Red Kite Sleeptight travel cot review: 'Still going strong 10 years later!'

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How we tested the Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot

I first purchased the Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot over ten years ago when my first child was a newborn. Since then it has been used by two further babies/toddlers over several family holidays during a period of around seven years (until our youngest outgrew it). We primarily used it as a cot, but it would certainly be big enough to use as a playpen as well.

The Red Kite Sleeptight was also tested by parent-tester Ruth, who tried it out with her 18-month-old over a period of several months. During this time the travel cot was thoroughly put through its paces, withstanding rigorous rolling around, pushing against the sides and bouncing.

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How safe is the Red Kite Sleeptight?

While this travel cot is one of the cheapest on the market, it certainly doesn’t scrimp on quality.

The Red Kite Sleeptight’s simple design and thoughtful features, including padded rails and mesh side panels, ensures baby is safe at all times.

It is both durable and child-proof with the frame and corners covered well by fabric. There are also no zips or choking hazards, and no gaps where a child’s fingers could become trapped.

The Sleeptight is also fire retardant and there is a locking system on each side of the frame which means that the travel cot is sturdy when upright. The frame cannot be released until the buttons are pressed, which requires a good amount of pressure – more than any small child could manage.

The cot is a bit wider than other travel cots on the market such as the Joie Kubbie Sleep, so there is plenty of room inside for a child up until they are three years old – or until they can climb out.

How easy is the Red Kite Sleeptight to assemble?

While the Sleeptight uses a standard cot mechanism for assembly, I always found there was a bit of a knack to it. You have to remember to pull up and lock each side of the frame before pushing down the centre of the cot to lock it in. Then you can lay and strap the mattress into place with the velcro straps.

The cot comes in two parts, with the mattress wrapping around the cot to keep it a compact, rectangular shape which fits easily in the carry case.

The same level of assembly is needed every time and it is just as quick and easy to fold down as it is to get up. The frame is released by pushing the buttons, and then you pull it up from the centre.

Although the Sleeptight is wider than some of the other travel cots in our guide and has no wheels for transportation around the house, its 8.5 kg weight still makes it easy to carry around - though I probably wouldn't want to do so for any length of time!

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How does it look?

The fabric is made mostly of cotton and is black in colour with white, breathable mesh that makes it easy for parent and baby to see in and out. The material also comes in Blueberry, Raspberry and Grey if you’d prefer a lighter colour.

While it does sit at the lower end of the price range, its sleek design and well-finished detailing still gives the likes of the BabyBjorn Easy Go and Joie Kubbie Sleep a run for their money.

It's wide frame may make placing it in a smaller room a bit tricky (and we certainly found it a bit of a challenge when we took it camping!) but the up side of this is that is there is more space for your child to grow.

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What is the Red Kite travel cot mattress like?

Ruth, too, said that she invested in an extra mattress.

-parent-tester Ruth

What's it like to use day-to-day?

This is definitely a cot that can be used as a place to nap if you are away on a family holiday or at a grandparent’s house.

Ruth's son slept in the Sleeptight when she went away with her family for the weekend and, although it was difficult finding a spot in the small hotel room, she managed to put it at the foot of the bed.

It is a bit bulky to move around when set up so would need to be collapsed to fit through most doorways. But it would take less than a minute to set it up again elsewhere.

When it’s folded down, it’s compact and goes into a black carry case which makes it easy to transport and to store. It would slot nicely into a cupboard or in the boot of the car, although it may be too large to take onto a plane as hand luggage.

It’s also spacious enough when assembled to be used as a playpen for a younger child as they would have room to play with toys and move around.

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How easy is it to clean?

Unfortunately the covers aren’t removable and the mattress doesn’t come with a sheet so everything needs to be spot cleaned with mild detergent and warm water before left to air dry.

Ruth placed her son in the cot with peanut butter on his finger which he smeared all over the top of the frame. She found it much easier to clean if she got to the muck quickly with a damp cloth (rather than leaving it to stain), and the fact that the cot is predominately black meant that any dirt didn't show up much, even if cleaning didn't remove it entirely. The metal legs can also be cleaned with damp cloth.

However, she found cleaning the white mesh a lot trickier as dirt did become ingrained into the fabric. As such, the mesh could start to look fairly mucky over time, especially if the travel cot is used as a playpen as well as somewhere for baby to sleep.

Does the Red Kite Sleeptight represent good value for money?

It may be our budget choice, but the Red Kite Sleeptight works just as well as the more expensive travel cots we tested.

While it is fairly no frills in terms of overall aesthetic and the covers aren't machine-washable, it offers good longevity and, in our opinion, great value for money.

Red Kite Sleeptight: final verdict

There aren't many baby items we purchased for our first child which have stood the test of time and are still good to use more than 10 years later - the Red Kite Sleeptight travel cot is one of few. It's not the fanciest travel cot you can buy - there's no bassinet attachment for very young babies, there aren't any wheels on the legs and it is quite wide, but if you need a travel cot which costs less than £40 and can be used as and when you need it, the Red Kite Sleeptight is still a great option. It's robust, affordable, easy to assemble and provides a comfortable and safe environment for both sleep and play - really, what more can you ask for?

About the author

Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy, baby care and general parenting-related content. As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in reviews, features buyers' guides.

She regularly reviews a wide range of parenting and lifestyle products for Mumsnet, from breast pumps to kettles, board games and cribs.

About Mumsnet Reviews

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All prices correct at time of publication