We’re sharing all about baby cots and baby cribs in Europe. While the terminology is confusing, baby cribs are the same as baby cots. What Americans call a crib, Europeans call a cot. Read on for all the sleeping arrangements from my recent trip to Denmark, Germany, and Greece with our 11 month old to determine what you need to bring.
If you are traveling to Europe with a baby, you are likely wondering if a baby cot is the same as a baby crib in America. The answer is YES! When they refer to a “baby cot” in Europe, you can rest assured that it will be like what we call a “crib” in America that keeps your baby contained.
We spent several weeks in Europe staying in 5 different hotels across 3 countries with our 11 month old. When I emailed our hotels to request a baby crib, they all referred to it as a “baby cot”. I was worried that we would get what we refer to as a “cot” in America which is typically a rollaway bed.
At each accommodation, we were given either a crib or pack & play that our child always slept great in. I really did not want to bring a travel crib and am thankful it was not necessary!
In this post, I’m sharing images and details on each of the sleeping arrangements we were provided when traveling with our baby in Europe to help you feel comfortable. As a new mom, I looked for a post like this and didn’t find one – so I created it for you!
When in doubt, simply ask the hotel to clarify or send a picture. They won’t mind! And a quick disclaimer: this was only MY experience. You should always confirm with your hotel just to be sure! 🙂
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Baby Crib in Copenhagen, Denmark
In Copenhagen, we stayed at Villa Copenhagen. It’s one of our favorite hotels right across from Tivoli and a short walk to famous Nyhavn. It was the perfect family friendly hotel in Copenhagen.
The hotel provided a small baby crib during our stay. It was complete with its own comfortable pillow and plush duvet blanket with a sweet pear embroidery.
Baby Crib in Munich, Germany
We visited Munich, Germany and stayed at the super swanky Rosewood Munich with our child. It’s a gorgeous property and very family friendly hotel.
We were provided this adorable baby crib complete with blankets and bumper pads. Of course, I removed those as it is a hazard in America. In addition, they included a diaper pail, swim diapers for the pool, a baby toilet, and shampoos during our stay.
Baby Travel Crib in Mykonos, Greece
In Mykonos, we stayed at the brand new Cali Mykonos hotel which is a hidden gem away from the party crowds.
This hotel provided a Bugaboo travel crib in the room which was really nice! If we ever get a travel crib, it might be this one. She slept great and the Slumberpod fit over it nicely.
They were sweet to include a soft knit baby blanket as well.
Baby Pack & Play in Sifnos, Greece
In Sifnos, Greece, we stayed at Verina Astra with our baby – one of our favorite hotels ever. The hotel actually does not allow babies, but we didn’t realize at the time of booking. Since we were a repeat guest, they made an exception for us.
Thankfully, they did offer a baby crib at Verina Astra, however, it cost 20 Euros. This was the only one that had a fee and was probably the lowest quality baby cot we had. Although, she slept fine it. It was actually a very large pack and play, so it did not have a true mattress. In addition, it did not have a crib sheet, so this is where I wish I had brought one from home. We had to basically tape the regular sheet around it to prevent it from coming loose.
This arrangement is the only one that wouldn’t have been ideal with an infant. If our child was a few months younger, I would have wanted a true crib for her safety. But, I did not ask them to clarify so point proven why you should ask!
Baby Crib in Athens, Greece
For the last night of our trip, we had to spend a night in Athens before our early morning flight out. Since it was just a place to sleep, we stayed at Dusit Suites near the Athenian Riviera and Airport.
The hotel included a complimentary baby crib in our room.
Tips for Cribs or Cots in Europe
- Get a Slumberpod – when sharing a room with the baby, a Slumberpod goes over the crib to create a blackout tent. You can move around the hotel room and have lights on without bothering them.
- Pack a crib sheet – you never truly know what you are going to get so I wish I had packed a crib sheet from home for the one time we needed it.
- Bring a travel monitor – We have the nice Nanit monitor and even the travel stand for it, but we like this travel monitor best. It’s cheap and simple, but doesn’t require wifi connection or the use of an app. If you are sharing a room with the baby, you can probably skip the monitor.
- Europeans LOVE babies! – Everyone in Europe treated us like royalty with our baby. People are happy to help ensure your baby is well taken care of! Don’t hesitate to ask questions to clarify or make special requests.
Have questions about traveling with a baby? I’m happy to help. Traveling as a family was incredible and I want you to feel empowered to take the trip! Send me a note anytime!
Also see: where to travel with a baby or infant
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