Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light REVIEW [AD]

I hate travel cots. Quite a bold way to start a review post right, but generally, up until using the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light this has been true.

I have always found travel cots a NIGHTMARE to put up, and despite the instructions making out that they are easy to use, I seem to spend at least half an hour just staring at a half dismantled travel cot wondering how the hell I managed to get it into the packaging. I then have a slight panic that we will never make it home and that I will have to squash it into the boot in its current half up state. We’ve all been there right?

Now that Neve is a bit older we are starting to take the odd trip away, and I love being able to have a change of scenery with the girls and do some exploring.

I always dread bedtime however, Neve isn’t a good sleeper at the best of times, so add in an unfamiliar environment and a different bed it is always going to be a challenge.

Having reviewed a number of Baby Bjorn products in the past, including the Baby Bjorn High Chair and Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss, we have always been really impressed with both the quality and the user friendly nature of their products. When I heard they had a travel cot that appeared to be easy to construct and looked like there was a hope in hells chance of Neve actually sleeping in it, I was keen to give it a go. We were given the opportunity to complete a Baby Bjorn Travel Cot  Light Review and I jumped at the chance.

Is there such thing as an easy to assemble travel cot??

The BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light is suitable from newborn, up to children of 3 years of age.

What makes the travel cot Baby Bjorn have created different? It’s light, durable, easy to fold, and comes complete with it’s own carry case.

With a compact fold and practical carry case the Baby Bjorn travel cot takes up the minimum of space and is easy to take with you to relatives or on holiday. The adjustable design features generously padded shoulder straps (making carrying on your commute a lot more comfortable) and a waist belt. This updated take on the classic design also includes full mesh sides, meaning you can see everything baby is getting up to.

In one quick and simple movement, the travel cot pops open, ready for use. Then all you need to add is the mattress, which conveniently folds into the carry bag. The sturdy mattress keeps the crib firmly on the floor, ensuring it’s safe and secure and it features inward sloping sides to create a snug and cosy environment, with soft fabrics suitable for young and sensitive skin.

Developed with pediatricians, The Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light provides the right support for your growing child’s head, hips and spine. Both the mattress cover and cot fabric are removable and can be machine washed using a gentle detergent.

Dimensions of the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot:

• Open: H62 x W82 x D112cm
• Folded: H60 x W49 x D14cm

The Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light retails at £214.99 and is available in Black, Grey and Brown (the Brown Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light is exclusive to John Lewis)

Our Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light Review

We conducted our Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light review when we went away to visit family during the half term holidays.

The first thing to point out is that although not small, the Baby Bjorn travel cot is very easy to carry, and little touches like the padded carry handle really do make a difference to your break – especially when you are staying in an attic room and need to climb up the stairs with the cot in tow.

The cot comes with instructions, however to be honest, it wasn’t really even necessary to use them. Upon opening the zipped outer packaging, you simply remove the mattress (which is neatly folded around the cot itself)

The cot literally pops up into place when you pull the sides apart, and is ready to use in seconds, with the only assembly required being popping the mattress into its base, and hooking on some safety fasteners to ensure it stays firmly in place.

When it comes to dismantling, there is a simple handle to press and fold the cot back in on itself, before folding the mattress back around and popping back into the carry bag.

When in use, I absolutely loved the mesh sides, as I was able to see what Neve was up to. I still use a baby monitor even when we are on holiday, and even though we were in the same room as her, having the monitor set up meant that I could still see through the mesh sides whether she was asleep or moving around.

One thing to be aware of is that this travel cot doesn’t have a bassinet and as such, the baby sleeps quite low to the ground. Now that Neve is bigger this isn’t a problem at all, however if I had been using this when Neve was a  newborn it would have required me to bend down quite a distance to pop her inside. Having had a c section, this would have been a little trickier so I would have probably had to ask Mike to help me. Now that Neve is 1, I didn’t find this an issue at all.

The cot looks great, and whilst it is not small, it is relatively compact and takes up limited floor space. The mattress is firm but comfortable, and despite Neve being a terrible sleeper, her sleep was no worse (nor better) than when we were at home. As this was a strange location for her, I take that as a win! 🙂

I couldn’t do a Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light review without mentioning the price – it retails at £215, so it goes without saying, there are cheaper alternatives on the market. I previously paid around £80 for a travel cot however I absolutely HATED it, so if you can afford the additional cost and want an easy life when travelling, I do definitely feel it is worth paying that extra, particularly if you are a regular traveller and can use it until your child is three.

Baby Bjorn travel cribs do really focus on the finishing touches, and even little things like the fact the instructions have their very own storage pocket in the case really show they have thought of everything!!! No excuses for losing them or leaving them behind!!

Pros

• Compact and easy to store
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Assembly really is a doddle! (and putting it down again!)
• Small footprint means you can use even in a fairly small space. Perfect for a crowded hotel room or if your child needs to be in with your when visiting family.
• Mesh fabric on the sides allows you to see them easily without waking them. Also great if like us you like to have a monitor set up.

Cons

• Mattress is quite firm, which may be different to the cot at home. That said, it felt comfortable and Neve slept well.
• Obviously there are cheaper alternatives on the market, but in terms of ease of use and compact / portability this product was a real win.

You can learn more about the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light on the Baby Bjorn website.

*Disclosure – We were sent the cot free of charge in exchange for our honest Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links*.