The Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot aims to be a real home-from-home for baby. Folding out into a full size cot, it is suitable from birth until your child is old enough to sleep in a large bed but its size can also be the biggest turn off.
Travelling with small children used to be a logistical nightmare, calling ahead seeing how much equipment you could beg, borrow or steal to ensure it was all safe for baby on arrival. These days though, there is such a range of baby travel equipment that there’s no excuse not to get out and about. Of all the travel accessories though, the travel cot has to be one of the most essential. The Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot is easy to assemble but also heavy and in some situations its large size can really let it down.
What we love
The mesh sides make it easy to see in while keeping baby safe and are high enough to prevent any mini escapes. There is also a fold up mattress to cushion the base. For newborns to three months there is an added bassinet feature in case they feel a bit abandoned in the wide open spaces of the big cot. The bassinet also converts during the day into a change table so there’s no need for separate changing equipment, which is pretty handy!
The product’s best feature is its stability. Sturdy click-fit sides eliminate any wobble and it’s hefty enough to be used in the daytime as a sizeable playpen. Its speed of assembly is also a boon, as the unfold and click system means no holding sides together as you insert pole A into slot B. Simply pull apart, ensure it has clicked solid, lay the mattress base and you’re ready to go! Finally, the base is raised off the floor so no nasty draughts at night.
What to watch out for
Though it does fold down to a neat carry pack it is still a substantial piece of equipment, filling the boot of a small hatchback and counting as one of your pieces of luggage allowance on discount airlines. When travelling you’d have to be pretty strong to be carrying this as well as a piece of family luggage. Equally, if you need to site it in a hotel room, you could be pushed for space as many mid-range hotels don’t allow for you needing to put another full-size piece of furniture in their rooms.
The mattress pad is also quite hard – as is the case with most travel cots to be fair – and more sensitive babies, like my 15-month-old Joshua who has a bad case of the Princess and the Pea, may need extra blankets laid down to soften their landing. The cot is also pretty deep so there’s a long way to bend when getting baby in and out. If you want to use it at home as a playpen, you do need a reasonable space to put it up as the blocky colours and large base mean it will dominate any room it’s in.
Who is the Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot best for?
The Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot is best for those planning to travel by car, or mums who are likely to have their bags fetched and carried from luggage reclaim.
This is a great product for families who like to do a lot of trips by car and the sturdiness of construction means the Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot will do for many siblings. However, its hefty weight and size means mums on their own may struggle to carry this and baby.
