A travel cot is an essential baby and toddler item, especially at this time of year when many of us are heading off to stay with family and friends. Having said that, we have had a couple of travel cots over the years, and I have ended up falling out with them all – they are either too bulky, too uncomfortable or too difficult to fold!
So when we were sent the Graco Nimble Nook travel cot, I approached it with trepidation, fully expecting it to become a wrestling match. However, I was pleasantly surprised from the off!
The cot comes packed into a compact travel bag, with a handle for transportation. It’s not too heavy and it does actually go back into the bag with ease after use – a major plus point there!
The Nimble Nook has two modes – one for tiny babies and one for slightly older tots. To get it set up, you simply unfold and pull the whole cot up towards you – the side bars will lock into place and you are ready to go straightaway. The mattress isn’t the thickest in the world, but I think that’s what you expect with travel cots to be honest – they can’t be compact AND have superb mattresses. This one is more than adequate, and once you get a sheet on it’s perfectly comfortable.
For younger babies and newborns, there is a bassinet feature. This comes as a piece of material and some bars, which looks daunting but is actually really easy to set up. The bars slide into the slots in the material bassinet, and the whole thing then clips over the sides of the cot. Fold the mattress in half and tuck it into the pockets at the side and you’re good to go. There is a clip on cot mobile, and even a vibration feature, perfect for newborns who are soothed by movement.
Spacious yet compact, the Nimble Nook is the perfect size for Eliza at 18 months old. She has enough room to lie down and move about, yet it feels cosy at the same time. I would guess that this would be suitable up until about 2 years for most babies.
It could also be used as a playpen, and again the compact size lends itself to this perfectly. There is space to pop your child with some toys without taking over the whole of your living room.
As for folding it away after use? This was the part I was dreading most – some travel cots have reduced me to a snivelling wreck in the past because they simply WILL NOT fold and go back int he bag they came in. I am pleased to report that the Nimble Nook is incredibly easy to fold – you simply push in the buttons on the sides of the cot and it collapses in on itself. From here you can pull the red lever in the base and hey presto – it folds! Wrap the mattress around the folded cot – this keeps it all together compactly – and slide it into the travel bag. Job done!
I would highly recommend the Graco Nimble Nook travel cot, and it would be a great investment. You can use it from newborn right through to the toddler years, and it doesn’t take up too much space. It is lightweight, compact, comfortable and has some fantastic extras you don’t find with other brands on the market.
We have this travel cot for Piglet and after having a nightmare with previous travel cots I was worried about this one – oh how fabulous it is, goes up in minutes, folds easily and first back in its travel bag
Sarah | Boo Roo and Tigger Too recently posted…A postcard from… Christmas
I love the sturdy looking shape of this. She looks really secure and comfortable.
Colette recently posted…Siblings – January 2017
A good travel cot is so useful and I love that it is easy to fold away. #TriedTested
This looks like a great travel cot. I like how easy it is to put up and it looks nice and sturdy too #triedtested
Tracey Bowden recently posted…Home Bargains Cinema Light Box Review
Wow the newborn feature is such a good idea! I remember having to drop mine from a few inches because my arms weren’t long enough to reach all the way down without falling in lol and the vibrating function is clever too. #triedtested
I have had some dreadful experiences with travel cots and the often have very thin, uncomfortable mattresses too. It’s great to see you’ve found one that you like :o)
Catherine @ Story Snug recently posted…The Lumberjack’s Beard by Duncan Beedie
Eliza looks incredibly happy with her travel cot! I’ve had some awful ones in the past but generally they’ve been ones we’ve hired when we’ve been on holiday. We had one once that wouldn’t even fit in the bedroom it was so big! It’s good to hear that this one is easy to pack away too, a big bonus.
Finding the right travel cot can make a huge difference when you go away – if baby doesn’t sleep it’s not fun for anyone!
This sounds like it has lots of winning features, is easy to put down and clearly Eliza is happy in it – which is 80% of the job done!
#TriedTested
This looks wonderful…So cosy. Eliza looks very happy with it.
It’s great that it folds up so well and is easy to move around x
Kim Carberry recently posted…Our Playmobil Hospital.
Fab review and looks like a brilliant travel cot. I’ve fallen out with quite a few in the past as well but now have a Baby Bjorn one which is very compact and lightweight. Hopefully it’ll last for a while or I might have to invest in this Graco one 🙂
#TriedTested
The Breastest News recently posted…The Importance of Family Holidays
This looks great! I wish I’d got something like this when my LO started to get mobile it would be a great place to play whilst mum cooks tea or goes to the toilet.
Jodie x
#TriedTested
Jodie Melling recently posted…Brewers Fayre Wheatlea Park – New Review
Looks fab, even better than it can be used with a newborn too.
#TriedTested
Helen @Talking_Mums recently posted…Advice to my teenage self
looks like a really good travel cot! We never actually had one for Mia when she was little as we never needed one but I can see how great they can be and I would definitely want one that was easy to set up and also pop back in the bag! 🙂
#TriedTested
Becca Farrelly recently posted…Weight Loss Post #11 – Weight Loss Feature
We had a Graco travel cot and it was fab
I have had trouble with Travel Cots in the past but this one sounds great! I love that it has the newborn mode too. #TriedTested
Jan recently posted…Arty Apple – Personalised Aprons Review
This looks great! We don’t have a travel cot of our own but have come across some really tricky ones when going away etc this may be one to invest in #triedtested
It looks quite compact, I like it! #triedtested
This looks great! Thanks, I may need to get one for when my niece comes to stay! #TriedTested
The additional newborn bassinet is such a great idea! We haven’t had much experience with travel cots as all ours have been borrowed from family, but this looks great 🙂 we might have to get one soon anyway as we don’t have one anymore… thanks for hosting #triedtested
Wave to Mummy recently posted…Feeling anxious about the primary school application now…
What a great travel cot and play pen.#TriedTested
Helena recently posted…I am #Rocking Motherhood ….Here’s why….