Best travel cot mattress 2024: our pick of the comfiest mattresses to fit every travel cot
Heading away this summer or planning a sleepover at the grandparents' house? If you want to make sure your child is safe and comfortable at bedtime, check out our round up of the best travel cot mattresses to ensure your child - and you - get a good night’s sleep.
By Gemma Wilcock | Last updated Jun 20, 2024
We all know that getting sleep is important for everyone so when it’s time to leave the comforts of your home, you’ll want to make sure your child has everything they need to get a good night’s rest. That means making sure they’re safe and comfortable at bedtime. A travel cot is an essential item for babies if you’re planning to head away for the weekend or packing them off to the grandparent’s house, and a fitted travel cot mattress can help make it more comfortable for them to sleep.
Travel cots come in different shapes and sizes and provide a safe space for babies and toddlers to sleep, play and rest. Travel cot mattresses add that extra bit of comfort, with foldable and lightweight designs to make them easy to transport. You can now get them in a range of different sizes to fit different cots - just make sure the mattress fits securely with no gaps around the edges.
Best travel cot mattress UK 2024: editor's pick
Best travel cot mattress overall
Hauck
Bed Me Mattress for Travel Cots
Best value travel cot mattress
George at ASDA
Extra Thick Travel Cot Mattress
Best travel cot mattress for space-saving packing
Mother Nurture
Premium Foam Foldable Travel Cot Mattress
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real parents
Whenever we start our research we head straight to our forums first. With more than 8 million Mumsnet users each month, we know that we’re going to get a host of honest, impartial advice from parents to help us find the best products on the market.
Expert guidance
Then, to help us whittle down our list of recommendations, we research each product thoroughly to ensure it follows the latest expert advice and stands up to scrutiny. To find the best bed travel cot mattress we consulted the likes of the Lullaby Trust and Which for advice.
Consumer feedback
Then we want to know what users of the product think, so we check websites like Amazon and John Lewis to read consumer reviews, both positive and negative, to help us find out if the products are up to scratch.
Celebrated best products
Finally, we check to see which products have won industry awards and received recognition from trusted sources. This helps us come up with a final list of the best products to recommend to you.
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Hauck Bed Me Mattress, Sheet and Protector
Foldable for easy transportation
Available in three colours
Machine washable
Not a thick mattress
Price on writing: £20 | Material: Polyester | Size: 120 x 60 x 3 cm | Weight: 350g | Machine washable: Yes
Although it is not as thick as others on the market, the Hauck Travel Cot Mattress comes highly recommended. It is a soft, quilted sheet that can fit over the cot mattress to make it more comfortable for your baby or toddler to sleep on. It comes in a size 120 x 60cm which fits travel cots by brands such as Hauck and BabyDan. With a soft polyester cover and mesh bottom, it’s lightweight and foldable making it easily portable when travelling away from home.
The quilting makes it soft and comfortable too, and it’s also breathable and moisture regulating to make sure your baby gets a safe and cosy night’s sleep when away from their usual cot. Machine washable, it can be easily cleaned if your child has any night-time accidents. It’s also available in the size 80 x 50 cm, which is suitable for smaller baby cots, cribs, and travel beds.
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Good value
Machine washable cover
Thick and comfortable
Not foldable
Price on writing: £25 | Material: Plain polypropylene , nursery grade foam | Size: 65 x 95 x 7.5 cm | Weight: Not stated | Machine washable: Yes
Measuring 7.5cm thick, the George Extra Thick Travel Cot Mattress is double the size of Hauck’s offering, providing a comfortable place for your child to sleep at night and during the day to help them stay in their routine. Hypoallergenic and with a water-resistant cover that can be machine washed, it is a safe space for your child to rest and play.
Made from nursery foam the mattress promotes good air movement and conforms to British Standards. Users say it is lightweight but it can’t be folded so isn’t as easily portable as other models on our list. The mattress thickness makes up for it though and at £25 it’s great value. The mattress fits the likes of the Red Kite Travel Cot.
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Moisture wicking and breathable material
Machine washable cover
Foldable and comes with a bag for easy portability
Some users say it can move around at night
Quite pricey
Price on writing: £39 | Material: Foam | Size: 95 x 65 x 2.5 cm | Weight: 870g | Machine washable: Yes
Lightweight and foldable with a handy bag for easy transportation, the Mother Nurture Premium Foam Foldable Travel Cot Mattress makes travel with a little one that bit easier. A soft yet firm mattress, it is hypoallergenic and made from nursery grade foam to promote safe sleep at night and during the day.
It’s been tested to British Standards and has been designed to help regulate your baby or toddler’s temperature. You can use it as a playmat too whether you’re at home or away so thankfully it is easy to keep clean, with a machine washable cover. It’s worth noting that some users said they found the mattress moved around at night.
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Thick and comfortable
Foldable and compact
Handy carry bag for travel
Material can be a bit noisy to sleep on
Hand wash only
Pride on writing: £40 | Material: Polyester and foam | Size: 120 x 60 x 4.5cm | Weight: 800g | Machine washable: Wipe-clean
The BabyDan Extra Thick Foldable Travel Cot Mattress measures almost 5cm thick for providing extra comfort while still offering great functionality as a travel option. The mattress folds down compactly and fits into a carry bag for transporting easily - very important when you already have a car boot full of things to pack for young children.
The mattress complies with British safety standards. Unlike other designs on our list, it cannot be machine washed but does have a wipe-clean surface so you can keep it hygienic for your child to rest on. Designed to fit larger cots (60 x 120cm) such as Hauck Dream and Play Travel Cot. Users say the cover can be a bit noisy to sleep on but adding a fitted sheet can help with this.
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Water resistant and safe for young babies
Machine washable
Good value
Some users say it feels quite thin
Doesn’t fold
Price on writing: £25 | Material: Polyester and polypropylene | Size: 95 x 65cm | Weight: Not known | Machine washable: Yes
If you’re concerned about nighttime accidents happening while you’re away from home, the Cuggl Foam Travel Cot Mattress can be easily cleaned up. The mattress is water-resistant and the cover can be taken off to machine wash so you know it’s getting a good wash before you need to use it again.
The Cuggl mattress is breathable, soft and hypoallergenic and is filled with baby-safe foam, which means it’s free from harmful chemicals and kind to young children’s skin. It doesn’t fold so is a bulkier option than the mattresses that do and, while it’s 5cm thick, similar to the BabyDan travel cot mattress, some users claim it feels quite thin. However, at £25 and with a lot of great functionality, we think it’s good value.
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Filled with organic lambswool
Rolls up for easy transportation
Can be customised to fit your cot size
Expensive
Dry clean only
Price on writing: £90 | Material: Organic lambswool, cotton | Size: 765 x 120 x 1/2cm | Weight: Not stated | Machine washable: No
Made with organic lambswool and finished with a soft quilted fabric, the Travelmat is definitely the luxury option on our list. Handmade using sustainable materials, it has been designed to be comfortable, safe and versatile so you can use it as a playmat during the day and travel cot mattress when you’re away from home.
The cover is made from pure cotton so it’s soft, breathable and non-toxic, making it safe for young children. It’s also treated with natural ingredients to protect against bed bugs, dust mites, mosquitoes and moths to help children with allergies. When not in use, it rolls up and fits into a cotton duffle bag so it is super portable too. You can even customise it to fit the size of your travel cot. This does come at a price though, costing at least twice the price of most mattresses on our list, but you’re paying for comfort and quality with this one.
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Non-slip design
Foldable with a handy carry bag
Machine washable
Heavier than others on the list
Price on writing: £38 | Material: Foam | Size: 95 x 65 x 5cm | Weight: 1.53kg | Machine washable: Yes
Another great option for easy travel and storage, the SPRINGSPIRIT Trifold Travel Cot Mattress folds compactly and fits into a carry bag so you can transport it easily when you’re travelling or store it away at home when not in use. We like the jacquard cover which adds a bit of style to the cot as well as being functional, as it’s waterproof and can be removed and machine washed to keep it clean.
Made from foam, the mattress is firm for young babies, with a non-slip back designed to keep it in place when they are sleeping - especially important for wriggly babies and toddlers. It has been designed to promote airflow and reduce body heat and fits travel cots sized 95 x 65cm. You do need to take it out of the vacuum pack when you first get it and allow the mattress to recover its shape.
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Can you add a mattress to a travel cot?
Travel cots already come with a mattress but they can be quite thin and flimsy. While some children can sleep fine on them, a mattress can help make it more cosy. Mattresses come in different sizes to fit travel cots so make sure it fits yours correctly so it’s safe and comfortable for your baby to rest in.
Do bear in mind that by adding a new mattress to the travel cot, you could reduce the height between the top of the mattress and the edge of the cot, making it easier for toddlers to escape. The distance should be at least 50cm.
What size mattress fits a travel cot?
Travel cots come in a range of sizes. Most are 95 x 65cm, but you can get bigger designs which are around 120 x 60cm. It’s important to check the size of your travel cot before purchasing a mattress.
What to look for in a travel cot mattress?
Size
While most mattresses come in standard sizes, there are many options available, so before buying a mattress for your travel cot, measure the inside length and width of your travel cot. The mattress should be a snug fit and leave no gaps around the sides to keep it safe for your child to sleep in.
Material
You tend to choose from mattresses made from foam or spring, but there are other options available including organic materials like lambswool. Look out for waterproof, wipe-clean or machine washable covers to help keep the mattress clean and hygienic for your baby or toddler.
Portability
As you will be packing the mattress to go away, you’ll want one that is lightweight and portable. Check the weight as you’ll be carrying it around a lot when travelling. Mattresses that can be folded will help make it even easier to transport, but make sure the material is durable as it may develop weak areas from the constant folding.
Safety
While most parents will use the mattress for short times when away from home, it is still essential that it provides a safe sleeping space for your baby. Choose a mattress that is firm, flat, breathable and has a waterproof cover, especially important for young babies to prevent suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Check that the mattress complies with British Safety Standards BS 1877-10:2011+A1:2012.
What is the best travel cot mattress?
The Hauck Travel Cot mattress is a soft, quilted sheet that can fit over the cot mattress to make it more comfortable for your baby or toddler. Soft, lightweight and foldable, it’s easily portable when travelling away from home, as well as safe and easy to clean for young babies to get a restful night's sleep. It comes in smaller sizes too.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real parents
Whenever we start our research we head straight to our forums first. With more than 8 million Mumsnet users each month, we know that we’re going to get a host of honest, impartial advice from parents to help us find the best products on the market.
Expert guidance
Then, to help us whittle down our list of recommendations, we research each product thoroughly to ensure it follows the latest expert advice and stands up to scrutiny. To find the best bed travel cot mattress we consulted the likes of the Lullaby Trust and Which for advice.
Consumer feedback
Then we want to know what users of the product think, so we check websites like Amazon and John Lewis to read consumer reviews, both positive and negative, to help us find out if the products are up to scratch.
Celebrated best products
Finally, we check to see which products have won industry awards and received recognition from trusted sources. This helps us come up with a final list of the best products to recommend to you.
Why you can trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.
About the author
Gemma Wilcock is a freelance writer and copywriter. At Mumsnet, she creates content providing useful parenting advice, information and top products to make life easier – as a mother of two children herself, Gemma knows how important it is to get the right advice. Gemma loves writing about subjects that will be helpful to the reader – and herself! - including recommending top products on Mumsnet that help parents in their day-to-day life, such as writing reviews for strollers, double buggies and cots. She knows how important online reviews are when it comes to making a purchase so she always makes sure to thoroughly research every product so we are recommending the best ones on the market.