On this page:

• The problems with unsafe portable cots
• The cot with six serious safety failures
• The portable cots that failed our key safety tests
• Responses from manufacturers
• Tips for buying a portacot and how to use it safely

A portable cot (also known as a travel cot or portacot) is a handy item to have in the first few years of your child’s life. It’s great for holidays and sleepovers, and a convenient option if you want a second, collapsible cot at the grandparents’ or another carer’s house.Ìý

But ÌÇÐÄVlog experts recommend taking great caution when you’re buying this product, as many popular brands pose serious safety risks to babies.Ìý

“In our expert labs, we regularly test a selection of portable cots currently available on the Australian market,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog testing expert Kim Gilmour.Ìý

“In our lab tests, over half of these products failed key safety requirements, which is a really disappointing result. Unfortunately, this is something we are used to seeing with this particular baby product.

“We assess all models in our labs against the most current Australian safety standard for portable cots, and are seeing models that fail crucial safety tests, such as mattress firmness.”

Gilmour says the new mandatory standard for portable cots, to come into law from January 2026, means that portable cots will need to comply with the most current Australian safety standard (the one ÌÇÐÄVlog tests to) or other similar European or US standard.

The problems with unsafe portable cots

“One portable cot scored 0% for performance, and several others received performance scores as low as 20%, simply because they had so many failures,” says Gilmour.Ìý

In fact, 16 of the 27 models in our current review failed to pass ÌÇÐÄVlog’s key safety requirements – that’s more than half, a worryingly high proportion.

Products that failed did so for a number of reasons, including major head and limb entrapment risks and suffocation risks.Ìý

Less serious hazards include finger entrapment risks, or the possibility a child may be able to open a zipper or combination of zippers and get out of the cot.

“Most of the safety failures we see relate to the portacot mattress either being not firm enough or not fitting snugly inside the portacot base,” says Gilmour.

“Soft or poorly fitting mattresses can increase the risk of sudden unexpected infant deathÌýif an infant rolls face-first into it.Ìý

“The good news is there are still plenty of safe portable cots that do pass our safety tests, and which we can recommend to parents. Others have only minor safety issues.

“However, when choosing a portacot for your baby, you want to make sure you’re making the safest choice possible, so we strongly recommend checking our reviews before you buy.

“And if you’ve already purchased one of these unsafe cots, ÌÇÐÄVlog recommends you return it to the retailer or manufacturer and ask for a full refund. You should note however that they may not oblige unless the cot has been officially recalled.”

The cot with six serious safety failures

In our mind, a cot with even one serious safety failure is one failure too many. But a cot with six serious failures is one that goes straight to the blacklist.Ìý

Vevor is a home improvement retailer that says it sells “a selection of affordable and reliable products to customers around the world” on its own website as well as Amazon, eBay and other online marketplaces. In addition to products like tools, garden essentials, outdoor equipment and automotive supplies, Vevor also sells baby products.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog expert testers found six serious safety failures with the Vevor Baby Bassinet P9070, a convertible cot/bassinet/bedside sleeper/change table mash-up.Ìý

“Safety has taken a back seat with this cot, especially as it’s trying to be so many things at the same time,” says Gilmour.

“Our accredited labs test to current Australian standards and with the Vevor we found so many failures that our experts had no hesitation giving it a performance score of zero.

“The failures include multiple fall risks including with the attached change table, as well as head, neck and limb entrapment hazards. The mattress isn’t firm enough, and there are areas where the material is not breathable and could pose a suffocation risk.”Ìý

The Vevor portable cot’s serious safety failures

• Fall risk: The height between the mattress and the top of the cot when it was in both the cot and bassinet adjustable positions (and with the cot side down) is too shallow.
• Suffocation risk: Problems with non-breathable material and zones near where a child would sleep.
• Suffocation risk: Mattress is not firm enough, creating a possible suffocation risk if a child rolls onto their side or front.
• Neck entrapment risks: At the top rails at the ends of the cot if the locking mechanism fails and the cot collapses inwards.Ìý
• Fall risk: Due to insufficient barriers on the supplied change table.
• Head and limb entrapment risks: At various areas of the cot.

The portable cots that failed our key safety tests

• 4Baby Liteway Travel Cot EA11816Ìý(tested in 2021)
• 4Baby Vacation Portacot EA12116 (tested in 2022)
• Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot (tested in 2022)
• Baby Joy 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Nursery Center with Changing Table (tested in 2025)
• Baby Studio 3 in 1 Portacot RA2231 (tested in 2025)
• Chicco Lullaby Easy PortacotÌý (tested in 2020)
• Childcare Indi 3 in 1 Travel Cot 073455-340 (tested in 2025)
• Jengo Oasis 2 in 1 Folding Cot with Changer EA11590 (tested in 2025)
• Jengo Voyager 3 in 1 Portacot EA12306 (tested in 2025)
• Kmart Anko Travel Portacot 43-139-774 (tested in 2025)
• Love N Care 3 in 1 Sleep N Go HK 993G (tested in 2023)
• Love N Care Playland Travel Cot HK 999 (tested in 2018)
• Roger Armstrong 8 In 1 Portacot RA2232 (tested in 2023)
• Star Kidz Amico Super Light Travel Cot EA11816 (tested in 2021)
• Vee Bee Amado Travel & Play Cot N9560 (tested in 2018)
• Vevor Baby Bassinet, 12-Level Height Adjustable Easy to Fold Portable Baby Bassinet (tested in 2025)

Our full portable cot reviews include information on why these models failed safety tests (and responses from the manufacturers), plus portable cots that we do recommend as safe options.

Responses from manufacturers

In response to our tests, manufacturers disagreed with our results, showing us reports from third-party labs that indicate that their products pass safety standards. AtÌýÌÇÐÄVlog, we operate our own in-house accredited lab, and we stand by our results.

Tips for buying a portacot and how to use it safely

“Price or brand is not an indicator of how safe these products are,” says Gilmour.

“We find that even some of the leading brands of portacots have issues that pose safety risks for babies.Ìý

“Our advice is to always check our reviews and do some research before you settle on which one to purchase.”Ìý

Here are some tips on how to buy and use a portacot safely:

• Travel cots are designed to be used temporarily only – they are not suitable to use as a permanent sleep option.Ìý
• Before you buy, check the government’s product safety website to see if there have been any product recalls or safety issues with particular brands or models.Ìý
• Only use the mattress or padded base supplied by the manufacturer – don’t use other mattresses, as they can pose a suffocation risk or make the cot too shallow, allowing a child to climb out too easily.Ìý
• The mattress should be firm and snug-fitting all around to avoid trapping the baby’s head.Ìý
• Make sure there is breathable mesh material all around where it meets the top of the mattress area.
• Make sure there’s nothing sticking out that could snag the baby’s clothes or act as a foothold for the baby to climb out.Ìý
• Don’t position the cot beside blind cords, power points, windows or other hazards.Ìý
• Never put pillows, cot bumpers or soft toys in the portacot – not only because they’re a suffocation risk, but because they can also be used to climb out.Ìý
• Once the baby weighs more than 15kg, or can undo the folding latches, stop using the portacot.

The post Over half of the portable cots tested by ÌÇÐÄVlog fail safety standards appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test portable cots
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

While there is a mandatory safety standard for all portable cots sold in Australia, we still find models that fail its requirements. Many fail the further tests set out in the more recent voluntary standard, too. That’s why we put them to the test in our lab.

Our expert testers

At ÌÇÐÄVlog we maintain a highly professional NATA-accredited laboratory and the vast majority of our product testing is done in-house. We’re accredited to test to the Australian standard for portable cots, AS/NZS 2195:2010, so our lab experts really do know whether a portable cot is safe or not.

How we choose what we test

With so many to choose from, what makes us choose one portable cot to test over another? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular brands and types on the market and what you’re most likely to see in the retailers.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of products, we check market sales information and we also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers.Ìý

They then get onto retailers – online, by phone or the old-fashioned way of actually going into stores – and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure the products we get are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test portable cots

Our in-house lab is accredited to test portable cots against the most current Australian standard for portable cots, AS/NZS 2195:2010, and also against the mandatory standard (which is based on a 1999 version of the standard). The 2010 version has some differences to previous versions of the standard, and our results are based on this version.

Our experts test the cots (and any supplied accessories, such as change tables, bassinet modes and toys) for their safety performance, including checking for:

• small objects (which could become loose and pose a choking hazard)
• sharp corners, edges and points
• entrapment hazards between any moving components
• head, limb and finger entrapmentsÌýin openings
• strangulation hazards from straps or other components.

In addition to this, we assess each portable cot for:

• sufficient depth – a strict condition to prevent a child falling from the cot
• stability – the cot mustn’t tip or tilt too easily
• mattress firmness – the mattress must be firm and level enough to provide a safe sleeping surface (as per the Australian test method for mattresses AS/NZS 8811.1)
• horizontal and vertical strength – the cot’s frame needs to be sufficiently sturdy
• castors or wheels – these must have brakes and not roll too easily (so that the cot can’t be pushed out of place unintentionally)
• breathable zones (i.e. mesh rather than solid material or non-breathable fabric) on all four sides and at sleeping level – this is to prevent suffocation if an infant happens to roll to the side. Some small or narrow strips of non-breathable areas are OK, such as at the corners.

In addition to our performance and safety testing, we also score the portable cots for their ease of use, including:

• unpacking and setting up the cot (as well as any supplied accessories)
• folding it and packing it away (into the carry bag, where provided)
• the quality of the supplied instructions.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, our overall score that determines which portable cots we recommend,Ìýis made up of the scores for:

• performance (70%)
• ease of use (30%).

Performance and ease of use scores are based on the factors listed above. For performance, we score as follows:

• 100% – no failures
• 80% – only very minor failures
• 60–65% – at least one minor failure
• 40% or less – at least one serious safety failure.

We only recommend models with a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of at least 70%. These models pass all our safety tests, but may have some very minor failures such as with information labels.

For some tests no models score high enough to be recommended. In this case, look for the models that score at least 60%, as they’ve passed the key safety tests and have only minor safety failures.Ìý

Our portable cots buying guideÌýexplains more about how to choose the safest portable cot.

Our test lab

ÌÇÐÄVlog has high quality NATA-accredited laboratories with calibrated test equipment and lab staff who are skilled and accredited in a wide range of product testing.

The post How we test portable cots appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Portable cots are convenient to have if your little one is staying over at a grandparent’s house, or for a last-minute weekend away.Ìý

But around two thirds of the portable cots we test in our labs fail key safety requirements.Ìý

Many don’t have sufficiently firm mattresses (a suffocation risk), or they may lack an all-round mesh covering to allow for breathability and ventilation.

ÌÇÐÄVlog received a few requests to test the Aeromoov Instant Travel cot, which claims to be “the fastest travel cot in the world”. It’s also one of the lighter models we’ve tested (5.4kg, compared with 16kg or even more for some models).

In our review, our expert Antonio Bonacruz tested the Aeromoov to Australian safety standards, and also assessed its ease of use (he’s had many years of experience seeing all types of travel cots pass through the ÌÇÐÄVlog doors).

Setting up the Aeromoov

Is this model really “the fastest travel cot in the world”? Antonio found it very easy to set up the Aeromoov’s frame: simply release a velcro strap and gently pop the frame open. It’s light enough to invert if you pop it open the wrong way.

Unfortunately, while that part is quick enough, the frame is only part of the story.Ìý

Antonio noted how fiddly it was for him to attach the mattress to the cot’s base (which adds to its set-up time). Doing this correctly is very important to reduce the risk of any entrapment hazards. You need to pass four velcro straps through accompanying slits, which is a very awkward process not helped by the snug and firm mattress board.

The Aeromoov has a bassinet mode for infants, and it’s similarly difficult to attach the mattress in this mode, too.

The instructions are adequate, with sufficient information about how to operate the cot, but not all the required safety markings are evident.

Putting the Aeromoov away

In the lower cot mode, detaching the mattress by disengaging the velcro straps is an OK process but in bassinet mode it’s more difficult to access the straps.

Folding the frame is very easy; you lie the cot on its side, and push at the marked spot to fold the frame down.

How safe is the Aeromoov?

Around two-thirds of the portable cots we test in the ÌÇÐÄVlog labs fail at least one key safety requirement. The Aeromoov is no different; its mattress is insufficiently firm in both the lower cot position and upper bassinet positions.Ìý

We test firmness to an accepted method that is referenced in the household cot standard using a special apparatus. In bassinet mode, we noted some sagging along the parting line of the mattress segments. In the lower cot position we also noticed a lack of firmness near the corners where the fabric cover is puffy.

Antonio also noted that the Aeromoov feels quite flimsy with the sides, ends, top rails and the base tending to deform and flex a lot.

To its credit, it does have all-round mesh sides, which allow for breathability.

In response to our findings, Aeromoov’s manufacturer said it would be looking to make appropriate adjustments in order to comply with the standard.

What comes with the Aeromoov?

Out of the box, you don’t get much. The Aeromoov is expensive, at $399, yet you still need to pay extra for features that are found as standard with other cots including:

• Fitted sheet ($40)
• Mosquito net ($40)
• Sunshade ($40)

Is it worth it?

Our tests show many safer cots which are just as light. They may take a little longer to set up and put away, but the extra minute or two is worth it for peace of mind. This model’s also quite expensive and doesn’t come with some of the extra features that are available with other models.

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