WHEN you're away from home, one of the best travel cot mattresses can really help your little one to sleep and should last you trip after trip - so it's worth investing in a good one.
Tired babies and toddlers don't make for a happy holiday and a quality mattress will keep them safe and comfortable in their travel cot.
If you're looking for a new travel cot, check out brands such as Hauck, Red Kite, Baby Dan, Joie, Graco and Cuggl.
Children can sleep in a travel cot from birth until about three years old - and travel cots come in a range of sizes - as do travel cot mattresses so ensure you check measurements before making a purchase.
Also, check the mattress you choose is British Standards tested to ensure your little one's safety while they kip.
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Read on for our round-up of the best travel cot mattresses available to buy now.
Looking for a regular mattress for your child? Check out our round-up of the best mattresses for kids as well as our Simba Kids mattress review and Emma Kids mattress review.
Best travel cot mattresses at a glance:
- Best foldable travel cot mattress: Mother Nurture Premium Foam Foldable Travel Cot Mattress
- Best cooling travel cot mattress: hauck Travel Cot Mattress Sheet
- Best extra-thick travel cot mattress: BabyDan Extra Thick Deep Padded Travel Cot Mattress
- Best water resistant travel cot mattress: Cuggl 95 x 65cm Foam Cot Mattress
- Best dual-sided travel cot mattress: SPRINGSPIRIT Waterproof Bamboo Dual Sided Travel Cot Mattress
Joie Baby Kubbie Sleep Bedside Travel Cot
- Joie Baby Kubbie Sleep Bedside Travel Cot, £100 at Argos - buy here
While not being a standalone mattress for a travel cot, this well-reviewed travel cot comes with a mattress built in to save you time in assembly.
The side panel lifts and lowers for easy access to the baby and the whole cot collapses down for easy transport.
Happy reviewers love the raised sleeping platform to save backache and how easy the cot is to pack up.
Specs - Size: L27, W25, D80.5cm
Mother Nurture Premium Foam Foldable Travel Cot Mattress
Mother Nurture Premium Foam Foldable Travel Cot Mattress, White, 95 x 65 x 2.5cm, £38.99 at Amazon - buy here
This comfy travel cot mattress is lightweight and foldable with a carry bag so perfect for when you're staying away or on the move.
It's made from soft, hypoallergenic fabric and is firm and supportive so your baby can sleep comfortably and safely.
It's also temperature regulating with a breathable fabric cover, which can also be removed and machine-washed if needed.
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Tested to the highest British standards, this travel cot mattress is ticking all the boxes. If you have a Red Kite travel cot, this mattress is the perfect fit.
Specs - Size: 95 x 65 x 2.5 cm Weight: 870g
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Samuel Johnston Travel Cot Safety Foam Mattress
- Samuel Johnston Travel Cot Safety Foam Mattress, £35 at Samuel Johnston - buy here
With safety in mind, this travel cot mattress covers all bases with a hypo-allergenic, non-toxic foam filling.
The bottom of the mattress is also made from a non-toxic, waterproof PVC material so it can easily be wiped down if there are any accidents.
The head section is made from a breathable mesh, which encourages airflow throughout. Plus, it's designed to fold so it's super easy to take on your travels.
Specs - Size: 95 x 65 x 5 cm
hauck Travel Cot Mattress Sheet
- hauck Travel Cot Mattress Sheet, £17.81 at Amazon - buy here
If your baby doesn't need a thick cot mattress, this hauck travel cot mattress sheet might be all that you need.
The soft quilted mattress sheet can be fitted over a cot mattress or you can just fit it over the padded base of the hauck travel cot.
It's lightly quilted for extra comfort as well as breathable and temperature regulating.
Specs - Size: 120 x 60 x 3 cm Weight: 350g
Baby Elegance Foldable Travel Cot Mattress
Baby Elegance Foldable Travel Cot Mattress - 100 x 70cm, £35 at Argos - buy here
This comfy mattress folds without leaving an uncomfortable seam to ensure undisturbed sleep.
It's fully breathable and prevents overheating by helping your child regulate their temperature while sleeping.
It's suitable for a wide range of travel cots and comes complete with a travel bag so it can be easily transported.
Specs - Size: H100, L70, W5cm
Trifold Travel Cot Mattress Topper
Trifold Travel Cot Mattress Topper 95 x 65cm, £37.99 at Amazon - buy here
This could be just what you need if you're looking for a compact but comfortable mattress topper for your travel cot.
As well as folding up nicely to transport it has a removable waterproof cover that can be washed if needed, and anti-slip rubber printing on the back to help it stay in place.
Specs - Size: 95 x 65 x 5 cm Weight: 1.52kg
BabyDan Extra Thick Deep Padded Travel Cot Mattress
BabyDan Extra Thick Deep Padded Travel Cot Mattress (60 x 120cm x 5cm) Black, £39.99 at Amazon - buy here
This BabyDan travel cot mattress is 60 x 120cm and ideal for larger travel cots.
It's also 5cm thick for extra comfort and support but still folds down, unlike many thicker travel cot mattresses.
The mattress complies with all UK safety regulations and has a wipe-clean surface, plus a handy travel bag so it's super easy to transport.
Specs - Size: 120L x 60W x 4.5Th Weight: 800g
BABY REX® New Travel COT Mattress
BABY REX® New Travel COT Mattress FIT 119 X 59 x 6 cm, £17.99 at Amazon - buy here
If you're looking for a bargain, this Baby Rex travel cot mattress fits Baby Dan and Hauck travel cots and is just £15 at Amazon.
Made from eco-friendly polyester, the mattress is hypo-allergenic and free from toxins.
The quilt cover is water resistant and it can be turned over and used on either side, plus it can be removed and machine-washed as needed.
Specs - Size: 70L x 70W x 7.5Th Weight: 1.1kg
Cuggl 95 x 65cm Foam Cot Mattress
Cuggl 95 x 65cm Foam Cot Mattress, £25 at Argos - buy here
Looking for some extra comfort for your Cuggl travel cot? This mattress is the perfect addition to your Cuggl travel cot.
The cover is hypo-allergenic and the filler is a new baby-safe foam, free from harmful chemicals.
The cover is fully breathable and water resistant. You can also remove it and machine wash it if needed so you don't need to worry about any accidents or holiday hiccups.
Great quality and useful features, all at a reasonable price - what's not to like?
Specs - Size: L95, W65, D5cm
SPRINGSPIRIT Travel Cot Mattress
SPRINGSPIRIT Waterproof Bamboo Dual Sided Travel Cot Mattress, £37.99 at Amazon - buy here
This memory foam travel cot mattress is a firm and supportive option for little ones.
It has a naturally-breathable bamboo cover and high-density foam for natural airflow to keep your baby cool and comfortable.
This clever mattress is also dual-sided with a softer gel-infused side for toddlers and a firmer, more supportive side for babies.
The non-slip backing will ensure the mattress stays firmly in place and the covers are removable and washable to easily deal with any spillages or night-time accidents.
Specs - Size: 95L x 65W x 5Th Weight: 2.5 kg
Travelmat - Travel Cot Mattress
- Travelmat travel cot mattress, £90 at Natural Mat - buy here
Looking for a bit of luxury for your baby? This handmade travel cot mattress is a lightweight quilt filled with organic lambswool for softness and insulation.
It's also portable and rolls up into a cotton duffle bag for easy transporting and storing.
The cover is pure cotton for breathability and has been treated to protect against bed bugs, dust mites, mosquitos and moths.
It's also chemical-free, non-toxic and naturally fire retardant to ensure your little one's safety while they sleep.
Specs - Size: 765 x 120 x 1/2cm
Do travel cots need a mattress?
Some travel cots come with a decent mattress included but the mattresses in many travel cots are quite thin and flimsy.
Depending on how fussy or sensitive your baby or toddler is, you might decide you need an additional mattress topper or proper mattress for your travel cot. Most parents would agree you can't put a price on a good night's sleep!
What size is a travel cot mattress?
The most standard travel cot - and therefore mattress - size in the UK is 95 x 65cm.
However, you can get bigger travel cots such as the Baby Dan, which is 120 x 60cm, which is more in line with cot bed dimensions and ideal for toddlers.
Check your travel cot dimensions carefully when choosing your mattress.
How to clean a travel cot mattress
Most travel cot mattresses come with removable, machine-washable covers.
Some mattresses are also waterproof and you can wipe them down as needed.
As babies often have nappy leaks and spit up milk, we would recommend looking for waterproof, wipe-clean or machine-washable covers when choosing your travel cot mattress.
Where to buy a travel cot mattress?
Check out the following online retailers if you're looking to buy a new travel cot mattress:
- Amazon
- ASDA
- Argos
- Wayfair
How much are travel cot mattresses?
There is a range of prices for travel cot mattresses but the average price for a quality mattress is around £30.
As with everything, you can spend more or less than this - consider what works for your baby and how you can recreate the sleeping set-up you have at home to ensure a good sleep when you're away on holiday.
And always check the mattress you choose meets the required British safety standards.
