Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot Review: 'Simple, lightweight and excellent value.'
This elegant travel cot from Mumsnet-favourite brand Silver Cross offers parents a three-in-one sleep and play solution for babies and toddlers: a co-sleeper newborn crib, playpen and, of course, travel cot. We put it through its paces with the help of mum-of-two, Alex.
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated May 13, 2024
Price on writing: £195 | Buy now from Amazon | Buy now from Silver Cross | Buy now from Natural Baby Shower
Simple, clean design
Very lightweight but doesn't feel flimsy
Zipped door feature makes it a great playpen option
Our tester found it a bit confusing to put up for the first time, particularly the legs
Travel bag could be improved - drawstring fastening not ideal for air travel
Mattress can be a little tricky to keep flat at first
Price on writing: £190 | Suitable from: Birth to three years (or able to climb out) | Weight: 6.25 kg | Size when folded up: L88 x W34 x H17cm | Size when assembled: L112 x W80 x H67cm
Read next: See how the Silver Cross Slumber measures up against other tried-and-tested travel cots with our handy guide
How we tested the Silver Cross Slumber travel cot
Parent-tester Alex put the Silver Cross Slumber through its paces over a period of several weeks with her baby daughter, aged two to three months at the time. While she used it primarily as a newborn bed for her youngest, she has also previously tried out the Slumber with her toddler aged two at the time.
First impressions of the Silver Cross Slumber: what's in the box?
The travel cot comes wrapped up in a drawstring bag. The cot itself is split into three parts: the frame, the newborn zip-in insert and a dividable zip-together mattress, which can be subdivided to fit into the newborn insert.
My first impressions of the cot are that it's fairly compact, nicely branded and simple.
-parent-tester Alex, mum of two
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How easy is the Silver Cross Slumber to assemble for the first time?
Alex said while the Slumber 'folds out quite intuitively' and that she didn't initially need the instructions, she found the legs 'a little confusing at first.'
'You do need the instructions to fold the travel cot back together again, to know where the buttons are. As the mattress comes folded up, it can be difficult to keep it flat when a sheet is stretched onto it. With a bit of effort, the mattress can be secured using hooks on the base of the frame. This is awkward to achieve but worth it.'
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How big is the Silver Cross Slumber travel cot?
The travel cot measures L112 x W80 x H67cm when assembled and L88 x W34 x H17cm when folded away. Alex said it 'fits into a large mountaineers' backpack and is easy to carry.'
As the legs stick out at an angle, its footprint is larger at the bottom than at the top [when assembled], which caused us to trip over it a few times until we got used to it.
-parent-tester Alex
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How heavy is the Silver Cross Slumber?
The Slumber travel cot weighs 6.35kg. It's actually surprisingly light given how robust it feels when put up. It's very easily carried and the storage bag has over-shoulder handles.
Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot
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How comfortable is the Slumber travel cot?
'Our three-month-old slept very well in the newborn insert,' says Alex. 'She was very happy inside it, so it must have been pretty comfortable.'
Does the Slumber travel cot work as a playpen?
The Slumber travel cot is billed as part playpen, and in this regard it doesn't disappoint, with the sloped sides meaning that toddlers will find it harder to climb out.
It has a zipped door at one end, which will make for easy access for a small toddler, so it would work as a small playpen.
-parent-tester Alex
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How long-lasting is the travel cot?
The cot is designed to be used up to the age of three, with Alex reporting that she intends to use hers until her daughter is 'around two or three, depending on temperament.' She added: 'It would be quite hard for them to climb out due to the sloped sides.'
How transportable is the Silver Cross Slumber?
'It's very transportable and condenses down to an impressively small size,' said Alex. 'While it does come with a travel bag, we thought this could be improved as it's a drawstring bag with over-shoulder straps. We'd prefer a more robust, zipped bag with shoulder straps. The drawstrings would worry me if we were using it as checked baggage on a flight.'
Does the Silver Cross Slumber represent good value for money?
I think it is very good value for money. It is a quality product which we anticipate getting a large amount of use from, and it will save us the cost of hiring a cot when travelling.
Silver Cross Slumber Travel Cot
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Silver Cross Slumber travel cot: Overall verdict
At £190, the Silver Cross is far pricier than the likes of the Red Kite Sleep tight travel cot, but if you're planning to use it frequently, it is a well-made, durable option from a trusted brand.
My favourite feature of the Slumber travel cot was the zip-in newborn insert which brings the baby up to a higher level. I also really like the cot's versatility for use as a playpen.
-parent-tester Alex
'I did find the fabric a little shiny and some aspects of the cot are initially a little tricky to put away, but this is easily resolved once you know the knacks.'
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.
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All prices correct at time of publication