Travel cots - I don’t understand!

[newmum234]

I’m currently away with my DS (3.5 months old). The place we’re staying has provided a travel cot for him to sleep in. But the mattress is so low to the ground that he’s practically on the floor, and I’m really struggling to lift him out of the cot as I have to bend so far down. None of the sides seem to be removable either. Are travel cots meant to be like this and does anyone else struggle to lift their babies in and out?

[Todaywewilldobetter]

They are horrible, aren't they? I never liked them either!

[Footlooseandfancy]

Yeah that's what they're like. Bit crap for small babies, pretty good at containing older babies before they can climb though. We brought a mattress for our travels to make it a bit more comfy.

[Pipandmum]

Uh yes. That is exactly what they are like. They are like camp beds for babies/toddlers.

[mylittlesandwich]

I have a travel cot with 2 heights, it has a zip in higher up level for smaller babies.

[Sunshine1235]

I think you can get fancier ones now with sides that zip open or a bit that sits in them a bit higher up. But yes in general That’s what they’re like. Top tip for when they’re old is you can get folding foam mattresses to go inside them which make them way more comfortable than just the weird hard mattress that comes with them

[Thesearmsofmine]

Yeah that is what a basic travel cot is like. We used to take our next to me crib away when ds3 was very small.

[KindKylie]

Yes, they re rubbish for tiny ones.

We used to take the bassinette bit of the pram when they were really small, and then a pop up travel cot thing for easier access.

The big travel cots work quite well for older babies but you still need to take a padded mattress else it's like lying your baby on a patio slab!!

[Thneedville]

Yes that’s a travel cot. Not sure what you were expecting?
DS2 slept in one from 4 months to... I can’t remember, because the cot was still occupied by DS1. He survived.

[newmum234]

you still need to take a padded mattress else it's like lying your baby on a patio slab!!

This is what is worrying me - there’s only a very thin mattress in the bottom of the cot. It’s padded but feels very thin - if I slept on that I’d be stiff as a board by the morning! Is DS going to be okay? We’re away for another four nights...

[HighInTheHills]

Have you got a spare towel you could fold up and use under the sheet for a bit of extra padding?

But yes I agree, bloody awful things!

[Reluctantcavedweller]

We had a pram bassinet approved for overnight sleeping. DS was much happier in that... And it meant we could just wheel him about wherever we went, restaurants, cafes etc.

[newmum234]

Yes, I’ll put a couple of towels underneath the mattress so hopefully that will help a bit. Poor DS

[zigzagbetty]

We bought a mattress for ours and our lo slept really well in it. Without a proper matress its like lying on a hard slab

[TerribleCustomerCervix]

If he was uncomfortable he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

It’s definitely worth buying a better mattress for when they’re older and heavier- the heavier they are the more uncomfortable a hard mattress will be.

[Jarofflies]

We have to take a mattress with us whenever we were using a travel cot Which was a total pain.

We had a horrendous couple of nights with older DD trying to sleep on the hard folding one.

However they double as a handy playpen if you are staying somewhere not childproofed.

[BertieBotts]

Don't put anything underneath the mattress, it causes an entrapment risk around the sides because the sides of the cot are mesh.

You can buy more deluxe travel cots which have a higher up setting, but most of the time the ones provided at hotels etc are the cheapy ones which is a shame. I suppose they assume for a very tiny baby you will have a carrycot from the pram to use.

The mattresses do feel hard to us but they need to be that way for safety. You shouldn't add another one on top even though they are sold. (We have one, and I used it before realising this).

[CatsCatsCats11]

Highly recommend the nuna sena cot bit more pricey but comfier mattress and a raised bit for babies.

[FelicityPike]

We had our wee one sleep in her pram and then in with us when she woke.
Definitely uncomfortable.

[YinuCeatleAyru]

that's normal yes.

the main design need for a travel cot is to define a space that a grownup won't tread in, and a baby can't roll/climb out of, so the baby will be safe. having them high up is not a priority for most designs.

I have seen ones that have a zip side so you could sit on the floor next to the cot and slide the baby in and out.

I have also seen a so-called travel cot that is actually a little tent that straps to a single bed, defining a small area that is that baby's sleeping space. that might suit you better but you do then need to book larger accommodation.

[Lazypuppy]

OP its the same as baby'scot at home will eventually be, you'll lower the base as they get older.

Travel cots are a one size fits all so low to the ground for older toddlers who would be able to climb out otherwise

[Summer41]

If you plan to travel a lot in the next few years (my son is four and still fits in a travel cot which we prefer to a bed because putting him to sleep in a bed means taking the bed guard on holiday) you could consider buying a travel cot mattress to go in future travel cots. It's like a proper mattress which folds up and goes in your suitcase, they sell them on Amazon. Then you don't have to worry about who else has been sleeping on it.

We have always found that when we go abroad and request a cot, it has always come with a proper mattress in it. It just seems to be the UK that doesn't bother!

[newmum234]

If he was uncomfortable he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

He’s sleeping okay so far so must be fine with it - but to me it feels so uncomfortable!