This time of year is all about spending time with friends and family. However in my case this also means quite a lot of travel. 4 cities in 2 weeks already! Ekkkk!
Apart from an airline going bust and our flight on Christmas Day having being cancelled (I know!!!), the one flight I had to do without my husband , my daughter decided to flick food on the person that we were sitting next to us! Other than that it was generally event free.
In our recent survey 80% of people said that a port-a-cot is key for when they travel or stay at friends places so I thought during this busy season I would share the top port-a-cots recommended by parents.
Top Recommendation: Baby Bjorn
http://www.babybjorn.com.au/products/sleep/travel-cot-light/travel-cot-light/
This brand had an overwhelming response from parents and was by far the most recommended port-a-cot. Lightweight and folds with one hand this is the best travelling accessory for your baby. This cot is more on the expensive side but with a plush mattress and ease assembly parents say it is worth every cent.
Reader Top Tips
“If you have a bigger baby or a baby that moves a lot in their sleep /likes to stretch out the slimline design of the bjorn may not be ideal. Heavier/bigger models may be harder to move/travel for parents but can provide be a better play pen or wider bed area for bigger babies or toddlers to extend their arms.”
It really comes down to what how and what you will be using your port-a-cot.
“Before you travel put your child in the port-a-cot for one or two nights in your own home so they get use to it and hopefully this will make the nights away easier. “
2. Steelcraft
http://www.britax.com.au/nursery-products/portable-cots
This is a sturdy and reliable cot and you will receive good value from this investment. This one is heavy so better used for car trips/grandparents house than plane flights but provides good space and childproof locking mechanism rails at the top.
3. Mothercare
http://www.mothercare.com/travel-cots/nursery_travelcots,default,sc.html
This is a link to the UK site for the list of mothercare travel cots but you will find many retailers sell these cots in a Australia. Sturdy and strong and as one reader said, this will be last multiple children. It has heavier (around 8kg) but durable, reliable and has two helpful wheels.
There are options for three-in-one portable cots may also be purchased from the mothercare range, serving the three purposes of portable cot, bassinette and change table, for use when travelling or visiting friends. Ultimately the bassinette and change table have a shorter life span as your child grows.
Key things to look for in a port-a cot
- Lightweight – when you are already carrying so much for a baby a lightweight port-a-cot is the number one attribute parents recommend for a port-a-cot
- Strong and sturdy – something that will support your baby and later a toddler
- Comfort – ensure the mattress is somewhat comfortable for your baby to help them sleep
- Easy to Clean
- Ease of assembly – there is nothing worse than when you finally get to your destination and spend up to an hour trying to put the cot together with an overtired baby crying. Make sure you can easily put it together (and try it out before you travel!!)
Safety is a key concern for all parents. It is recommended that manufacturers of portable costs follow the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 2195:2010) so please keep a look out for this when you a purchasing a portable cot. Also please find a helpful facts sheet from Kids Health (check out page 2)http://kidshealth.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/kidshealth.chw.edu.au/files/safety-factsheets/portable-cots.pdf
Do you agree? Any other recommendations?
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