Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The dimensions of this crib are perfect for mums. It's bigger than a Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It can also fold down to just a quarter of its size and fit into a handy bag for traveling.
Make sure that the crib is intended for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can make a child suffocate.
Safety
When you are shopping for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer is adhering to all safety standards. One good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will inform you whether or not a certain portable crib has been recalled. Select a mattress that is suitable for the crib of your baby so it doesn't slide through the gaps or cause the risk of suffocation.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the updated safety standards of 2022. Avoid older cribs and cribs modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested, and could cause danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be sturdy and well-constructed. Check for missing, loose or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have secure walls and mesh windows to ensure proper air flow. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Never put toys, blankets, or toys that are stuffed with animals in the crib. These items can suffocate or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib as soon as your child is able to push up on their hands and knees or before 5 months old or when they reach 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
It's also important to look often for loose or broken screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your infant. Remove all plastic from the crib too.
If you're using a portable crib, be sure it's not close to a window. A window can be a fall hazard and your baby could be injured if they roll into it. It's recommended to keep your baby's sleeping space away from windows, even when they are old enough to roll over. It's important to wake up your baby when they begin to roll over during sleep.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards or playards, as they're often referred to) are a great choice for anyone going on vacation, having family stay over, or simply wanting a safe crib for use at a sleepover with friends. These portable cribs are simple to assemble and compact when closed, and come with a comfortable padded mattress that can hold newborns up to 15kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favorite among MFM home testers, who love the fact that it can be folded and stored in just several minutes and its easy-to-use drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed 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-style strap, which some parents find more comfortable.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another fantastic alternative. It combines a bedside bassinet and crib into a compact unit. This is ideal for holidays and overnight stays with family and friends. It is not the cheapest alternative however it has a variety of features, including a basket for storage as well as calming lights for the night that change color and lullabies, as well as white noise, to help your child sleep.
It's also easy to clean, with wipeable and machine-washable fabrics. And, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when opened), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and can easily fit into a compact, convenient travel bag that comes with it - perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings and the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic infants, and it can be adapted to beds of all sizes. It's also very simple to set up. Our MFM tester could do it in less than 10 minutes. You'll need to buy an additional mattress however.
Feeding
Whether traveling for pleasure or business, it's important to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe while traveling. While some families may be attracted to use a crib or bassinet that they already own, it's best to buy one that is specifically designed for travel. These are smaller and have mesh sides to allow parents to check on their babies without disturbing them. They are light enough for simple transportation between locations. They also meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you must use a bedside crib it is recommended that your baby be placed on their back and the mattress be free of blankets, pillows, and animals stuffed. Sharing the bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby, regardless of age, and this form of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times, make sure that your baby is asleep and that you and your partner are dressed and awake.
There are many kinds of cribs for newborns and babies.
Some are designed as a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides that can be put into parent's beds. This gives parents access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the risks of co-sleeping that the AAP advises against due to dangers of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, an infant bed that is attached to the side of a mattress for a parent. This can also be an ideal option for older babies since the sides are easily raised to let you reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting the mattress out. Another option is the travel cot, which has a built-in bassinet which can be removed from the top of the crib which makes it easier to lift up the sleeping infant to feed or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are an excellent option to sleep comfortably with your baby. They are placed near your bed to allow you to easily reach them for feedings and check on their sleeping without disturbing them. Some cribs have a drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, while others have a height adjustment to ensure they can fit into your bed at home and away.
In best bedside cots , it was suggested that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However parents are increasingly opting to sleep with their children. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement allows babies to be close to their parents, but remain safely separated on their own bassinet or crib. There are a variety of co-sleepers like the iCrib, an inflatable crib that is designed to be able to sit on the top of a bed or a crib. This model comes with a light frame and a mattress that is removable and it can be folded for easy storage. It also comes with the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of a bed. It has 7 height settings that can be adjusted and an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers loved this crib for its compact folding and easy to use. It is also available in different colours.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, that can be positioned next to a traditional bed frame. The cribs have the side barrier that can be lowered to allow you to pick up your baby for feedings at night. However the cribs are completely self-contained, allowing your baby to rest comfortably. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm separation between your mattress and child's crib.
Travel cribs are also available. They are designed specifically to be carried on the road. They tend to be smaller and less bulky than standard cribs, which makes it easier to move them from and into hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and packed down in less than a minute and it weighs just three pounds, making it easy to carry and lift.