Suitable from birth to 9 months, and certified safe for overnight use, thanks to its ventilated base, the Phil and Teds Nest comes stowed in a compact travel bag and pops up in under 10 seconds. At 2kg in weight, and just 12cm high when folded, it’s small and light enough to cram into that last chink of space in the car, or in an aeroplane overhead locker.
The Phil and Teds Nest comes with a firm foam mattress and a sheer zip-on mesh cover to protect your baby from the sun and insects. It’s ideal not just for nights away, but also for picnics in the park or afternoons in the garden - anywhere that your baby needs a safe and portable place to sleep or kick around. And the travel bag’s roomy storage compartment gives you extra packing space for your baby essentials.
Are baby sleeping nests and pods safe?
You may have read recent reports about the safety of baby sleep positioners, anti-roll products and baby nests.
The American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued a recent report urging parents not to use these products as they may cause suffocation.
However, we at MadeForMums spoke to the Lullaby Trust, who clarified the issue by saying sleep positioners are different to baby nests/pods:
"It is our understanding that sleep positioners are straps or wedges that hold a baby in place. The evidence shows that the safest way to sleep a baby is on a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in a cot or moses basket and we would not recommend any sleep surface that does not conform to these guidelines.”
As baby nests and pods do not have straps or wedges, they are safe to use.
Still, we always recommend you follow manufacturer instructions and check out the safety tips on co-sleeping, or the The Lullaby Trust's guidelines for sleeping safely and the NHS guidelines on how to reduce SIDS.
What we love
Some travel cots seem to require a degree in engineering to assemble. Not this one. The Phil and Teds Nest couldn’t be easier to put up - you simply bend a couple of flexible poles and pop the ends into holes on the base. It really does take seconds.
Nine-week-old Katie is a bit of a night owl, but she settled well in the Nest’s cosy confines and was no more wakeful during the night than she is at home in her crib.
The mattress feels firm but soft, and the solid plastic base is a great idea, meaning you can put the bassinette down on a damp or uneven surface like grass without it being damaged or toppling over.
The zip-on mesh cover is a useful addition - I can imagine using the Nest in the garden on a hot day to give Katie some shade.
I love the spacious storage pocket in the travel bag, which means that rather than cramming Katie’s gear into the family’s suitcase, I can keep it separate, making it easier to lay my hands on a clean sleepsuit or nappy in the middle of the night.
What to watch out for
While the Phil and Teds Nest is marketed as being suitable for babies up to 9 months, in reality, it’s unlikely to be of much use beyond 3 or 4 months. Popped up, it’s similar in size to a Moses basket – not much good for an active older baby – and labels on the Nest warn against using it for babies who can pull up or get onto their hands and knees. I’m also slightly concerned about the potential for the flexible plastic poles, which hold the bassinette up, to snap under stress with repeated use.
At the risk of seeming superficial, I’ll admit that the colour – a drab beige – leaves me cold, too. Okay, so it’s practical and gender-neutral, but I’d much rather see it in a vibrant red or green!
Who is the Phil and Teds Nest best for?
Families travelling light with a newborn baby.
A safe and comfortable place for a newborn to sleep, with the added bonus of extra storage space to stow your baby’s gear, the Phil and Teds Nest is a user-friendly portable bassinet. It couldn’t be easier to put up – but be prepared to upgrade to a larger travel cot as your baby gets older.
