Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Moms love this crib's dimensions It's larger than the size of a Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It also folds down to a third of its original size and fits into a handy travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
Keep in mind that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can suffocate a child.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a crib for travel, you'll want to make sure that the manufacturer is compliant with all safety standards. A good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a specific crib for portable has been recall. Pick a mattress that's suitable for your baby's crib so it won't fall through the gaps or pose an suffocation hazard.
When you are choosing the right bassinet or crib, look for one that meets the newer safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Avoid older cribs and cribs that have been modified for travel, or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested, and may pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib should be well-constructed and sturdy. Check for missing, loose or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows to allow for proper air flow. The slats of the crib should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, to prevent baby's head or limbs from becoming trapped. Do not put any toys, blankets 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 hands and knees or before 5 months of age or 5 months, whichever is first.
It's also important to check regularly for broken or loose hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Make sure you take out all crib furniture before use, as well.
If you're using a portable crib be sure that it's not placed in front of a large window. bedside cot co sleeper can be a fall risk and if your baby rolls into it, they may be injured. It's best to keep your baby's bedroom away from windows, even when they are old enough to roll over. If your child begins to roll over while sleeping, it's best to wake them up to prevent injuries.
Portability
If you're planning a trip on vacation, have family staying over, or simply want a safe crib for sleepovers with friends, an portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is an excellent option. These portable cribs are simple to build and compact when closed, and come with the most comfortable padded mattress that can support newborns up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded down and stored in one or two minutes, and its simple drop-down panels that can be operated with one hand are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not our tiniest pack-and-play play, but at under 15 pounds, it's a good weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack strap, which some parents prefer to use.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another excellent option. It includes a bassinet for the bed and a crib into one compact unit. It is ideal for overnight stays during holidays and with family and friends. It's not the most affordable however it comes with an abundance of features that are all-dancing and all-singing like a storage basket and soothing night lights that change colour as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby sleep, and its bassinet setting sits up higher than most to make it easier to access during the early days when mom is still recovering.
The fabric is machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when it's open), it's relatively lightweight at less than 12kg. It can easily fit into a compact, convenient bag that comes with it perfect for trips away from home. It has six height settings and a tummy tilt to help with reflux or colic infants, and it can be adapted to beds of all sizes. It's also very simple to install. Our MFM tester could do it in only 10 minutes. It will require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
It's crucial that your baby is comfortable and safe when you travel, whether on business or pleasure. While some families might be tempted to use a crib or bassinet that they have however, it's recommended to purchase one specifically made for travel. These are smaller and have mesh sides that allow parents to observe their baby without disturbing them. They're also light to make it easy to transport between locations. They also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you must utilize a crib for your bed it is recommended that your child be placed on their back and that the bed be free of blankets, pillows, and animals stuffed. This type of co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. If you have to occasionally co-sleep, make sure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
The bedside cribs available for infants and young children include:
Some are designed as a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides that can be placed on parent's bed. This allows access to the baby to feed and comfort without exposing the risk of true co-sleeping which the AAP advises against due to the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the side of a parent's mattress. It is also a safer option for older babies since the sides can be easily raised to allow you to reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting the mattress out. Another option is a travel cot, which has a built-in bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib which makes it easier to lift up an infant who is sleeping for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They sit next to your bed during the night so that you can reach out easily for feedings at night and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have an opening on the side that you can lower to make this easier and others have an adjustable height setting to ensure they are able to accommodate your bed when you are at home or away.
It was previously recommended that infants be in their own room. However, parents are increasingly preferring to sleep in a co-sleep. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows babies to be close to their parents, while being separated from their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available like the iCrib, which is designed to be a portable crib that fits on top of your bed or a standard crib. It has a lightweight frame, a mattress that is removable, and can be folded up for easy storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of a bed and features 7 adjustable height positions and an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers praised this crib for its small folding and easy to use. It's also available in different colours.
There are also bedside cribs, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, that can be put alongside a traditional bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that slides down to allow you to take your baby to a night feeding, but the crib is self-contained, and your child will continue sleeping soundly during this period. These cribs also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that a 120mm high barrier must be installed between your mattress and your child's cot.
Additionally, there are cribs for travel that are specially made to be carried on the road. They are usually smaller and lighter than standard cribs which makes them easy to transport into and out of cars and hotels. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in less than one minute and folded down in three pounds. It is therefore simple to lift and transport.