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 folds down to just a third of its original size and fits into a handy travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
Keep in mind that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can cause a child to be suffocated.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a travel crib, you'll want to make sure that the manufacturer is compliant with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is a good place to begin. It will inform you if a portable crib has ever been recall. It is also important to select a mattress that is the correct size for your baby's bed to ensure it doesn't slide into gaps in the sides of the crib or create a suffocation risk.
When choosing a bassinet or crib, look for one that is in compliance with the latest safety standards that were revised in 2022. Also, avoid older cribs or cribs that have been modified, or drop side cribs that are recycled for use in travel, as they aren't tested and could pose a risk to your baby's well-being.
A travel crib needs to be built well and strong. Check for missing, loose or broken screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have sturdy 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 legs from getting trapped. Also, do not put blankets, pillows toys, stuffed animals or other items in the crib. These can cause suffocation 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 prior to five months of age, whichever comes first.
Make sure you check regularly for loose or broken screws and other hardware. This is particularly important when traveling with a child. Make sure you take out all plastic from the crib before use, as well.
If you are using a portable baby crib, make sure it's not placed directly in front of an enormous window. A window can be an accident hazard for your baby could get hurt in the event that they crash into it. Even if your child is old enough to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping space away from windows. If your baby starts to roll over during sleep, it's a good idea to awake them to prevent injuries.
Portability
If you're on vacation, have family staying with you, or want a safe crib for sleepovers or with friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is a good option. These playards fold up easily to build, compact when they're closed, and come with the most comfortable padded mattress that can accommodate infants up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who love the fact that it can be folded down and stored in a few minutes and that its easy-to-use drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack on our list however it's a decent weight at just a little over 15 pounds, and it has regular handles instead of a backpack-style strap which some find more comfortable to carry around.
Another great option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which incorporates a bedside crib and bassinet into one compact unit that's ideal for both holidays and overnight visits to relatives and friends. It's not the cheapest however it comes with a wealth 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 its bassinet setting sits up higher than most to make it easier to access in the beginning of the day when mum 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 on the heavier side when it's open), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and fits neatly into a small, handy travel bag that comes with it - perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six different height settings, including a tummy tilt for reflux/colic infants, and it can be adapted to beds of all sizes. It's also easy to set up. Our MFM tester was able to set it up in less than 10 minutes. You'll need an additional mattress however.
Feeding
It's crucial that your baby is safe and secure when you travel, whether for pleasure or business. It's better to purchase a crib or bassinet designed for travel instead of using one you already have. They are smaller and come with mesh sides, which allows parents to monitor their child without disturbing them. They are also lightweight to make it easy to transport between locations. newborn bedside cot conform to the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics 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 sleeping surface should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. This kind of sleeping arrangement increases the chance of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times ensure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
The bedside cribs available for infants and young children include:
Some are designed like a mini crib or a Moses basket, whereas others have sides that can be lowered to the bed of the parent. This allows parents to reach their infant at any time during the night to comfort and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP cautions against this due to the danger of the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, an infant bed that is attached to the sides of a mattress for a parent. It is also an ideal option for older babies because the sides are easily raised to allow you to reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. Another option is the travel cot with a built-in bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib, making it easier to lift up an infant who is sleeping for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are an excellent method to sleep in a safe environment with your newborn. They are placed next to your bed, allowing you to easily reach them for night feedings and check on their sleeping without disturbing them. Some cribs have drop sides that you can lower to make this easier and some have an adjustable height setting to make sure they be able to fit in your bed at home or away.
While it was once recommended that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is now a growing trend for parents to share a bed with their infants. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents but remain safely separated on their own bassinet or crib. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib that is designed to be an easy-to-move crib that can be placed on the top of your bed, or a standard crib. It has a light frame and a removable mattress and it can be folded to make it easy for storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It attaches to the bed's edge and comes with 7 height positions, as well as a tummy-tilt to help with colic and reflux. Our MFM home testers loved the crib for its compact folding and ease of use. It is also available in a variety of colors.
There are also freestanding cribs for bedside use, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, that can be positioned next to an existing bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that can slide down to allow you take your baby to a evening feeding, however the crib is completely fully enclosed and your baby will be sleeping comfortably throughout this period. They also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which require that 120mm high barriers must be installed between your mattress and the cot of your child.
Additionally, there are cribs designed for travel and are designed to be used on the road. They are typically smaller and more compact than standard cribs, which makes it easier to carry them from and into hotels and vehicles. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in just a few minutes and folded down in three pounds. It is therefore simple to move and lift.