Staying with family this Christmas? Compare standard and bassinet-style travel cots, learn what BS EN 716 means, and see the set-up, fold and boot-space checks to make before you go.
Quick Summary: Heading off to see family this Christmas with your little one? We explain how the main types of travel cot differ, when to move down from a bassinet level, and what the BS EN 716 standard means when you're buying. You'll also find simple product checks for every set-up, tips for choosing the right spot in a relative's home, and how to make sure the folded cot fits your boot. If you'd like to try a few, our Peterborough showroom always welcomes walk-ins, and appointments are available.
Christmas often means a few nights away: a weekend at the grandparents', a stay with your sister, or a quick hop between houses on Boxing Day. When your little one is coming too, a travel cot is usually one of the first things on the packing list. It gives your baby a dedicated space of their own, wherever the family gathers.
Travel cots aren't all the same, though. Some fold flat into a slim case, others roll up into a long bag, and some come with a raised bassinet level for younger babies. This guide walks you through the main types, what the UK standard means, the product checks worth doing every time you put one up, and how to make sure it fits in the car alongside everything else.
Why It Pays to Plan Your Travel Cot Before Christmas
A travel cot is something you'll put up and take down far more often than a nursery cot, often in someone else's spare room and usually after a long journey. Choosing the right type before the visiting season starts means fewer surprises when you arrive.
According to Which?, travel cots vary a lot in weight, and it suggests trying a cot before you buy, including testing the fold. That's good advice. A cot that feels easy in a shop can feel very different when you're folding it at the end of a long day.
It helps to think about your own trips first. How far are you driving? Will the cot live in the boot or at a relative's house? Is your baby still using a bassinet level, or are they close to sitting, kneeling or pushing up? Your answers point you towards the type that suits you. You can browse the full range in our travel cots collection.
- Think about weight: check the label or manual for your model, as weights vary widely.
- Try the fold: make sure you're comfortable folding and unfolding it yourself.
- Match it to your trips: short car journeys and longer stays may suit different types.
The Main Types of Travel Cot
Travel cots generally fall into a few broad groups. Knowing the differences makes it much easier to narrow down your choice, especially if you're buying your first one.
Standard travel cots
A standard travel cot is a single-level, folding cot with a mattress that sits at the base. It's the simplest design, and many come with a carry bag for packing. Weights, folded sizes and age and weight limits differ from model to model, so always check the label or manual for the one you're looking at.
Bassinet-style and raised-level cots
Some travel cots start life with a raised or separate bassinet mode. A bassinet attachment raises the height of the base, so your baby is higher up in the cot. Once your baby reaches a certain milestone, you remove or lower the bassinet and use the cot at its main level. Some designs go further and convert into a playpen as well.
These multi-mode cots can be useful if you want one product to see you through several stages. Just remember that not every travel cot has a bassinet, so check what's included before you buy.
Cots with extras
Some travel cots add a changing mat that clips over the frame. It's worth knowing that the travel-cot standard covers the basic cot only. Extras such as changers are covered by their own separate standards, so if a cot comes with add-ons, check what each part has been tested to.
- Standard cots: one level, simple to use, often with a carry bag.
- Bassinet-style cots: a raised level for younger babies, then a move down to the main cot.
- Cots with extras: add-ons have their own standards, so check each one.
Bassinet Mode: Knowing When to Move Down a Level
If you choose a cot with a bassinet level, the key thing to understand is when to stop using it. Brands often link this to what your baby can do rather than an age alone.
Some brands say to stop using the bassinet once your child can sit, kneel, roll over or pull themselves up. Others say to stop when your baby starts pushing up on their hands and knees. The exact wording differs by model, so check your manual for the milestone that applies to your cot.
When the bassinet is no longer suitable, move your baby to the main cot level. Some brands also say that once your child can sit up, the mattress base should be used at its lowest position. Again, your manual will tell you exactly how your model works.
A milestone can arrive between one family visit and the next, so it's worth a quick look at the manual before each trip so you know which level to set up.
- Watch the milestones: sitting, kneeling, rolling, pulling or pushing up can all mean it's time to move down.
- Lower the base: some brands say to use the lowest position once your child can sit.
- Check your manual: limits and wording vary between models.
What BS EN 716 Means When You're Buying
When you're comparing travel cots, you'll often see a standard number on the box or in the instructions. Understanding what to look for gives you extra confidence that the cot has been made to recognised requirements.
The NHS advises that if you're buying a new cot, you should look for BS EN 716. The number should be shown in the instructions or marked on the cot itself. BS EN 716 is the standard for travel cots, and you may also see a Kitemark.
There's one thing to be aware of. The standard can differ by mode. On some multi-mode cots, the bassinet or playpen setting is made to a different standard from the cot setting. So rather than assuming one number covers everything, check which standard applies to each mode of your cot.
It's also worth giving any cot a quick once-over yourself. A good cot should feel sturdy. Moving parts should work smoothly without trapping fingers or clothing, and the mattress should fit snugly with no gaps around the edges.
- Look for the number: BS EN 716 should be in the instructions or on the cot.
- Check each mode: bassinet, cot and playpen settings may follow different standards.
- Feel for quality: sturdy frame, smooth moving parts and a snug mattress.
Product Safety Checks Every Time You Set Up
Because a travel cot is folded and unfolded so often, it's worth getting into a simple routine each time you put it up. These checks come from brand instructions.
Start with the mattress. Brands say to use only the mattress supplied with the cot, and not to add a second mattress or extra padding. The supplied mattress is designed to fit that cot snugly.
Next, check the frame. Make sure every lock is fully engaged before use, and check the fittings regularly. The number of clicks or the way the locks engage differs between models, so follow your manual. If any opening has a zip, close it fully before your child goes in.
Finally, look over the cot itself. Many brands say not to use a cot if any part is broken, torn or missing, and to use only the brand's approved spare parts. Many brands also say to stop using the travel cot once your child can climb out, and your manual will give the limits for your model.
- Supplied mattress only: no second mattress or extra padding.
- Locks engaged: check every lock before use and the fittings regularly.
- Zips closed: fully close any openings before your child goes in.
- No damaged parts: don't use it if anything is broken, torn or missing.
- Know when to stop: stop using it once your child can climb out.
Choosing the Right Spot When You're Staying With Family
Setting up in someone else's home means working with the room you're given, and spare rooms and living rooms aren't always arranged with a baby in mind. A quick look around before you unfold the cot is worth the time.
RoSPA advises that when you're staying in someone else's accommodation, you should keep blind cords out of reach and move cots away from window blinds and anything a child could climb on. Many brands' instructions say much the same, warning against placing a cot near anything that gives a foothold or a strangulation risk, such as strings or blind and curtain cords.
Many brands also say to keep the cot away from open fires and other strong sources of heat. At Christmas, that's worth keeping in mind in cosy living rooms with a log burner or a fire.
- Away from blinds and cords: keep cords out of reach and the cot clear of windows with blinds.
- Nothing to climb on: keep furniture and footholds away from the cot.
- Away from heat: keep it clear of open fires and strong heat.
Set-Up, Fold and Boot Space
How a travel cot goes up, folds down and packs into the car can make a big difference to how much you enjoy using it. This is where it really pays to try before you buy.
Some travel cots need no tools to set up. Typically, you open the frame, check the locks and fit the supplied mattress. Many come with a carry bag or case, which keeps everything together and makes it easier to carry from the car to the house.
Folded sizes vary a lot. Some cots fold flat into a slim case, while others fold into a long, narrow roll. Neither is better in itself. It depends on the shape of your boot and what else you need to fit in. Measure your boot against the folded size on the label before you buy. If you're also thinking about your pushchair, our guide to boot-friendly pushchairs can help you plan the space.
Some cots have wheels with locks, which can help when you're moving the cot around a room. Mesh sides are another feature worth looking for.
If you're heading further afield, our tips on travelling abroad with a pushchair may also help. And for planning your baby's main sleep space at home, see our guide to choosing a Moses basket, bedside crib or cot.
- Tool-free set-up: some cots go up without tools.
- Carry bag: many come with a bag or case for packing.
- Measure your boot: compare it with the folded size on the label.
- Handy features: lockable wheels and mesh sides.
Try Travel Cots at Our Peterborough Showroom
At our Peterborough showroom you can see travel cots in person and try the fold before you decide, just as you'd test-drive a pushchair. Our test-drive checklist covers many of the same checks.
Walk-ins are always welcome, and appointments are available for anyone who prefers one. You'll find us at Unit 24, King Street Industrial Estate, Langtoft, Peterborough PE6 9NF, open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. You can call us on 01778 562806, or find more on our About Us page.
Whichever type you choose, check the label and manual for your model, and you'll be ready to make the most of every Christmas visit.
