Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Moms love this crib's dimensions - it's bigger than the size of a Moses basket but smaller than a cot bed. It also folds down to just a third of its original size and fits into a compact travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
It is important to remember that the crib should only be used to sleep and that toys, pillows and blankets are an entrapment risk.
Safety
When you are looking for a travel crib, 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 particular crib for portable has been recall. Choose a mattress that fits the crib of your child so that it won't slip through the gaps or create the risk of suffocation.
When selecting a bassinet or crib, look for one that conforms to the latest safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Avoid cribs that are older or modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested and could be a danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib needs to be sturdy and well-constructed. Examine for loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows to ensure adequate 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. Also, do not put blankets, pillows or toys with stuffed animals in the crib. These can cause suffocation or strangle your baby. They should be removed from the crib at the time your child is able to push up on their knees and hands or prior to 5 months old, whichever comes first.
Make sure you check regularly for loose or broken screws and hardware. This is particularly crucial when traveling with a child. Remove all plastic from the crib as well.
If you're using a portable baby crib be sure that it's not placed directly beneath a large window. A window could be a fall hazard and your baby could be injured in the event that they crash into it. Even if your child is old enough to be able to roll over, it's best to keep their sleeping area away from windows. If your baby starts to roll over while sleeping, it's a good idea wake them up to prevent injury.
Portability
If you're planning a trip on vacation, have family staying over, or just want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers with friends, a portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're often called) is a great choice. These playards fold up and have an extremely comfortable mattress that can support infants up to 15kg. They are easy to put together and compact when closed.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a fav among MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded down and stored in just one or two minutes, and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but at just under 15 pounds it's still a good weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack-style strap, which some prefer to use.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another excellent alternative. It incorporates a bedside bassinet as well as a crib into one compact unit. This is ideal for overnight stays during holidays and with family and friends. bedside crib and travel cot 's not the most affordable one, but it does come with many dancing and all-singing 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 is higher than other models 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 washable, which makes it easy to clean. It's also relatively lightweight at less than 12kg, and fits neatly inside the compact, convenient travel case that comes with it. 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 is also very easy to set up. Our MFM tester was able to set it up in only 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
Feeding
It is essential that your child is safe and secure when you travel, whether for pleasure or business. While some families might be attracted to use a crib or bassinet that they already own but it's better to purchase one that is specifically designed for travel. They are smaller, have mesh sides to allow parents to check on their babies without disturbing them, and are light enough for simple transport between destinations. They also meet all safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you must use a crib next to your bed it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys. This kind of sleeping arrangement increases the chance of SIDS. If you must co-sleep occasionally, ensure that you do it only when your baby is asleep and that you're completely dressed and awake.
There are a variety of cribs for babies and infants.
Some are designed as a mini-crib or Moses basket while others have sides which can be put into parent's beds. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping that the AAP cautions against due the risk of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper which attaches to the mattress of a parent. This is a good option for older children, as the sides can be elevated to allow you to reach the baby without lifting them from the bed. Another option is the travel cot that has an integrated bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib, making it easier to lift up the sleeping infant to feed 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 out easily for night feeds and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have an adjustable drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, whereas others have a height adjustment so they can fit into your bed at home or away.
Previously, it was recommended that infants be in their own room. However, parents are increasingly preferring to sleep with their children. This arrangement, referred to as rooming in, allows babies to be close to their parents while remaining in their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers that are available like the iCrib, which is designed to be an easy-to-move crib that can be placed on the top of your bed or a standard crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a mattress that is removable and it can be folded to make it easy for storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens to the edge of a bed. It has 7 height settings that can be adjusted as well as an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. The crib was highly loved by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding, and it is also available in a range of colours.
You can also buy bedside cribs that are freestanding, such as our Lilly or Alain that you can place next to the standard bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that slides down to allow you pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is otherwise self-contained, and your child will continue sleeping soundly during this time. These cribs are in compliance with the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and child's cot.
Travel cribs are also available. They are specifically designed to be taken along when traveling. They are typically smaller and more compact than standard cribs, which makes it easier to carry them in and out hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example, can be set up and taken down in less than an hour and weighs just 3 pounds, so it is easy to move and carry.