Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The size of this crib is ideal for moms. It's bigger than a Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It also folds down to a third of its original size and fits into a handy travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Keep in mind that the crib is intended for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can cause a child to be suffocated.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a travel crib you'll want to be sure that the manufacturer is compliant with all safety standards. A good starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a particular crib is being removed from the market. You'll also want to choose appropriate for your baby's crib, so it doesn't slip into the gaps between the crib's sides or create a suffocation risk.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the current safety standards of 2022. Avoid older cribs and cribs modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs haven't been tested, and could cause danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be well-constructed and sturdy. Examine for broken, missing or loose screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have secure walls and mesh windows for adequate air circulation. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and legs from getting trapped. Never put toys, blankets, or stuffed animals in the crib. bedside cosleeper can cause suffocation or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib as soon as your child is able push up on their hands and knees or prior to 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
It's also important to check frequently for loose or broken screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your child. Remove all plastic from the crib too.
If you're using a portable crib be sure that it's not placed directly under the large windows. A window can be an accident hazard for your baby may be injured if they roll into it. It's best to keep your baby's sleeping space away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. If your child starts to roll over while sleeping it's a good idea get them up in order to avoid injuries.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards, as they're sometimes called) are a great choice for anyone traveling on vacation, having a family stay over, or just needing a safe crib to use for a sleepover with friends. These foldable contraptions are easy to put together and are compact when closed, and come with an incredibly comfortable mattress that can hold newborns up to 15kg.
MFM home testers appreciate the BabyBjorn travel crib because it's simple to fold and to store. Its simple one-handed drop down panels are also easy for parents who are bleary-eyed. It's not the lightest pack-and-play on our list, but it's a good weight, weighing just under 15 pounds, and it features standard handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some find more comfortable to carry around.
Another excellent option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which combines a bedside crib and bassinet into a compact unit that is ideal for both holidays and overnight visits to relatives and friends. It's not the least expensive however it comes with many features that are all-dancing and all-singing such as a storage basket as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby sleep and sleep. Its bassinet sits up higher than most to make it easier to access in the beginning of the day when mom is still recovering.
The fabrics are machine washable and washable, making it easy to clean. It's also relatively lightweight at less than 12kg and easily fits inside the compact, convenient travel case that comes with it. It has six different height settings as well as the ability to tilt the tummy for reflux/colic babies. It can fit all sizes of beds. It's also easy to install. Our MFM tester was able to set it up in less than 10 minutes. It will require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
Whether traveling to work or for pleasure it's essential to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe on the road. It is better to buy a bassinet or crib designed for travel than to use one that you already own. These are smaller, have mesh sides that permit parents to check on their children without disturbing them. They are lightweight enough for easy transport between destinations. These also comply with the safety standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you are required to use a crib beside your bed it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. Sharing the bed with parents isn't advisable for any baby, regardless of age, and this form of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you are forced to co-sleep at times, make sure that you only do so when your baby is asleep and you're both awake and fully dressed.
The types of bedside cribs for babies and infants include:
Some are designed to resemble a mini crib or a Moses basket, while others have sides that can be put down into the bed of the parent. This lets parents access their baby at any time during the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of sleeping with their child. The AAP warns against this due to the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the parent's mattress. It is also a safer option for older babies since the sides can easily be raised to let you reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. The travel cot that has built-in cribs that is removable allows you to easily lift a sleeping baby up for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you co-sleep safely with your baby. They are set next to your bed, allowing you to easily reach them during night feedings and check on their sleep without disrupting them. Some cribs have drop sides that can be lower to make this easier and some have an adjustable height adjustment to make sure they be able to fit in your bed at home or away.
While it used to be advised that infants sleep in their own separate bedroom, there is a growing preference for parents to sleep with their infants. This arrangement, referred to as rooming in, allows infants to be close to their parents, while remaining safely separated in their own crib or a bassinet. There are a variety 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 standard crib. It has a light frame and a removable mattress and folds up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It attaches to the bed edge and has 7 height positions, and a tummy-tilt to help with colic and reflux. Our MFM home testers loved this crib for its compact folding and easy to use. It's also available in various colors.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain which you can put next to an existing bed frame. They have a movable side barrier that can slide down to allow you pick your baby up for evening feeding, however the crib is fully enclosed and your baby will continue sleeping soundly during this period. These models also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that the 120mm high barrier should be installed between your mattress and your 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 from and into hotels and vehicles. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for instance, can be set up and taken down in under a minute and it weighs just three pounds, so it is easy to move and carry.