Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Moms love this crib's dimensions - it's bigger than the Moses basket, but smaller than a cot bed. It folds down to just a third of its original size, and can fit into a handy travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Remember that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can cause a child to be suffocated.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a crib for travel, you'll want to make sure the manufacturer meets all safety standards. The best place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will inform you whether or not a certain crib is being recalled. You'll also want to choose the right size for your baby's bed to ensure it doesn't slide into gaps in the crib sides or create a suffocation risk.
When selecting the right bassinet or crib choose one that conforms to the latest safety standards, which were updated in 2022. It is also recommended to avoid older cribs or cribs that have been modified, or drop side cribs that were repurposed for travel because these aren't tested and may pose risks to your baby's well-being.
A travel crib must be well-constructed and sturdy. Make sure there aren't any loose, missing or broken screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows to ensure proper air circulation. The crib slats should not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and legs from getting trapped. Don't put any pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or toys in the crib. These items can suffocate or strangle your baby. They should be removed from the crib at the time your child is able to pull up on their knees and hands or prior to five months of age, whichever comes first.
Examine frequently for broken or loose screws and other hardware. This is particularly important when traveling with an infant. Take all plastic out of the crib too.
If you are using a portable baby crib be sure that it's not positioned directly in front of a large window. Windows pose an accident hazard and if your baby rolls into it, they could get injured. bedside crib or cot is recommended to keep your baby's bedroom away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. It is important to wake your baby if they begin to roll over while sleeping.
Portability
Whether you're going on holiday, have family staying over, or simply want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers or with friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is a good option. These portable cribs are simple to assemble and compact when closed, and come with a comfortable padded mattress that can support newborns up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who love the fact that it can be folded down and stored in a few minutes and that its easy-to-use drop-down panels are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the tiniest of packs-and-play on our list but it's a decent weight, weighing just under 15 pounds. It has regular handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some find more comfortable to carry around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another fantastic alternative. It includes a bassinet for the bed and a crib into a compact unit. It is ideal for long-term stays and holidays with family and friends. It's not the cheapest one, but it does come with an abundance of all-singing and all-dancing features like a basket for storage as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night, lullabies and white noise to aid your baby to fall asleep, and its bassinet setting sits up higher than most to make it easier to use in the beginning of the day when mum is still recovering.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and wipeable, making it easy to clean. In spite of its size and weight (it's more bulky when open), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and fits neatly into a small, handy bag that comes with it perfect for trips away from home. It has six different height settings, as well as the ability to tilt the tummy for reflux/colic babies. It's able to fit any size bed. It's also very easy to install and our MFM tester able to get it ready in just 10 minutes. It will require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
When you travel for pleasure or business, it's important to keep your baby happy and safe on the road. It's better to purchase a travel-specific crib or bassinet rather than using one you already own. 4-in-1 bedside crib are smaller, have mesh sides that permit parents to check on their children without disturbing them. They are light enough for simple transport between destinations. These also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been subject to recalls.
If you must use a crib that is placed at your bedside, it's recommended that your baby be positioned on their backs and that the bed be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. This type of co-sleeping increases the chance of SIDS. If you have to sleep with your child on occasion, ensure that you do it only when your baby is asleep and you are both awake and fully dressed.
There are a variety of cribs for babies and newborns.
Some are shaped like an oversized crib or Moses basket, while others have sides that can be put down into the parent's bed. This allows parents to access their baby at any time during the night to soothe and feed their child, and avoid the dangers of sleeping with their child. The AAP cautions against this due to the danger of being suffocated. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the side of a mattress for a parent. This is a good option for older children since the sides can be raised so that you can reach the baby without having to lift them out of bed. The travel cot that has an integrated crib that is removable allows you to lift a sleeping baby for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep peacefully with your baby. They are placed next to your bed to allow you to easily reach them during night feedings and check on their sleep without disrupting them. Some cribs have an opening on the side that can be lowered to make this easier and others come with an adjustable height so that they will be able to fit in your bed at home or when you are away.
While it used to be advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a growing trend for parents to co-sleep with their infants. Also known as rooming-in this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents, but remain safe and separate from their own bassinet or crib. There are several types of co-sleeper available like the iCrib, which is designed to be a portable crib that fits on the top of your bed or a standard crib. It includes a light frame, a mattress that can be removed and is foldable up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It attaches to the bed edge and has seven height positions and a tummy-tilt to ease colic and reflux. The crib was highly well-received by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding, and it is also available in a variety of colors.
You can also buy bedside cribs that are freestanding, such as our Lilly or Alain which you can put on top of the standard bed frame. The cribs come with the side barrier that can slide down to allow you to pick up your baby for feedings at night. However the cribs are completely fully enclosed so that your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. They also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements that specify that the 120mm high barrier should be installed between your mattress and your child's cot.
There are also cribs designed for travel and are designed to be taken on the road. They are usually smaller and less bulky than a standard crib and are therefore easy to transport into and out of hotels and cars. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in under a minute and folded down in less than three pounds. It is therefore simple to move and lift.