Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel

Mums love this crib's size - it's bigger than the Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It also folds down to a third of its original size and fits into a convenient travel bag, making it ideal for travel.

Remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping and that toys, pillows and blankets are a suffocation hazard.

Safety

If you are looking for a travel cot make sure that the manufacturer is adhering to all safety standards. The best place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a particular crib for portable has been removed from the market. Pick a mattress that's suitable for the crib of your baby so it doesn't slide through the gaps or create a suffocation risk.

When selecting a crib or bassinet choose one that meets the newer safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Also, avoid older cribs and cribs that have been modified or drop side cribs that have been used for travel as they aren't tested and could pose a risk to your baby's health.

A travel crib needs to be strong and well-constructed. Make sure there aren't any loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you are using a playard, it must have mesh windows and sturdy walls for air flow. The crib's slats should not be more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to keep baby's head and limbs from being trapped. Do not put any toys, blankets or toys that are stuffed with animals in the crib. These items can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed as soon as they can stand up on their own, or before the age of 5 months.

It is also essential to check often for loose or broken hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your child. Remove all plastic from the crib too.

If you're using a portable crib, be sure it's not right under the window. A window can be an accident hazard and if your baby falls into it, they may be injured. It's recommended to keep your baby's bedroom away from windows, even when they are old enough to roll over. It's important to wake up your baby if they begin to roll over while sleeping.

Portability

Portable cribs (or playards which is what they're sometimes referred to as) are a great choice for those who is on vacation, has a family members over, or just needing a safe crib for use for a sleepover with friends. These playards fold up easily to build and compact when closed, and come with an incredibly comfortable mattress that can support newborns up to 15 kg.

MFM home testers are awestruck by the BabyBjorn travel crib because it's simple to fold and put away. Its easy drop-down panels that are one-handed are also convenient for parents who are bleary-eyed. It's not the lightest backpack on our list, but it's a good weight, weighing just under 15 pounds, and it features standard handles instead of a backpack-style strap which some prefer to haul around.

Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which incorporates a bedside crib and bassinet in one compact unit that's ideal for both holidays and overnight visits to family and friends. It's not the least expensive 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 as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and sleep. Its bassinet is higher than the majority to make it easier to access in the beginning of the day when mom is still recovering.

The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, making it easy to clean. In spite of its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when it's open) it's surprisingly light at just 12kg and fits neatly into a compact, convenient travel bag that comes with it - perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings and a tummy tilt to help with reflux or colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It is also very easy to install. Our MFM tester could do it in only 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase an additional mattress, however.

Feeding

When you travel to work or for pleasure it's essential to keep your baby happy and safe while traveling. While some families might be tempted to use a bassinet or a crib that they own however, it's recommended to purchase one that is specifically made for travel. They are smaller, have mesh sides to allow parents to check on their children without disturbing them, and are light enough to allow for easy transportation between locations. They also meet the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.

If you are required to use a crib next to your bed it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The mattress should be free of blankets, pillows and stuffed toys. This type of co-sleeping increases the chance of SIDS. If you have to occasionally co-sleep ensure that your baby is asleep and that both you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.

The kinds of cribs available for newborns and young babies include:

Some are shaped as a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides that can be put into parent's bed. This gives parents access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the dangers of true co-sleeping which the AAP recommends against due to suffocation risks. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the parent's mattress. It is a good choice for older children, since the sides can be raised so that you can reach the baby without having to lift them from the bed. The travel cot with a built-in crib that is removable allows you to raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or for care.

Sleeping

Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They sit next to your bed during the night, so that you can reach them easily to feed them 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 come with an adjustable height so that they will be able to fit in your bed at home or on the go.

In the past, it was suggested that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However, parents are increasingly preferring to sleep in a co-sleep. Also known as rooming-in, this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents yet remain in a safe space on their own crib or bassinet. There are several types of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib that is designed to be portable and can be placed on the top of your bed, or a regular crib. It comes with a lightweight frame, a mattress that is removable and is able to be folded up for easy storage. baby bedside sleeper is another alternative. It is attached to the bed's edge and comes with seven height positions, and a tummy-tilt for reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers praised this crib for its small folding and ease of use. It's also available in various colors.


You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs such as our Lilly or Alain that you can place on top of the standard bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that slides down so you can pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is completely fully enclosed and your baby will be sleeping comfortably throughout this period. These cribs also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that a 120mm high barrier must be installed between your mattress and the cot of your child.

There are also cribs for travel available. They are designed specifically to be carried on the road. They are usually smaller and less bulky than standard cribs which makes them more convenient to take into and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for instance can be set up and taken down in less than a minute and it weighs just three pounds, so it is easy to lift and carry.