Is Bugaboo’s Stardust Travel Cot as Revolutionary as Its Luxury Strollers?

Lugging a travel cot around takes the fun out of holidays and staycations but this travel cot may change all that

Travelling with a baby can be very stressful. For many parents, the biggest unknown is how well their little Tatlings will sleep in a new and strange environment (if they even sleep at all).

Ideally, this is where travel cots come to the rescue. In reality, however, travel cots can be very difficult to, well, travel with. I remember the first travel cot I bought three years ago—all 11 kilograms of it. It was also not fun to set up, and I definitely did not lug it around on any holidays or staycations.

Truth be told, I had long resigned to the fate of sharing hotel beds with my little ones. But all that changed when I heard the news that Bugaboo was launching its first-ever travel cot and playpen. The Dutch brand, known for revolutionising the modern stroller, has now reinvented one of the most essential baby care items for busy parents on the go.

Weighing just under seven kilograms, the Stardust is extremely travel-friendly and carrying it does not make me feel like I’m training to become a bodybuilder.

What’s even more impressive though, is the way the cot folds and unfolds with minimal effort. Users of Bugaboo’s quality prams such as the Fox 2 will not be surprised to find that the brand has thought of everything once again. Instead of cumbersome attachments and parts, the Stardust is an all-in-one system that unfolds in just one second. On top of that, all it takes is the push of a button and a light kick to the base for the playpen to fold up. Just three seconds is all it takes.

There is no need to remove or store anything separately, not even the cot’s comfy quilted mattress. Everything folds up perfectly into one single set-up. It can then be tucked away in a sleek matching travel bag that resembles a giant laptop case.

Speaking of sleekness, the Bugaboo Stardust, like all other Bugaboo products, is minimalistic with beautiful clean lines and very few visible seams. Available in only two colours—black and melange grey—the medium-sized cot stands out by being stunning but also blends in by being unassuming and restrained.

Surrounded by soft mesh, the cot has a detachable bassinet that can be removed when the baby needs a safe space to play in. While it’s not the largest playpen a baby can hope for, the Stardust has ample space for babies to enjoy playtime in. In fact, my two babies enjoy playing inside so much that they can’t be removed from without a fight.

The cot also comes with stability feet which you can clip on for added sturdiness, but Bugaboo assured me that the cot is safe and secure even without the added protection. While I preferred to take this extra step, I’ve found that I cannot pack the folded cot into its bag with the stability feet attached. As a result, I have to remove the stability feet every time I pack the cot up, even though Bugaboo says there is no need to.

Tiny setback though, considering how much convenience the Stardust has afforded me especially when packing for holidays, staycations or baby sleepovers at grandma’s. I’ve since bid goodbye to my old clunky, bunglesome travel cot. And no, of course, I don’t miss a thing.

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3 things to look out for when choosing a travel cot

Light, easy to carry around

The first thing to consider when buying a travel cot is how easy it actually travels. While 10 kilograms might not sound very difficult to handle, keep in mind that you will have many other (often bulky and heavy) things to bring with you when you're travelling with a baby.

Another factor that may add to the difficulty of transporting a cot on the go is the kind of bag it comes with—is it a sling, hand-carry or backpack? Perhaps it even comes with wheels! Everyone has different preferences when it comes to travelling, so be sure to pick the one that best fits your travel system.

Easy to set up, few attachments

When choosing a travel cot, pick one that is fool-proof to set up. If you're not very good at building things, then a cot with minimal attachments would probably be the best choice. Having too many separate attachments will not only mean a longer set-up time; it also causes issues when you lose or forget to bring one of the parts with you. After lugging multiple bags to your destination, the last thing you'll want is a crib that the baby can't even sleep in.

Comfortable and spacious enough for baby to sleep and play in

Some questions to ask yourself when choosing a travel cot include: Is the mattress or base comfortable and sturdy enough for the baby to sleep and play in? Are the materials used breathable and soft?

It also pays to choose a travel cot that is spacious enough for baby to play in, but make sure it isn’t so big that it takes up too much space in smaller rooms.

Topics

travel cot parenting new parents baby cots bugaboo stardust bugaboo stardust

Tatler Asia

Is Bugaboo’s Stardust Travel Cot as Revolutionary as Its Luxury Strollers?

3 things to look out for when choosing a travel cot