Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel

The crib's size is a hit with moms It's larger than the size of a Moses basket, but smaller than a crib bed. It also can fold down to a third of its original size, and can fit into a handy travel bag, making it ideal for travel.

Just remember that the crib should be used only to sleep and that toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows are an entrapment risk.

Safety

If you are looking for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer is adhering to all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is an excellent place to start. It will inform you whether a crib for portable use has ever been recalled. Select a mattress that is suitable for your baby's crib so it won't slip through the gaps or cause a suffocation risk.

When selecting a crib or bassinet, look for one that conforms to the latest safety standards that were updated in 2022. It is also recommended to avoid older cribs and cribs that have been modified or drop side cribs that were recycled for use in travel, as they have not been tested and may pose risks to your baby's well-being.

A travel crib needs to be built well and strong. Make sure you check for broken, missing or loose screws as well as other hardware. If you are using a playard, it must have mesh windows and sturdy walls for air flow. The slats on the crib should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to keep baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Also, do not put pillows, blankets toys, stuffed animals or other items in the crib. These objects can choke or strangle your baby. They should be removed from the crib as soon as your child is able push up on their knees and hands or prior to 5 months of age, whichever comes first.

It's also important to check often for loose or broken hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Take all plastic out of the crib too.

If you're using a portable crib, make sure it is not located right under windows. A window is a fall risk and if your baby rolls into it, they may get injured. It's best 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 start to roll over while sleeping.

Portability

If you're planning a trip on vacation, have family staying with you, or need a secure bedside crib for sleepovers with friends, the portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is an excellent option. These portable cribs have a comfortable mattress that can hold infants up to 15kg. They are easy to assemble and compact when closed.

The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers who appreciate the fact it can be folded down and stored in a few minutes and that its simple one-handed drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not the tiniest of packs-and-play on our list but it's a decent weight at just over 15 pounds. It features standard carry handles rather than the backpack-style strap that some find more comfortable to carry around.

The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another excellent option. It includes a bassinet for the bed and a crib into one compact unit. This is ideal for long-term stays and holidays with family and friends. It's not the cheapest, but it has many dancing and all-singing features like a storage basket as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night, lullabies and white noise to help your baby sleep and its bassinet is higher than the majority to make it easier to use in the early hours when mom is still recovering.

It's also easy to keep clean with machine washable and wipeable fabric. In spite of its size and weight (it's more bulky when opened) it's surprisingly light at just 12kg and slots neatly into a compact, practical travel bag that comes with it ideal for trips away from home. It has six height settings, including a tummy tilt to help with reflux or colic babies, and can fit beds of all sizes. It's also incredibly quick to install and our MFM tester having it ready in just 10 minutes. It will require a mattress that is separate.

Feeding

When you travel for business or pleasure it's crucial to keep your baby comfortable and safe while traveling. It is better to buy a crib or bassinet designed for travel rather than using one you already own. These are smaller and have mesh sides that allow parents to observe their baby without disturbing them. They're also light for easy transportation between destinations. They also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.

If you are required to use a crib alongside your bed it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of pillows, blankets and toys. This type of co-sleeping increases the chance of SIDS. If you must co-sleep at times, make sure that you only do so when your baby is asleep and you are at all times dressed and awake.

The bedside cribs that are available for infants and young children include:

Some are designed as a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides which can be put into parents' bed. This allows parents to access their infant in the middle of the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP cautions against this because of the danger of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, an infant bed that is attached to the mattress for a parent. It is a good choice for older children, as the sides can be raised so that you can reach the baby without lifting them out of the bed. Another option is the travel cot bedside with a built-in bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib making it easier to raise a sleeping infant for feeding or other care.

Sleeping

Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They are placed near your bed at night so that you can reach over easily for night feeds and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have drop-sides that can be lowered for this purpose, whereas others have a height adjustment to ensure they can fit into your bed at home or away.

While it was once advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a growing trend for parents to co sleeper bedside cot-sleep with their infants. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows babies to remain close to their parents while being separated from their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers available such as the iCrib, an iCrib-style portable crib that can be able to sit on the top of a bed or a crib. This model comes with a light frame and a mattress that can be removed and it folds up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It is attached to the bed edge and has seven height positions as well as a tummy tilt for reflux and colic. This crib was well-received by our MFM home testers for its convenience and compact folding, and it is also available in a variety of colours.

There are also bedside rocking crib cribs, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, which can be placed alongside a traditional bed frame. The cribs come with the side barrier that slides down to allow you to pick up your child for feedings at night. However the cribs are completely fully enclosed so that your baby can remain asleep peacefully. These cribs meet the latest BS EN1130:2019 safety standards that require a 120mm separation between your mattress and the child's cot.

Lastly, there are cribs for travel that are specially made to be carried on the road. They tend to be smaller and more compact than standard cribs, making it easier to transport them into and out of hotels and vehicles. Munchkin Brica, for example can be put together in just a few minutes and folded down in just three pounds. It is therefore easy to lift and move.