Nuna PAAL travel cot review: stylish and super comfortable but not very portable

Price on writing: £250

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Our verdict

The Nuna PAAL is a well-made travel cot that both our baby testers enjoyed sleeping in. It’s wonderfully easy to set up, feels really sturdy and comes with a bassinet for smaller babies. If what you want is something for regular use at home, or for grandparents’ houses, it makes a strong case for itself. 

What it does especially well is set up and pack down. It’s genuinely excellent. Once I got the hang of it, it was by far the easiest travel cot to use (and I’ve tried out a few!). And the bag it comes with as standard is big enough to easily fit the cot without too much faff. It’s really solid, feels well made and has a premium finish you’d expect for the price tag. 

The Nuna Paal has so much going for it. Our baby testers slept very well in this cot. I like the way it looks and feels, but there’s just one hitch: it folds down into a really awkward box shape that makes it very difficult to carry around. And that means that out of all the travel cots on the market, I probably wouldn’t choose this one. 

If you’re blessed with wide hallways and plenty of storage space, the Nuna Paal could be a great stay-at-home travel cot that will last longer than one baby. If you need something genuinely compact, or at least easy to carry, I’d look at the BabyBjorn Travel Cot Light or even the Littlelife Arc 2. It’s a stylish, well-made piece of kit, but it’s not the most portable option in its category.

How we tested the Nuna PAAL

We tested the Nuna PAAL for six months over summer and winter with two children at different stages, using it when they were 11 months, 15 months and 20 months old. We used it several times at home and also took it with us by car on a trip to Devon. That mix gave a good sense of how it works both as a spare sleep space in the house and as a proper travel cot for nights away.

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First impressions and what’s in the box?

The cot arrived boxed, and first impressions were good. The packaging didn’t feel excessive, and it was quick to get everything out and identify what went where. Included in the box were the cot itself, mattress, sheet, bassinet, insect net and travel bag, which matches Nuna’s listing.

How easy is the Nuna PAAL to assemble?

This is where the PAAL stands out. Instead of locking four sides into place one by one, you unfold it and pull up the slider until it clicks. You do need a bit of strength to get that mechanism fully locked, and it took me a few tries to get the knack of it. But once I had, it's much easier than traditional travel cots. There’s also a button to release it, which makes folding it back down incredibly quick.

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How big is the Nuna PAAL when folded?

Folded, the PAAL measures 38L x 31W x 73H cm. It fits into a high-quality bag with enough room that you’re not wrestling it in. Weighing 9kg, it’s lighter than the Nuna Sena Air (12kg) but it’s an awkward box shape. And even leatherette handles don’t minimise the pain of lugging this through narrow hallways or packing it in cars when space is a premium.

How big is the Nuna PAAL when set up?

Set up, it measures 104L x 66W x 72H cm. It’s a decent size for sleeping, and my almost-two-year-old still fits comfortably, but we'll probably need a bigger travel cot in a few months. The sides are high enough that I wasn’t worried about him trying to climb out. It also feels airy thanks to the mesh panels.

How heavy is the Nuna PAAL?

At 9.4kg, it’s not ridiculously heavy, but it’s not one of the featherweight options either. The Red Kite Sleeptight is 8.5kg and only £35, and most premium travel cots we’ve tested tend to weigh nearer 6kg or 7kg. See Maxi Cosi Swift (7kg) or the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light (6kg). In practice, the awkward packed shape is more of an issue than the extra kilos. 

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How comfortable is the Nuna PAAL?

Comfort is one of its stronger points. All the children who used it slept well. The mattress is firm, as you’d expect, but none of the toddlers seemed bothered by that. For naps and overnight sleep, it worked well in both warm and colder conditions. Nuna describes the mattress insert as breathable and supportive, with a flat surface and mesh panels for ventilation. Our testing experience backed up that it’s a comfortable, well-ventilated sleep space.

How portable is it? Would you take it on an overseas holiday?

The Nuna PAAL comes with a handy travel bag with leatherette handles and a secure zip. It’s large enough to make repacking easy, which I really appreciated as we were rushing to pack up our Airbnb and check out in time. 

It’s reasonably portable for car travel, as long as you have a big enough boot, but I wouldn’t recommend it for overseas holidays unless I really wanted my child to have a familiar, comfortable sleep setup and was prepared to deal with the bulk. For flights and public transport, I’d prefer something smaller when folded.

What are your favourite features of the Nuna PAAL?

The fold and setup system, easily. The one-button collapse is brilliant, and once you know how to lock it, it’s much simpler than traditional travel cots. I also liked the quality of the bag and the fact that it felt sturdy enough for repeated use. The top of the cot is covered in a thick black fabric not waterproof but very wipeable sides of the cot are mesh, making it very easy to keep clean. 

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Is the Nuna PAAL good value for money?

The Nuna PAAL is a smart, sturdy and genuinely easy-to-fold travel cot that feels built to last. It has a premium price tag and that shows in the design. It sleeps well, looks great and includes useful extras such as a bassinet, insect net, sheet and proper travel bag. Its weak spot is portability. It’s too bulky for regular use and I’d probably recommend the BabyBjorn Travel Cot Light over the Paal. It’s very similar in design and price, but it’s 3kg lighter, folds down to a more portable shape and can be used with children up to age 3.

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All prices correct at time of publication