Our pick for most familiesBirth to ~3 years
Skip Hop Forma Nappy Backpack
A light, well-organised nappy backpack with packing cubes, insulated bottle pockets and pram straps.
Travel & out and about
Getting out of the house is half the battle in the early months, and the right bag makes it easier. A nappy bag should hold a change kit, spare clothes for baby (and a top for you), a bottle or feeding cover, and clip to the pram. A backpack keeps your hands free. If you travel overnight, a portable cot that meets the Australian mandatory standard for folding cots gives your baby a safe sleep space away from home — use only the thin, firm mattress it comes with, and no extra padding. Car seats, capsules and prams have their own categories; this one is for the gear around them.
Travel pickBirth to ~3 years
BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light
A 6 kg portable cot that opens in one movement and meets the Australian folding-cot standard.
Things we don’t recommend, and why
- Adding an extra or thicker mattress to a portable cot — it can leave gaps where a baby can become wedged. Use only the mattress supplied. Source: Red Nose — Portable cots
- Portable cots that do not state they meet the Australian mandatory standard, or second-hand cots with damage, mesh tears or locks that do not hold. Source: Red Nose — Portable cots
Price bands for this category: $ < $100 · $$ $100–250 · $$$ $250–450 · $$$$ > $450. Prices change — check the retailer.