purchased separately. The fitted organic cotton sheet is nice and soft, perfect for the Baby Bjorn travel crib.

Features:

• Ages 0 to 3
• Sized at just 44″ x 32″ x 24″, it’s surprisingly roomy.
• Slim and trim at only 13 kilos
• Thanks to the mesh on the sides, both parents and babies can see in and out.
• Quick to assemble and store
• Bag included, but it won’t work as carry-on

Guava Lotus Travel Crib Review

The Guava Lotus bassinet has quickly become the most popular portable crib on the market for families who frequently go on vacation.

Unpack it, unfold the legs, and pop it up like a tent to make room for the travel crib mattress, just like the Baby Bjorn portable crib. It measures 45 by 32 by 25 inches and weighs 13 pounds, making it comparable in size and weight to the Baby Bjorn. It has a little more headroom than the Baby Bjorn because the top isn’t narrowed.

The Guava Lotus bassinet can be folded up small enough to fit in an airplane overhead bin and has a convenient backpack strap to carry it around. When collapsed, its footprint is 7 inches smaller than the Baby Bjorn but larger than the Phil & Ted’s Traveller portacot.

This portable crib can be used for newborns up to about three years of age. The Guava bassinet can be converted into a crib for taller parents by purchasing a separate conversion kit. The bassinet/travel cot combo is available for purchase separately.

Sheets are not included and must be purchased separately for use with the Guava portable crib. These extra-soft quilted sheets from Lotus Crib are a customer favorite.

Features:

• Appropriate for children aged 0 to 3
• 45″ x 32″ x 25″ is compact but still plenty of room.
• Only 13 pounds in weight
• Parents can see in and baby can see out thanks to the mesh sides.
• You can zip open one side and soothe or nurse your child in bed.
• Simple in both use and storage
• When folded, it’s small enough to fit in an airplane’s overhead bin.
• Incorporates a backpack-style tote
• Optional bassinet and crib set (sold separately).

Phil & Ted’s Travel Cot Review

Another well-liked portable crib that comes with its own mattress is Phil & Ted’s.

The dimensions of the Phil & Teds travel cot are 46 by 31 by 24.8 inches, making it small enough to fit in a standard hotel room but large enough to accommodate a baby in comfort. Ages 3 and up can enjoy it. This lightweight infant sleeper has no weight limit because the mattress rests on the floor.

The baby can see out and you can see in, thanks to the mesh on the cot’s sides. You can zip down one side and crawl in there to nurse or comfort the baby. You can take the cover off and wash it in the washing machine.

According to Phil and Ted, setting up this bed takes no more than a few seconds. This may be the case after some trial and error, but it is most certainly not a simple pop-up travel bed like the two examples given. The frame must be clicked together and fed through the fabric sides, which does require some assembly.

However, the Phil and Teds travel crib easily triumphs in terms of portability and compactness when not in use. It weighs only 6 pounds, which is less than half that of the Baby Bjorn or Guava Lotus portable bassinets. Bassinets are “lighter than the baby,” as the marketing team at Phil & Ted likes to say.

It folds down to the smallest dimensions of the bunch at just 26 by 8 by 8 inches. This is more compact than the Baby Bjorn and the Guava Lotus cribs, allowing you to easily store it in an airplane overhead bin or squeeze it into a standard suitcase.

You can purchase additional fitted sheets for your Phil & Teds portacot right here. A bassinet conversion kit and UV mesh top for use outside are also available for purchase. All of these are available independently.

Features:

• Appropriate for children aged 0 to 3
• 46″ x 31″ x 24.8″ is compact but still plenty of room.
• Extremely light, weighing only 6 pounds
• The baby can see out and the parents can see in thanks to the mesh sides.
• You can zip open one side to nurse or comfort your child in bed.
• When folded, it’s small enough to fit in an airplane’s overhead bin.
• With included shoulder bag

Graco Pack n Play on the GO Review

Compared to the other travel cribs we reviewed for this article, this one is the heaviest at 23 pounds, with dimensions of 39.5 by 29 by 29 inches. While this makes it less ideal for air travel, the extra room and durability make it ideal for use as a playpen.

The removable bassinet on this Graco travel crib is a full size. This part of the cot can be folded up with the rest of the cot for storage or removal when the baby no longer needs it. There are three plush toys dangling from the toy bar of this travel crib with bassinet.

Simple to set up and store thanks to the push-button fold system. In comparison to a pop-up travel crib, this cot is much easier to set up and take down. The wheels and foldable feet make it more portable than comparable playards and cots.

This convertible travel crib and playard is breathable thanks to its mesh sides, which also allow adults to keep an eye on their infant. The mobility from room to room is greatly facilitated by the wheels. A convenient bag for transport is included.

Features:

• For children aged zero to three
• Dimensions of 39″ x 29″ x 29″ make it big enough to use as a playard as well.
• Full-size bassinet that can be detached
• The baby can see out and the parents can see in thanks to the mesh sides.
• Quick to assemble and store
• The travel crib weighs in at a relatively light 23 pounds for its type.
• Comes with its own tote
• Toy bar
• Rolling around from one location to another is a breeze.
• Fabrics come in a variety of designs.

KidCo Peapod Travel Crib Review

This baby cot can be folded up and used as a little tent, making it perfect for taking along on camping trips. The tent’s lightweight mesh cover allows air to circulate while protecting you from the sun and pesky insects, making it perfect for use in the great outdoors.

This portable crib requires no tools for assembly and can be set up in seconds with a simple “pop.” It’s compact when folded (to about 17″ in diameter) and has its own carrying bag, so it’s simple to store in a small space like a suitcase or the trunk of a car.

This camping travel cot’s dimensions of 46 by 28 by 18 inches make it suitable for 1- to 3-year-old children. It weighs less than 2.5 pounds, making it easy to transport on a plane or bring along on a day trip if you need to get your child to sleep during the afternoon.

The Peapod comes in five distinct hues: cranberry red, tangerine orange, midnight blue, sky blue, and sunshine yellow.

Check out the Peapod Plus, which is featured in our Best Toddler Travel Beds article, if you need a slightly larger folding baby cot. This toddler travel cot is slightly larger (suitable for children up to the age of 5), but this comes at the expense of a slightly larger folded size (a couple of inches) and a slightly heavier weight (only a pound). It’s also a tad more expensive.

Features:

• Appropriate for children ages 1-3
• The mesh top shields you from the sun and bugs.
• Only 2.5 kilos in weight; very portable
• Large after being assembled (46 x 28 x 18 inches)
• Collapses to a manageable 17″ in diameter
• Simple to assemble and store
• Included tote
• Excellent for use in the great outdoors
• Color options are also included.

Brica Travel Bassinet Review

For newborns up to three months of age, there is the Brica Fold n Go travel bassinet. It is recommended that you stop using this portable newborn bed once your baby can roll over.

This ultralight 3-pound folding travel cot can be set up in seconds by unfolding it and listening for the four clicks that indicate it is securely locked in place. Fold it up and store it away with ease by pressing the release buttons.

The Brica bassinet can be folded up and stored in a suitcase or an airplane’s overhead compartment because of its small size (22 x 17 x 3 inches). It has a handle that makes it easy to transport.

The solid base of the Brica fold and go travel bassinet makes it simple to transfer a sleeping infant from one room to another. The fact that you can use regular bassinet sheets rather than having to buy expensive branded ones is another perk.

This Brica portable bassinet is sturdy and long-lasting thanks to its double-locking tubular steel frame, and its four-point Safe-T-Lock system provides peace of mind. Ample natural light and unobstructed visibility are provided by the mesh panels.

Features:

• Designed exclusively for infants aged 0-3 months.
• Very portable at only 29.5″ x 21.5″ x 12.5″
• Extremely light at only 2.5 pounds
• Thanks to the mesh on the sides, both parents and babies can see in and out.
• The sturdy frame is made of double-locking tubular steel.
• Quick to assemble and store
• Collapses for compact stowage
• Included tote

When To Clean Your Bassinet

A bassinet that has accumulated dust or grime should be cleaned carefully. However, there are some guidelines to follow to ensure that you deal with both obvious and hidden grime.

A weekly or biweekly wash is suggested by some for the baby’s bedding. The quantity is drastically reduced for the bassinet’s frame. Keep in mind that your infant may never come into contact with the frame, and that exposure to a few germs may actually help them develop a stronger immune system.

It may not be necessary to go to great lengths to clean it very often, unless your baby has recently recovered from an illness or there is obvious soiling. Make judgment calls.

Disassembling Your Bassinet

A bassinet must be taken apart before it can be cleaned effectively. In most cases, this will require taking apart the bassinet’s basket and stand to access the bedding.

Depending on the material, different parts of your bassinet will require different cleaning procedures. Case in point: the mattress protector may be washed in a machine, washed by hand, and dusted; the frame can be used for all three!

You should have received cleaning and assembly instructions with your bassinet. You should read them thoroughly before continuing.

Online Advice

Get in touch with the company’s customer service department or do some online research if you can’t find the bassinet’s original instructions. You could try looking for guidelines on the internet.

How To Clean a Bassinet

If you stick to these six easy steps, your baby’s sleeper should last for many years to come. They should work for most bassinets, but if you have any doubts, you should refer to the manual for your particular brand and model.

1. Gather Supplies

You probably already have everything you need to clean your bassinet at home, including:

• Mild enough for use on baby clothes.
• Clean mops, rags, and dusters, please.
• A bottle of hot water to use as a spray.
• Mildly sanitizing.

Having this equipment on hand will simplify the cleaning process.

2. Remove Bedding and Linens

Bedding and linens are likely to get the dirtiest in your bassinet. Take them out and classify them by washing method.

3. Remove Hood and Linings

Hoods or additional padding may be included with some bassinets. Take apart the item and wash the fabric if you can.

4. Wash Linens

Use a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic detergent on all of your baby’s linens. If in doubt, hand wash according to the care instructions.

If the linens on your bassinet are attached permanently and come into contact with your baby’s skin, you should wash them regularly. Spot treatment pens can be used for this purpose, or you can spray some warm water onto a cloth and very gently dab some detergent onto it.

5. Disinfect the Frame

After you have taken everything out of the bassinet, including the mattress, you can start disinfecting the frame. What kind of disinfectant you use to clean your bassinet will depend on its material.

Use a clean cloth to thoroughly wipe down the entire framework. Then, wipe the frame down with a dry cloth to prevent rusting.

6. Reassemble the Bassinet

Reassemble your bassinet after you’ve given it a thorough cleaning and drying. Be careful, especially if this is your first time disassembling it. You need to make certain that it is stable.

Some bassinets are easy to assemble, while others will require more time and effort. Considering the amount of time a newborn will spend in a bassinet, it is important to make sure the space is safe and comfortable.

Final Thoughts

Taking your newborn on a trip is a very happy time. The key to a successful trip with kids is packing everything they’ll need to feel at home, and giving them their own space to sleep and play is a big part of that.

A bassinet or full-size travel crib that folds up compactly for easy transport will ensure a peaceful night’s sleep on the go. These sturdy, transportable beds can be put to use as playpens or extra beds at home, too.