Uses for your travel cot?

Edit Subject

For me, a travel cot should be (a) incredibly light and easy for me to take with me in a car or plane and (b) fast and stress free to put up and take down. It should also be (c) sturdy and secure.

I have never used my travel cot(s) as a place to leave my daughter to play but I do like to feel secure in the knowledge that she can wake up and sit there safely.

I have a graco travel cot that has survived two and now is used by 3rd baby for visiting family, camping at festivals etc.

pros-- it was cheap, -- it opens out/folds away easily /folded is quite compact- fits in a carboot , --can be used as a 'playpen' as mentioned

cons- -its quite heavy, --although it has 2 wheels and handle, the 'pull along' design is rubbish, it rotates onto the non-wheel side so drags along and the handle becomes painful, (transport is an important feature particularly for festivals where cars often have to be parked up to a mile away from campsites)
--the mattress is REALLY thin; I always have to pad it out with blankets/towels,
--netting sides are good for keeping an eye on baby but with bigger babies/toddlers their weight seems to put a lot of strain on the sides if they're inside when awake- I'd be reluctant to leave a bigger baby awake/playing without constant supervision as I feel that the sides could give way/rip under pressure
--the netting also lets in light so baby can be easily disturbed

fantasy product- a travel cot with
--changeable bases depending on what its being used for- sleep/play. what about a deeper soft sleep mattress and a thinner wipe-clean play mattress?
--stronger sides if it going to be a playpen-
pop-on covers for the sides for sleeptime, darker, quieter and warmer in winter/ in a tent!
--a handle/wheel combo that WORKS so I can wheel it along from car to campsite without swearing

hope this helps!!
regards, nicky

my daughter has just grown out of hers recently, i used to use it as a playpen for her while i was cooking her tea so i knew she was safe, but now i have turned it into a sort of play tent for her room where she can just go to play and hide away and she absolutely adores it, all i did was cover the sides and the top with fabric and cut one of the sides off so she could get in and out easily, i think its a great use for an old travel cot, saves throwing it out